More Drawings

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:

A New Direction

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.

Rabbit update 3.0 and some sketches

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. >_<

Cool 2d Animation

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.

Rabbit Update 2.0

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.

Rabbit Update

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

First Time

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

Fantasy Time!

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!

It's back!

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.

Rabbit Walk Blocking

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.

Computer-less

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.

In Other News...

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

New AnimationMentor Site

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

Today's Gestures

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.

Gestures

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.

The Results

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.

Most Exciting Month Ever

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.

Improvement!

Hey guys,

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been really busy now that my friends and I are working on production. Our final review is coming up next month so I came in to work today (not that I wouldn't be here anyway, lol) to continue working on my last assignment prior to working on Rapunzel. I looked at my curves and was shocked.

I don't know wtf I was thinking back then but now I see why I was so slow. I was using the worst choice of controls possible, when I could have gotten the same results without having to counter animate everything had I used different ones. I even animated controls overlapping other controls without knowing a more effective/efficient way to get the poses that I wanted. Graph editor-wise, my curves were all over the place and didn't seem to make logical sense at all. In some sections it looked like I was "tweenMachine happy" rather than truly thinking about what's leading and why.

As much as it (really) sucks to have to go through and make sense of this mess, it feels great to see such blatant improvement. =D

Keyblade Master

Drawn at work while waiting for maya to playblast my animation and listening to Passion After the Battle...

A Step Closer

Hey guys,

Today was my first day working on the production floor at Disney! Our new work areas were set up last night and I proudly got to follow the other animators up to the second floor. There wasn't enough space for us to work in the 3d area, so we're sitting over on the 2d side which is awesome! My cube is right outside of Mark Henn's office!!!!!!!!!!

I was also told that I could use any of the 2d workstations in the area since a portable animation disc wouldn't fit with my giant computer desk. I also happen to be behind a capture station, so all I have to do is look past the wall of my cube to watch the pencil tests being shot and played there. How cool is that?!?!?!?!?! Disney is such an amazing place, I seriously love every moment I spend at work!

As an added bonus, tomorrow we'll be issued our first fix it shots and crowd assignments!!!! I'm so excited, this will be my very first piece of production work! =D

Eastern Dragon

Hey guys,
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! I'm back in Cali after going home for the holidays. The flight was really boring but I at least got this out of it:

Winter Dragon

Hey guys,
Last night I watched Disney's Earth on blu-ray. I always get inspired when I watch shows like that. I love seeing the different wildlife and the amazing environments they live in. While watching the segment on the arctic, I imagined a long haired species of dragon that could reside there. While waiting to go to the airport to fly home, I decided to draw said dragon. I really like how this turned out, even though its significantly more bovine and realistic than what I had in mind.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Painting Update

Hey guys,
Here's another small update on my painting. I really want to hurry up and finish it because I can feel my interest in it draining away. Once this is done I'd love to start a 2d test. I've been watching some of the pencil tests on the Pencil Test Depot and am feeling really inspired by them. I'm not sure when I'll be able to do it though. Now that I have a new assignment, my weekends will be spent working at the studio. I'm really enjoying my assignment so far and am looking forward to spending more time on it.

Elf Launcher!

Hey guys,
I hope you all watched Prep and Landing last night. Everyone at the studio watched it together during the Prep and Landing wrap party. It was amazing getting to watch the show with everyone who worked on it. There's a fantastic sense of community at Disney and everyone was very proud to see it on tv. If you didn't get a chance to catch it, I believe the show will also be aired on Christmas Eve.

In other news, the Prep and Landing project that my friends and I worked on has been released! You can find the Elf Launcher game here on the right side of the screen. We were responsible for all of the animation and poses on Lanny. I animated Lanny's dance cycle where he spins and kind of hops from one foot to another. I also did two poses of Lanny missing the roof.

Somewhat New Approach

Hey guys,
Sorry for the lack of updates on my Mickey painting. We were given the parameters for our next assignment and I've been working on coming up with ideas on what I should do. I spoke to my mentor today and had my idea approved (yay!!!!). I'm not entirely sure it will fit within the designated time limit though. I've imagined it out against a stopwatch and it comes in between 8-12 seconds. Rather that blocking it out and figuring out the timing as I go, I've decided to retry pre-timing on an x sheet. I did it with my Mittens test from last year and a little on Cat Flap, but I didn't really know what I was doing. I watched an awesome lecture on the subject by Eric Goldberg and am excited about trying to do it again.

With practice, pre-timing your x sheets will give you a solid sense of what 12's, 10's, 8's, 6's, 4's etc. feels like and in time you'll be able to pre-time out your scenes accurately with little to no revisions (performance/timing wise). Eric does this for every scene that he touches and usually gets it right in one try 80-90% of time. How awesome is that?! I know it will take years and years of practice before I can become anywhere as good as Eric, but those years of pre-timing practice have started today. =D

Glass Attempt

Hey everyone,
I didn't get very much done today but I really need to start going to bed on time. I took a stab at Mickey's glass heels. Lol, they look more like dirty ice cubes than glass but it'll have to do for now.

The Next Step

Hey guys,
I didn't get much done on this since I'm limited to painting after work. I've started working in color now and raised the saturation on his suit (again). I added a velvet texture to it as well. I also painted the fur and spots on the appropriate areas. Mickey's gloves, face, and shades got an extra splash of color too.

Today's Update

Hey guys,
I'm still working on my Mickey painting and it's getting there! I think I like the darker, less saturated color theme more than the other one. It looks more sophisticated, lol. I could be crazy, but the color in the jpg looks a bit less saturated than the psd file I'm working from. I need to find out what's causing that.
Anyway, I re-colored the red and gold parts of his outfit and added some fur to the color separation between the skin and black. I still need to figure out how to paint glass for those heels. I'm going to redo the spots once I get the fur on his hat/suit to work (its not there now). I'm also in the process of figuring out the whole coloring on Overlay and Color layers process. The colors I pick aren't the colors I get when I lay them down and I'm not entirely sure why that is. =\

Painting Update

Hey everyone,

Here's an update on my Mickey painting. So far I've been working on pushing the values in greyscale. I slapped on some more rough color for the feather, shoes, ring and part of the cane. I'm about to take a break so I figured I'd upload what I had so far. It still has a long way to go. I really need to learn how to paint glass for his heels. If anyone out there knows how to paint and has the time, it would be awesome to get some feedback on this. I really dont know what I'm doing, lol.

Wip

Hey guys,
Here's a look at my wip painting. For some reason I felt compelled to start at 1am, lol. It's now 2:43am and I'm going to bed. I dont think the values are pushed enough to officially add color to this. I just slapped some on to see how it would look. Tomorrow I'll finish adding value to the shoes and feather. I'll also push the contrast and add some highlights where needed. After that's done I'll turn the colors back on and see how everything looks.

Awesome!

Hey guys,
After working hard for last Thursday's review, we finally got the results today. Everyone's going to be staying for the second three months of the Talent Dev Program! Hopefully my fellow TDA animators and I will be moving on to production soon. I can't wait! I also want to do a 2d test in whatever free time I may have. I want to show the guys at work that I can work in 2d as well. I hope to be able to bounce from their 3d projects to their 2d films and vice versa. That would be awesome and would hopefully make me a valuable asset to the studio.

Here's Mickey dancing to celebrate!

Big Pimpin'

Hey guys,

I went to Disneyland yesterday and thought of this image. I'm not sure what prompted it but I really like how it turned out, especially after spending a couple of hours drawing horribly off model Mickeys last night.


I'm not sure if I need a disclaimer or not, but this drawing is in no way related to Disney or the work I'm doing there.

Life Drawings

Hey guys,
Here are some life drawings that I did today. I can see improvement in some areas but I'm not very happy with them overall. There's still a lot of things about anatomy that I don't know yet.

Quick Sketch

Hey guys,
This week's sketch theme at AnimationMentor is Narnia! I loved the books and really enjoy the films so I though I'd participate with a quick sketch of one of my favorite characters: Reepicheep.

Gesture Drawing Class

Hey guys,
We had an awesome gesture drawing class today. I don't remember the name of the instructor (shame on me!!!!!) but he's been animating in 2d for 15 years, and recently worked on Charlotte with Nik Raneri from Princess and the Frog. The focus of the class was on getting a nice sense of rhythm and flow into our drawings. I think I finally started to grasp the hang of it at the end of class, lol. I'm really looking forward to next week's session. Plus I was told I can stop by his office anytime to get feedback on my drawings. =D

5 min warm-up drawings


2 min gestures