Hey guys,
I really liked the pose captured in this photo and decided to try and draw it. Once I got started I realized it contained almost everything I feel like I'm bad at drawing...hair, hands, and complex clothing. XDDDD
I kept going despite that but had to stop here so I could go to bed. At first I was just going to leave this as is, but now that I look at it again I might continue working on it tomorrow. Her shadowed hands scare me.
Hey guys,
I chose to draw a couple of skulls last night in preparation for moving on to people. I spoke to one of the animators at work about how helpful it was for her to do pages and pages of skulls before trying to draw realistic heads. I feel like I struggle with the human face more than anything and that having a solid understanding of the structure beneath it will be a great help.
The drawings are filled with errors, but I'm leaving them in just as before. My mistakes will be there in person for Glen to view and thus shall be true here. I am quite pleased despite the proportion issues though. Both of these were done via blind contour with looking down at the page every now and then. I think that's why the lines are significantly less "hairy" than the ones in my previous drawings. Hurray for improvement!
Hey guys,
I only got two drawings in today. I'm going to have to step it up if I'm to meet Glen's 50 drawings in two weeks estimate.
Hey guys,
Here are my contour drawings from last night and today. I spent the evening wallowing in frustration, telling myself I couldn't draw and producing page after page of crappy imagery. Then I had the bright idea to try drawing things I actually care about, lol. I love drawing animals and have always struggled with horses, so I figured they would be a good place to start. It seems like my days of struggling has paid off in the form of a gypsy vanner, my first successful horse drawing! =D
Yesterday's Page:
I got to spend time with Glen Keane today and he pointed out something that caused an artistic revaluation for me! I asked told him I wanted to get better at drawing people and showed him my sketchbook. To make a long (but extremely awesome) story short, he wants me to do some observational pen drawings and to return in two weeks to show him what I've done. He said I've learned how to make cartoons and animation drawings but haven't learned how to draw what I see. Its interesting because I was always told to study anatomy and use that to help me draw what I know rather than copying the model whereas Glen wants me to do the opposite.
He and Clair mentioned blind contour drawings so I figured I'd start with some of those. I'd never done these before and prior to today never knew what their purpose was. I find them challenging and interesting at the same time. The results of mine are hilariously bad too.
I also went to today's life drawing session prior to speaking with Glen. It was a long pose today but I wasn't able to stay for all of the session. I did one real drawing of the model, a page of messing around, and an unfinished portrait attempt.
Hey guys,
I worked on my Rabbit cycle again and have gotten it to a point where I'm actually starting to like it. I focused on getting the torso and head overlap right today and am happy with where they are now. Tomorrow I'll work on redrawing the arms, the tail and fixing the volume issues in his feet.
I also did a couple of pages of Shar Pei sketches to prepare for this week's Make it Funnier challenge. I had planned on redrawing the final image in a larger and cleaner format but it doesn't look like I'm going to have time to do so. In the meantime, this touched up version will have to do. >_<
Hey guys,
One of my friends told me about a really cool 2d reel from a studio in Spain called headless productions. I really like the work on their reel and would love to see the films that they've done. I already have Nocturna, but I would love to see Mr. Collieu and I'm a Monster. The clips the have of the latter are my favorite of the bunch. I really hope these projects will somehow be viewable in the US.
Headless studio reel 2010 from Headless Productions on Vimeo.
Hey guys,
Here's an update on what I accomplished last week/weekend. It has the feeling that I want but now there's way too much overlap on the torso and head. I also need to fix Rabbit's tail and arm since I just traced them from the previous version. Both things are easy fixes though and I'll leave them off of my next interation until the torso and head are where I want them to be. Its really great to be able to rework this test over and over until its right! This is the first time that I've been truly able to do that and I'm learning a lot. In 3d, I tend to make things too big to make sure I've got everything working and then I tone things down by scaling the curves. So far, its much easier to work this way in 3d than in 2d since "scaling the curves" equals redrawing everything again.
I'm learning a lot about workflow, things to do and not do, how much information to include vs how much is too much etc. I showed this to my mentor and he also told me how I can tone down the torso and head without losing the spacing I had established. Its awesome, because I would have kept redrawing it over and over hoping it was right rather than using a systematic method like his. Its also unbelievably amazing to finally be at Disney and to have one of their fantastic animators draw over my drawings, its seriously a dream come true! I really hope to be able to work on one of the studios 2d projects in the future.
Hey guys,
Here's an update on my Rabbit walk cycle. I'm not very happy with it. It doesn't have the dead tired feeling that I was trying to go for so I'm going to rework it. Its funny, I feel like I could fix it easily in 3d. I know what my curves would be to fix it and everything. Switching between the 2d and 3d mindset is proving to be a challenge since I spend all day working exclusively in 3d. Lol, my mentor laughed, mentioned how hard 2d can be and asked if I was sure I wanted to do it. My answer was a firm and confident yes. 2d is hard, I agree with him completely but I'm not going to let that stop me. My journey to become a Disney 2d animator continues! =D
Hey guys,
I have some awesome news. Today I've been working on animating my first shot! Up until now I've been fixing shots that the other animators have done but last night I was issued my very own shot to animate. I'm so excited! It's really short and simple but there's no such thing as a little shot and each one is important. Hopefully this will be the first of many more to come! =D
Hey guys,
I didn't have any fixes to do for a few hours today and got to do some drawing during that time. Here's a look at the results of that time.
Last week I also made a quick Rabbit sketch while waiting for a playblast. I think this is my best one yet!
Hey guys,
I got my computer back this morning! Here's my HTTYD fan art as promised. The Jubilee pictures will have to wait though. I got home late today and need to give her some play time before going to bed.
Hey guys,
Here's a quick look at the Rabbit walk that I'm working on in my free time. It's just the main four poses of a walk and I still have a few things to change about it, but its working for the most part. After making those changes I'll add some breakdowns and post an update.
I don't have a computer at home! =( My laptop must have gotten mad that I decided to stop using it for an hour to play FFXIII on Saturday, because when I went to turn it back on the display had stopped working. The people at the Apple store said it sounds like my screen just needs to be replaced and that it shouldn't take long to repair. It's day 3 without my computer and I'm already feeling deprived.
There is a positive side to this though. My lack of a computer is giving me more time to play with my new cat, Jubilee (previously known as Helen of Troy). I adopted her on Friday and couldn't be happier! She's so adorable and playful. I'll post some pictures of her once my computer returns to me. I also have some How to Train Your Dragon fanart to post and a look at my wip Rabbit walk cycle.
I'm trying to adopt a cat! My cat of 15 years passed away back in August and now that I'm settled in CA its time to get a new one. My #1 choice is a gorgeous maine coon called Helen of Troy. She's one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. I dont remember how the adoption process goes since I was eight when we got my previous cat. Hopefully it wont take a long time. I faxed an adoption application to her shelter this morning and am going to see her in person on Friday. I can't wait!
Oh, there wont be any gesture drawings tomorrow. Two of the animation supervisors are taking us animation apprentices out to Fuddruckers for lunch! =D
Hey guys,
It looks like the new AnimationMentor website is up and running. Guess what? I'm on their Alumni page! That's so cool! It's truly an honor to be featured on the AM site, especially beside some many of the people I looked up to as a student. AnimationMentor is awesome! =D
http://www.animationmentor.com/community/alumni.html
Hey guys,
I tried to focus on angles and rhythm during today's drawing session. I think I'm getting better but I'm still not where I want to be yet. I read two of David Coleman's awesome books at work and really like his comments about how drawing from life is like weight lifting. I'm definitely going to buy at least one of his books for inspiration and to study. I also need to get volume two of Drawn to Life.
I'm also working on a Rabbit pencil test at home during the evenings. I have a longer scene in mind, but first I'm going to start out with a walk cycle. I figure that'll be a good thing to start with and if I like it, I'll use it in my longer test. I'm really excited about it though. My mentor has experience in 2d as well and worked on Jane from Tarzan among others. I'm sure he'll have lots of amazing Disney wisdom for me.
I'm going to try to go to the life drawing sessions at work regularly. They're a great way to get away from the computer and I really want to get better. I dont feel like my life drawing abilities are up to par and I need to fix that.
Hey guys,
We got the results of our review at work today, and all of us are staying!!!!!!!!! After March 26th, I will move up from a trainee to an official animation apprentice. The first step to becoming a Disney animator is complete. Now I need to get to work on step two, doing my best to stay once Tangled is finished. =D
I wish today was Friday, so I could celebrate by playing FFXIII for hours but that shall have to wait. For now I'll have to settle for buying some M&Ms from the vending machine.
March of 2010 is the most exciting month ever. This is the month where lots of awesome things are released. There's:
Princess and the Frog on dvd
How to Train Your Dragon
Alice in Wonderland
Final Fantasy XIII
God of War
All of those things are a must see/buy. March is also exciting because it is the month of my final review. It's next week actually, and all of us are nervous. My mentor says I shouldn't worry, but that's easier said than done. There are quite a few reasons why logically we should be kept but nothing is guaranteed. I have enjoyed my time at Disney immensely and REALLY hope to stay. I want to be like the guys there who've been Disney animators for 11+ years. Unfortunately, I don't have any 2d animation to show but I will be including life drawings with my 3d animation. Hopefully my mentor will mention that I can animate in 2d as well and hopefully that skill will make me more of an asset to the studio. There's a lot of hoping involved, lol. I'm not sure when we'll get the results and I'm trying hard not to be on pins and needles until then.
