Karpe Diem

Reel Updated!

2011-02-19T11:51:00.001-08:00

My reel has been updated! Follow the Demo Reel link above to check it out!

Reel Updated!

2011-02-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

My reel has been updated! Follow the Demo link above to check it out!

Updates Coming Soon!

2011-02-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

I am currently updating my reel and should have it up soon! To tide you over, I will post in my Sketchbook page.

Be a SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer!

2011-02-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Calling all graphics and interactive technology students! If you have not yet applied to be a SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer- hop to it!

The deadline is this Monday, February 14th. Apply online at sv.siggraph.org!

Vector and Shape Ideas

2011-02-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

When I read Powers, besides being super inspired, I always think, "Someday I'll try out some shape ideas in Photoshop, just for fun." Then I get real busy and don't get around to it. Today, I win.

Stories of Mr. Keuner

2011-01-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

Stories of Mr. Keuner by Bertolt Brecht

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A worthwhile meditation on the human condition concerning matters of reasoning, society, and the individual. Devoid of the topics I find most important- faith and love.

View all my reviews

I Love Mickey

2011-01-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

Mickey Mantle: America's Prodigal Son by Tony Castro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mickey Mantle is a real lesson in legacy, baseball, and the human condition.

Mickey Mantle as legacy, is fascinating. In terms of baseball, he had all the tools to be the greatest baseball player who ever lived. He had wheels like Ichiro and power like McGwire. He was charismatic and funny. More than anything, Mantle benefited from an America who glorified him at the time of the advent of national television, when personal lives of public figures were still off limits. Kids idolized him, unknowing of his horribly abusive family life, and alcoholism.

Who wouldn't? He was charming and a God on the field. He won the Triple Crown in 1956, and belted 536 career home-runs (372 left, 164 right). This is the guy known for creating the tape-measure home-run. He hit balls regularly out of stadiums. He was MVP three times, played his entire career in the New York pinstripes and led the Yankees to 7 World Series championships.

The story of his career and life is rich and heartbreaking. While a good biography is an important read from time to time, this may not be the one for you unless you are a baseball fan. Let's face it, there are presidents and spiritual leaders to contend with in this category. That being said, Mickey Mantle is a national treasure if you are interested in Americana, the pop culture, and the societal trends of a relatively young nation.

View all my reviews

The Ultimates

2011-01-08T10:26:00.001-08:00

The Ultimates by Mark Millar

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun take on the original Avengers, however still stale. For some reason this doesn't read as fresh as The New Avengers, and I think it is because they are trying too hard to reframe something old, instead of create The Avengers of today (as Bendis has done). The character treatments are all solid, for the most part. The Sam Jackson inspired Nick Fury really fits. The new Thor treatment worked for me, as well. However, The Hulk is far too articulate and the Hollywood actor storypoints are too contrived and pandering. Overall this is worth reading, but I think I'll stick with The New Avengers.

View all my reviews

Happy Holidays!

2011-01-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

My super talented co-conspirator at SuperVillain Studios made this lovely card. Check her out at spartingtonart.com. This is my favorite, of course.

Happy New Year- The Happiness Project

2011-01-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It takes a very certain kind of person to want to read such a book as this, and then another layer of specificity for this book to ring true. It is another person entirely who can take the advice of Gretchen Rubin to heart and implement. I am somewhere between the last two people.

I love reading self-help and growth books. The challenge of growing myself is the challenge I like best in this world. Why else would a chubby girl decide to become a runner? I'm the least flexible and least patient person I know, and I have already decided to dedicate a significant amount of 2011 to Bikram. What I mean to say is, I already agree with the assumption of the book, which is these little thoughts and changes in your life will make you happier. Now I find myself, at the start of 2011, deciding which of these seemingly small truths I may be able to tackle.

If you have never read a book like this, there are a few things similar across the genre. Much like Anne Lamott, or Elizabeth Gilbert, these writers are giving practical life advice. Gretchen offers little lists from time to time. Her personality is much more type A than that of Lamott or Gilbert. Rubin mentions her affinity for note-taking, making lists, and generally a sense of order. Here are a few of her lists:

Always say hello
What would my mother do?
Don't get up in the 5:00's or go to sleep in the 8:00's (A.M. or P.M.)
Down with boredom
Change is good
First things first (ex: eat before a job interview)
Choose the bigger life
Buy anything you want at the grocery store- cooking is always cheaper than eating out
Things have a way of turning out for the best
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

TWELVE COMMANDMENTS
Be Gretchen
Let it go
Act the way I want to feel
Do it now
Be polite and be fair
Enjoy the process
Spend out
Identify the problem
Lighten up
Do what ought to be done
No calculation
There is only love

SECRETS OF ADULTHOOD
People don't notice your mistakes as much as you think
It's ok to ask for help
Most decisions don't require extensive research
Do good, feel good
It's important to be nice to _everyone_
Bring a sweater
By doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished
Soap and water remove most stains
Turning off the computer a few times will often fix a glitch
Ot you can't find something- clean up
You can choose what you do; you can't choose what you _like_ to do
Happiness doesn't always make you feel happy
What you do _every day_ matters more than what you do _once in a while_
You don't have to be good at everything
If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough
Over-the-counter medicines are very effective
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good
What's fun for other people may no be fun for you- and vice versa
People actually prefer that you buy wedding gifts off their registry
You can't profoundly change your children's natures by nagging them or signing them up for classes
No deposit, no return

Rubin breaks the book up into 12 sections. Each month of her year, she would focus on an element of happiness. For example, February: Remember Love. Through document various resolutions and ideas, she comes to a few key truths. Her "First Spendid Truth" is, "To be happy, I need to think about feeling good, feeling bad, feeling right, and a sense of growth." She explains over the course of the book all the little things she does to recognize these kinds of truths. For instance, you can increase what makes you feel good. You can lessen what makes you feel bad. You get the idea.

The tone and personality of this book probably rang more true for me than most. My personality feels very similar. Rubin talks about getting so lost in a to-do list that she will forget what is really important or sacred about the day. But knowing how good she feels getting things done keeps her from ignoring the list. It is a vicious circle- I'm telling you! She also mentions flatly the assumptions she had of how to build happiness- "...the scented-candle-pushing brand of happiness..." But then, in criticizing some of these ideas, comes to see merit in them. I myself, am a recent convert to scented candles. They are like a small luxury deposit. You spend the amount of two coffees up front- but you sip them for several months.

This book, while a prescription for happiness changes, can also be more of a study guide. If you take to heart her methods, you can find the happiness changes which are SPECIFIC to you. A couple of my realizations:

-Lighting matters. I'm a natural light person, I need vitamin D. Also, I need cozy warm light. Light affects my mood and energy tremendously.
-The best place to keep old birthday cards, is hidden in your bookshelf. You don't want to get rid of them, can't stack or clutter them in a closet, so put them where their wisdom can find you at random.
-Just drink more water

Rubin talks about strategies for reframing which help you to stay happier. She notices putting the word "'meditation' after any activity, it suddenly seemed much more high-minded and spiritual: when waiting for the bus, I'd tell myself I was doing 'bus-waiting meditation'; in a slow line at the drugstore, I was doing 'waiting-in-line meditation.'" Currently, I need to focus on my 'car-buying meditation'. Instead of stressing and exerting meaningless energy, I need to focus on patience and reflection in this time of frustration.

You wonder if a book like this comes off as self-righteous or condescending- it doesn't. Gretchen is super grounded, speaks openly of her own challenges and failings, and addresses the concept of judging and how it works with and against happiness. She talks about the misguided belief that, "unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish". In August, while contemplating spirituality, she studies Saint Therese and explores the efforts behind acting happy, regardless.

In September, while focusing on passion, she explores making time for what you love. She speaks to the anxiety involved with finding or declaring a passion, and how you might go about exploring yours. The advice is, 'DO what you DO'. Put another way, 'What do you think about while you are sitting on the toilet? That is what you WANT to think about'. This holds so true. I know I would feel confident in saying my Mother's passion is crosswords, my boyfriend's passion is video games, etc.

I recommend this book for folks who want to grow themselves, and who are committed enough to that to do it when it is a chore. The subjects are not always going to ring through to you, and sometimes you would rather read a comic book (maybe that's just me), but if you can muscle through those times, you are probably better for it. It is not the most brilliant writing you will ever read, nor the most entertaining, but it is definitely beneficial. More beneficial than other things you could spend your time on? Only you could say. If reading and spending time on these issues gets it done for you, then maybe this will get it done. If you are more likely to make changes in your life by seeing Pay It Forward, that is definitely less of a chore and less time consuming.

View all my reviews

Tron: Legacy for iPhone and iPad!

2010-12-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

The latest release from SuperVillain Studios is here! Another edition of our version of Tron is now available on the iTunes store for iPhone and iPad! Hook it up!

SuperVillain's Tron on PSP!

2010-12-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

Big news! Our game came out yesterday! Not to be confused with the Xbox and PS3 versions, which were from different studios... Check it out!

SIGGRAPH SVs on CGChannel

2010-12-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

Check out the CGChannel article on the SIGGRAPH 2011 Student Volunteer Program! It's about getting admission to SIGGRAPH 2011 for FREE!

SIGGRAPH 2011 Student Volunteers Call for Participation!

2010-11-21T21:55:00.001-08:00

It is my pleasure to announce the launch of the SIGGRAPH 2011 Student Volunteer Program. Below is our official Call for Participation. Please help us spread the word to any students and/or colleagues who may be interested. We appreciate your support, and hope to see you in Vancouver!

Your Friendly Neighborhood,

Maya

Click here to visit the online application!

SIGGRAPH 2011 marks the 38th annual conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques and the first time it will travel outside the US. Vancouver, BC here we come!

The SIGGRAPH 2011 Student Volunteer Program is a unique opportunity for students to meet people involved in all areas of the computer graphics industry while contributing to the overall success of the SIGGRAPH Conference.

As a Student Volunteer, you will go behind the scenes to help run an international event, which draws thousands of people who share a passion for advanced computer graphics technologies. In return for your hard work, you will receive complimentary admission to the entire SIGGRAPH 2011 Conference. In addition, there will be a variety of exclusive events coordinated just for you, the Student Volunteers, from special industry-led sessions to résumé and portfolio reviews! Many industry leaders began their journey to stardom with their involvement in the SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer Program... you could be next!

To qualify for the Student Volunteer Program, you need to be a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student enrolled full time for at least one semester during the 2010-2011 school year and be at least 18 years of age before the SIGGRAPH 2011 Conference. The conference will run Sunday, 7 August through Thursday, 11 August, 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. For more details on this wonderful opportunity, please check out:

sv.siggraph.org

In short, the Student Volunteers play an integral part of building the community at SIGGRAPH. Join us and help “Make It Home.”

See you in Vancouver!

Maya Karp

SIGGRAPH 2011 SV Chair

mkarp@siggraph.org

sv.siggraph.org

Under Construction

2010-11-06T12:30:00.001-07:00

Thanks for your patience!

The Hardest Jigsaw

2010-09-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

In further unpacking today, I found some recommendations of strong short films I had been meaning to watch.

Of the shorts I watched today, Eric Anderson's, "The Hardest Jigsaw" is the one I found most compelling. The art style was adorable, but moreover the storytelling and message was particularly strong. I love it when a short film is unafraid of being a little ambiguous, or inexplicably imaginative, in ways which enrich the perspective and journey.

Just Do It.

2010-04-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

I also really like this one

I Showed Up Part 2

2010-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

I Showed Up

2010-04-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

The always illuminous Elizabeth Gilbert gave a great TED on separating the artist from the God in their work. She addresses the creative stigma of the life of an artist and proposes we allow artists to be separate from the genius glimpsed in their work.

Here is the work from the first sets this past Wednesday. Most of these are 1-2 minutes. I felt much looser this week. Throwing these scans on black is an easier and faster import than cutting them together into one image, but I dunno if I care for it as much. We'll give it a chance... The scans of the second half of the session will be up soon.

You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home

2010-03-31T23:22:00.000-07:00

This world is big and it's crazy- that is for sure. It's amazing how we can drift so gradually and slowly we don't feel it over time... Until BANG- You haven't gone to open studio in so long your friends don't know what you look like anymore. (Wait- are we even friends?)

Here's what happened last week:

Kind of a disaster... But I did loosen up, try some new approaches, and get my pencil back on the page. This is more than I had done in quite some time! I will post tonight's drawings soon.

SIGGRAPH Student Volunteers 2010

2010-01-30T10:34:00.001-08:00

It has been a long time since I have posted here- a lot is going on and I want you in the loop!

For my spectacular return, I am happy to announce the 2010 SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer Program.

Come be a part of the world's biggest and greatest conference in computer graphics and interactive techniques! As a Student Volunteer, you will go behind the scenes for an international event that draws thousands of people who share a passion for these advanced technologies, and you will meet and learn directly from industry professionals, artists, and teachers.

As a Student Volunteer, you will have admission to SIGGRAPH 2010's complete program, including Courses, Talks, Technical Papers, Panels, the Reception, and much more, plus many exclusive Student Volunteer events: resumé and portfolio reviews, presentations by industry heavyweights, and mentoring from the industry's stars. Several of these influential figures began their journey into stardom as SIGGRAPH Student Volunteers.

On a personal note- when I first became aware of this program, I was an art student at liberal arts college in Oregon. I had no exposure and knew very few people in the industry. Basically, I was completely disconnected from my future career. After attending SIGGRAPH, I was inserted on a central line to the people who, "are actually doing it." It was a wake-up call, and jump started my entire career. I cannot recommend this program strongly enough.

Also, become a fan of our Official Facebook FanPage here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SIGGRAPH-Student-Volunteers/253757794181

Latest Animation Reel - 480x360

2009-07-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

June 25th Test

2009-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a shorter test. I have always wanted to return to this test, because when I initially attempted it I had such trouble with the popping legs and the settle. This is a marked improvement. Also because from start to finish, I knocked this test out in maybe less than two hours. What could be better about it?

More Short Tests

2009-06-25T12:06:00.001-07:00

Here are some more short tests. I am shooting for one per day, about 60F. Rather than needling them, I am just getting them splined and moving on to the next. Shout out ideas for short mechanics tests, please!

Short Tests

2009-06-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

As I am about to graduate AnimationMentor (wait- seriously?), I feel it is time to revisit some more foundational exercises not only to round out the demo reel, but also to increase my speed and proficiency of execution. Here is a quick loop, please let me know what you think!

2009-05-27T10:42:00.001-07:00

"These are the choices each of us makes not only to do good, but to inspire good in others."

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale examine Superman from the perspective of wholesome Americana. The idea here is more or less that Martha and Jonathan Kent make Clark Super, because they and his origins in Smallville instill in him the character to be Super, more than the power.

It's a nice spin on the story, and I'm always charmed by Time Sale's storytelling choices and draftsmanship. It's not my favorite, but it's a worthy addition to their library of work.

2009-04-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

'>My'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22759807">

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's so informative, it's like eating the New York Times archives. Great fiber. I highly recommend this book if you want to start understanding the conflicts and connectedness of Middle East.

Also- I do not think Friedman's ultimatum prescription as offered by the Israelis unilaterally, would be acceptable to the Palestinians. Even granted the West Bank and Gaza, I do not see the Palestinians being willing to demilitarize and disband the PLO (as if the peoples in West Bank and Gaza would be able to accomplish the demobilization of such a broad sweeping Middle East movement like the PLO). The more I think about it, the more I think the Palestinians would say, "Heck no- this is even less than 1947. And you want us to disarm while you surround us with your huge military? And your argument for this is, 'Take what you can get now. It's all you can get now, and still more than you'll get tomorrow??'" Not sure this would cut the mustard at all. Maybe if the Israeli withdrawal were the leading element of the five year transitional period. Perhaps if the Isralis agreed to a pre-emptive withdrawal, whereby the Palestinians get their absentee elections and establishment of statehood before being asked to completely disarm. In the creation of the official Palestinian state, it should be mandated that they disaffiliate with the PLO. Even this will probably not be possible.

After reading this book, I feel much more comfortable in just entering this discussion. However, unfortunately, I am a lot less optimistic of a compromise or a solution. I am far more hopeful though, that it is possible to understand and untangle the mystery of the conflicts. I look forward to learning more as the situation develops. I am hopeful the situation evolves.

View'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/935997-maya">View all my reviews.

Figure Studies from Earlier in April

2009-04-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

Work Notes

2009-04-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

My notes at work, overtime, just become sprawling pages of doodles. Recently, I watched a bunch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. I did clean these up a bit in the scanning to eliminate any work specific notes which should not be online.

Super Friends

2009-04-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

I always thought it would be killer to have a tribute website to all my amazing friends. They are so inspiring, hilarious, and just downright solid. They are Super Friends who deserve more than these doodles and this blog post. Super Friends, you know who you are!

More Film Studies

2009-04-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

As in all education, there are tons of recommended exercises and readings to enrich your studies. In AnimationMentor's Preproduction Class, one such recommendation is to sketch while you watch film, paying close attention to camera cuts and composition within the frame. As you watch, draw shots which exemplify your studies.

Below are some doodles from when I recently watched Dr. Horrible for prolly the 10th time. The different framings and perspectives are really strong, as is the eye direction and focus in every shot.

Mentors

2009-04-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have been slow on posting doodles, so here is my last mentor (Jed Diffenderfer) and new mentor (Sean Sexton), respectively.

Color Me Badd

2009-03-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have discovered the merits of shopping. Myself, never been a huge fan of the overly materialistic- aka. malls kinda scare me a little bit to death. However, there is a difference between shopping and buying. Shopping allows you to view a lot of ideas and decide what you like. Reminds me a lot of reading, or going to lectures. The more you do it, the more informed your own perspective on the subject.

The subject in question of course, is color. Here are some concepts I think I prefer:

-Bold use of color
-Yellows and reds
-Bold use of pattern (stripes, polka dots, etc)
-High contrast
-The 80s/Early 90s

Were you to ask me to come up with a color scheme for an awesome dress, it might look something like this:

Just A Little Research Project

2009-03-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

Here is how it went down: I am watching The Matrix, as I often do when I need a little inspiration or zip, and I realized something shocking- this use of color looks so familiar...

I have always been aware of the brilliant use of greens to go for the computerized feel, kinda alien, the list goes on, etc... The cross-color-wheel emphasis moves they put on red...

But specifically HOW the color and design of the film worked did not connect for me, until seeing this movie after my post on Superman Returns. Why? There is no coincidence. IMDB the name Hugh Bateup and get back to me.

Lip Sync Practice- Kimono

2009-03-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

**UPDATED
Got a slightly updated version of this clip, since my post this weekend.

Just a dialogue shot I've been working on recently for practice. Here I am working on speed and workflow, for the most part. I need to do a couple clean-up passes, particularly on the eyes.

Superman Returns - COLOR

2009-03-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

Directing, cinematography, and overall film making are absolutely mesmerizing to me. As I am preparing for my own short film, I am fascinated by every aspect of film design- particularly in this case, color palette.

The latest love affair comes from where ya might least expect it- Superman Returns. A movie which I should have loved regardless, because I grew up with comics. But, I regrettably only saw it once and was a little dismissive of it for poorly developed reasons.

In seeing this moving in passing on TV, it was instantly striking in how well directed and assembled it is as a whole. The compositions within the frame, the storytelling which checks in with all the characters present in every scene, and most of all- the fantastic dedication to the color palette.

The use of blue and brown is specific and deliberate throughout the entire film. It seems to be juxtaposing heroism with ordinary, while also going for a timeless feeling.

Below I have taken a bunch of random screenshots to illustrate my point. Notice here, the sets are overwhelmingly brown or blue, with highlights of the other color.

Notice in the next two shots, the smallest details are maximized, like the TVs glowing blue in every scene in which they appear, or the subtle blue rim lighting on the background of the rooftop scene. The colors even seem treated such that the pool table is blue in the boat shot.

Below here we see two more awesome shots, where colors are chosen specifically, and not at all arbitrarily. Jason's shirt and the airplane's display are deliberately featuring the color palette.

Lois is in brown the entire film, and her contrast is of course the blue of Superman. In each shot, her brown lets the blue stand out. Both pop because of each other.

Now contrast all of that, with the last two images below. They basically pull you out of the context, by using green and yellow in a big way. Here we see Lois is unconscious after seeing the return of Superman. Clearly, not popping off a background of blue. Additionally, saving green for these moments, really enhances the use of Kryptonite both thematically and within the color script.

If you wrote this movie off, give it another whirl just for the design. This is consistent and dominate throughout the film- super radical.

Thanks for letting me nerd out.

Slaughterhouse-Five

2009-03-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Vonnegut's whimsical style tackles horrific fact in this book about the bombing in Dresden. The juxtaposition of fate and freewill captivates me, and is a large part of Vonnegut's novel. Vonnegut seems to be making his argument for fate in, Slaughterhouse-Five.

I think Darwin and science definitely contribute to the fated side of the discussion. Meanwhile, the human mind and soul can transcend numbers and science in all kinds of creative and non-linear ways. Whether that is just coping with fate and inevitable circumstance or changing reality, seems to be the question. "So it goes."

March 13th - Crowfeet Wrinkles!

2009-03-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you can't wait to have crowfeet wrinkles!

I apologize for the extended hiatus from the blog... Holy smokes, time flies! Not to worry, I have been drawing... Although, the newsprint paper does seem to have nice laugh lines from aging. I need to scan these before they sit around smiling too long next time...

A couple of different models are featured here, as this is a collection of a couple of different sessions. I picked all of these for different reasons- not just for the colors... Some have nice attitude, some are more anatomically focused, others are exaggerated a little more for design. I seem to have this tendency.

BOLT- The Super Dog!

2008-11-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

Proud to say I saw Bolt the Super Dog this weekend. I think this movie marks a real distinction in production for Disney's CG features. I was pretty impressed!

One might expect to see a pretty standard take on a story about a dog who does anything for "their person," in the traditional "fish out of water," character arc. The archtypal story was definitely still classic and sweet.

In terms of animation and acting choices, there were some really brilliant moments, as well! And for all you folks with hearts of coal- you might tear up. I said it. Additionally, there is some nice spicy comedy and a lightheartedness. Also, there is a neat montage with some cool art direction and varying styles.

Go enjoy it!

The Last Three Weeks in Figures

2008-11-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

Old Postcards

2008-10-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

Breaking news: My computer was felled last night in a hostile takeover by my Windows Installer software. I will be bombing it today and reloading all my software from the ground-up. The good news? In this process, I'm finding old files which maybe never have been posted up. Here's an old postcard I made...

Mark Barrett

2008-10-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

My friend Mark drew in a figure drawing sesh a couple weeks ago. I've been meaning to post it. Thanks, Mark!

Peter Pan Card

2008-10-26T22:40:00.000-07:00

Just sharing this beautiful card I received recently.

Another Funny

2008-10-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

I cannot say how I keep finding these random nuggets of hilarity. Well, except I was at IKEA yesterday and I work at Nintendo. So these two examples happen to make a lot of sense... Nevertheless- both have given me lots of laughs! Hope you enjoy!

The Funniest

2008-10-18T21:15:00.001-07:00

This picture is the funniest thing, I have seen, in a long long while. If you don't see it immediately, allow me to point it out...

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh does it GET any funnier?!

The Last Two Weeks

2008-10-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

It's been busy over here in the great land of Karpathia. I hope to post some pictures of my new digs soon. In the meantime, it's all I can do to get some scans from the last drawing sessions.

The Phantom Tollbooth

2008-10-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

Super adorable! You will want to read this to your little neighbor or kid sister. It reminds me of Maywood Hills Elementary... I would like to try to read a young reader book like this every Fall. It seems to be just the spirit!

The Phantom Tollbooth is a younger and sweeter Alice and Wonderland- but in an educational light (as opposed to a "cracked out" light).

A disengaged youth named Milo, travels to the land of Wisedom via Phantom Tollbooth, where he is teamed with the watchdog, Tock, and the Humbug to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason. Milo acquires sights, sounds, words, numbers, and a magic staff (aka pencil), with which to navigate his adventure through Dictionopolis, The Doldrums, Point of View, Conclusions, Digitopolis, etc...

The lessons of this book and the land of Wisdom are more than relevant for readers of any age. Milo learns the value of being attentive and curious... "...so many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible."

Norton Juster is also the author of, The Dot and The Line, which became an Academy Award winning animation by Chuck Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmSbdvzbOzY

Today's Drawings

2008-09-19T00:03:00.001-07:00

For Now

2008-09-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the, "Final," of the exercise I had mentioned last week. Subject to change, although I want to dive into a few more practice projects before school gets going again.

Sept 11, 2008 - Figures

2008-09-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Principles

2008-09-10T12:14:00.001-07:00

You may have seen these before. It is pretty interesting to think about the persistence of vision, and which rules can be broken under what circumstances...

Here is a test I am working on with some friends. The trick to this test is: You may not use the Graph Editor. It is step-framed and keyed on every frame. This is a tremendous exercise and I highly recommend it!

Destructing Message

2008-09-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Ever want to destroy all the evidence? Here's a way to send a self-destructing e-mail! Check out my NOA buddy's DestructingMessage.com, and his critical acclaim in PC World! Way to go, Edwards!

September Light

2008-09-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

There is something about September and the light at about 7pm (and 7am- though in a different way), which just mesmerizes me. It is almost as though time stands still for about an hour. Certain songs have this affect on me, as well. Namely, "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You," by the Beatles, and "American Girl," by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. There are a few others, ("Dancing In The Moonlight," Van Morrison) which I come to mind the more I think about it.

Anyway, I made some more cards to enjoy the September light. I can practically smell the bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils!

The Color IQ Test

2008-09-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a friend sent me this Color IQ Test.

The idea here is to arrange the color gradients from one extreme to the other, as accurately as possible. Enjoy!

Warning: It may be straining on your eyes. If you are sensitive to computer screens or those "hidden-image-cross-your-eyes" puzzles, go easy.

Look at my awesome score! Yeaaa!

The Book Club Goes Legit

2008-09-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

Big news- My nerdy book club is making a splash at the local indie book store, Third Place Books.

We will have a little shelf with some other book clubs. You will always be able to see what we are reading, and if you are in our club- you get 20% off the current book. Neato! We are currently completing the Chronicles of Narnia, and next up is Thomas Mann's, Death in Venice and Other Stories. After that, The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand.

This momentous occasion called for a creative outlet! So, I made a custom double-sided bookmark for club books :)

2008-08-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

Have you all heard of aniboom.com? It's a free, online animation tool. Check it out here! It is quite an interesting tool, and only takes a few seconds to figure out. You can even upload and convert GIFs. Neato!

Happy Birthday, Rachelle!

2008-07-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Barrel Fever

2008-07-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

I was skeptical, initially, that this book could be funnier than, "Me Talk Pretty One Day," which was my reigning Sedaris champion. My favorite shorts are by far, Jamboree (a tale about the formation of broken family), Barrel Fever (an alcoholic son, named Adolf), and the essay, Diary of a Smoker. Of course, also concluding this book, are the famed Santaland Diaries.

I had an interesting realization about character animation through reading this book. The way Sedaris writes and depicts his character is so vivid, and I think particularly effective, because each character TELLS you exactly who they are. Their dialogue conveys their personality and their intention at the same time. This leaves the secondary action in perfectly isolated additional sentences which flavor the characters. Moreover, most characters have little to no physical description.

Below is a short excerpt in which we meet the mother in the short, "Barrel Fever." There are plenty of stronger examples of my idea as it pertains to character acting/animation, but this was the first one I found at the time of writing... I apologize for my lack of commitment!

Anyway, here the mother is spending a week in the hospital with cancerous lymph nodes (btw Sedaris shorts are comedic- try not to get too concerned here), and her roommate is a lupus patient named Mrs. Gails. Mrs. Gails, "...never said a word but watched television constantly at top volume... Possessing no apparent standards she'd watch anything, expressing no more interest in a golf match than a nature program..."

Begin excerpt:
"You got any questions about the grazing habits of the adolescent North American bull moose?" my mother asked, fidgeting with the plastic bracelet on her wrist. "I complained to the nurses about the volume but all they do is point to their ears and whisper that she's got a hearing problem. If she's got such a hearing problem then why are they whispering about her? She can hear the food cart from down the hall. I've seen it with my own eyes. She perks up and rubs her hands together and over what? That foraging moose of hers will sit down to a better meal than anything she's likely to get in this place. I want that woman dead." (131-32)
End excerpt.

What I find so awesome about this style of writing characters, is the straight dialogue. You will notice there are no descriptions of the mother's age, appearance, or expressions. Nor are there reactions from the others in the room. The reader knows the all about the mother and that she is greatly irritated with just the dialogue. All of her character is given simply by what she is saying. There is only one piece of the section which is not spoken. Were this shot animated, this can be seen as a perfect peppering of secondary action, '...fidgeting with the plastic bracelet on her wrist.' The action enhances the characterization as irritated, an older lady, and probably really tacky. We can infer much more about the character just in the way she is getting her points across. The section is full of rhetorical questions and extremely pointed observations about the situation. She 'complains,' but we are also led to believe her complaints fall on deaf ears (in a humorous twist). The mother then also feels neglected, in addition to suspicious, spiteful and bitter.

All this with no physical description. Practically monologue. Awesome.

Blocking

2008-07-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hi all- here is the current body mechanics shot I'm working on... please crit away on anything and everything! At this point, I'm starting to pepper in breakdowns, so if you see gapping holes- call 'em out! Thanks in advance!

Thurs the 3rd

2008-07-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend for the 4th! Here are some drawings from the Thursday prior... I had a really tough time getting warmed-up... When that happens I switch colors and mediums like crazy. I also fallback on drawing superheros to try to loosen up. SUE ME.

Go Figure!

2008-06-20T13:46:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest figure studies from last night's session. I'm less pleased with these... I'm trying a little more experimentation in terms of mediums and how I hold the pencil depending on what style I want to execute. I like super soft pencils and newsprint for 30 sec gestures, and generally a Prisma color or something smooth for a five minute pose. As for longer poses, maybe chalk? I'm not so sure about the charcoal these days...

Rough Night

2008-06-13T10:01:00.001-07:00

I had a little trouble getting a good vibe going last night. Do you ever have those sessions when you are just in the flow and you can feel the drawing without thinking? Ok, well that was most definitely not last night. Nevertheless, here are some of scans... I'm pretty sure I like top left best because of the way the angles are working together. But at the same time it feels very stiff. As though the contour dynamism is a trade-off with lifelessness?

To Polish

2008-06-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Time to start polishing this shot. Do you have any polishing tips or tricks of the trade? What do you look for in a super refined finished piece of character animation? Feel free to post or chat me :)

Surprise! More Hand Pose Tests

2008-06-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Hey all. This week our hand pose test is for surprise. What might you change about the following pose, and why?

The 1st Dialogue Test- Moving to Spline

2008-06-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the IP of my first dialogue test with AM. At this point, I do not have the facial rig, so we are only refining the body acting while roughing in the eyes, blinks, and jaw positions. The primary thought behind restricting the facial expressions and lipsync is to nail down the body attitudes.

At this point, parts of the shot are moving to spline, while other things are still firmly rooted in linear. This week, I'll be finessing some hand poses and little things while adding keep alive and moving everything into spline.

The Thursday Go Figure

2008-05-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

The deal is this figure drawing group meets each Thursday night. Even when my drawings are junk, I will post them up and label the post under Thurs Go Figure. It's great practice and hopefully I'll be able to chart some progress!

Of note this week:

The PITT pure graphite made by Faber-Castell is really smooth on newsprint for gestures. I am trying new things and this is noteworthly.

In addition to the obligatory Prisma colored pencils, it turns out Prangs are pretty decent as well. They are not nearly as soft, but they are pretty quick for 5 minute poses, I find.

Hands

2008-05-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hand poses are super expressive. But also really tricky, as there is a lot to manage and finesse.

Below are two very similar hands. Which one do you prefer for the pose, and why?

Figure Drawing Practice

2008-05-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

In unrelated news, I've finally found a fantastic figure drawing group to help me get back in shape. Spending way too much time at the computer... We did one minute gestures and then 25 minute poses, as well.

Blocking Test

2008-05-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

The clip has been selected and now we are onto the challenge of how to best stage it. Staging seems to be an issue which plagues me, so I thought I would do two rough passes and get some feedback before I commit to the shot.

Here's the deal:
A wide shot which establishes more context and setting

A closer shot which is more conversational and allowing for more subtlety of facial acting

Now, personally, it strikes me as odd to have dialogue in an establishing or wider shot. It seems like you would have the character enter and hit the elevator button, then cut in a little closer for the dialogue. Particularly, since this is not a monologue. With dialogue which is directed at another character a closer camera seems more conversational. In this case however, we have specific references to the setting in the dialogue. Does that merit or necessitate the inclusion of setting in the shot? Might I include a bell or passport on the desk to help stage the closer shot? Another interesting question- would that be too similar to the shot as it stands in the film I borrowed the clip from, and when/how/why/is that wrong? This is a tricky dilemma- sound off!

...And the Nominees are...

2008-05-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am about to start my first dialogue test- can you believe it? (Me neither. Seriously.) Please let me know what you think of these three lines. I was looking for a few specific things while sorting through options and these are the finalists because:

1. They have an emotional/attitude change, and pauses for thought
2. The tonality of the voice inherently displays character
3. The voices are clean, there's not too much background noise or other voices
4. No profanity or anything offensive
5. They inspire me instantly

What do you look for in choosing dialogue tests? What else might I consider? How do you sort out the front runners, and which of these three is your favorite?

Tomb Raider

2008-04-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

Thumbnailing Tomb Raider moves. Thanks for the practice TBS!

Lotto_BlockingPlus

2008-04-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Hey friends

Here is the plussed blocking pass of my lottery shot. Plenty to work on here! (For instance, try using some IK arms next time.. hahaha good times!)

The assignment is to communicate an attitude and emotional change in 200-250 frames. Please share your ideas on clarity, timing and all the things you like or would change about this shot.

OOOdles of Doodles

2008-04-17T07:04:00.001-07:00

I have this notebook I started in college. It's a funny thing, but it's for collecting the doodles you literally don't want to lose. Maybe you did the drawing on the back of schedule at work, or on a napkin... You always mean to keep those doodles. So I started this notebook where when I can, I sit down and tape in these little scraps of drawings. For one reason or another there was something about the doodle I wanted to remember or archive. That's how this blog got started, too! Although, I tend to take the tape residue out in Photoshop... I'll be back with my new test for AM soon!

Too Much!

2008-03-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hi friends-

Please rip into this like there's no tomorrow.

I've learned a ton- primarily not to have TOO MUCH constant movement and action in a shot. You really have to think about pacing so you avoid the CONSTANT flailing. Hahaha... And the floaty-computer feeling...

Rendering Wireframes

2008-03-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

I'm having a little trouble setting-up for high quality Maya wireframe renders. As of now, I'm using the Vector Render, with the operative, "Include edges." For some reason, I'm only getting bits and pieces of my model? Can anyone explain what is happening here?

Dumped ON

2008-03-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the reblock of my last body mechanics shot of the term at AM. The assignment requirements are to push/pull a heavy object in 200-250 frames.

I'm really looking for a better camera angle- if I go to the other side so the viewer can see the truck approach, I lose the action and eyes of the character. If I stay here, the action and body mechanics are clear (which is the priority), but there is little set-up for the viewer. Where do you come down on this heated debate?

Also, where can I pick-up some time? I need to add a lot of breakdowns, clearly, but where can I maybe make some cuts to cushion the gag a little more?

I'm losing my eyes here, so I think I'll let it be for a day or so. Please let me know what you think!

WU WU! (Carolyn!)

2008-03-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the later tests. Due to fabulous tips from some friends, I am using Mental Ray- which hugely over-simplifies the lighting process for me. What do you think and what would you improve/change?

2008-03-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a little project for my University of old, Willamette U. Willamette is the tightest, so let's get that out there right now.

Anyway, I'm doing a few things with their logo (turntable animation for website, wireframe stills... etc). One thing I would like to do, is have a nice, well-lit still image, which they could use in an upcoming alumni publication. Here is a test of some lighting experimentation thus far...

I'm no pro with lighting in Maya, so if any of ya'll feel comfortable with that, help me out! I have highlighted two primary areas of concern-
1. The contrast/rendering of a glass effect, and how that is lit with ray tracing.
2. The abrupt edge on my shadow.

Other things to think about:
Best set-ups for 3-pt lighting?
Using fog with a light yellow tint (for warmth) from a spotlight?
Padding with point lights?

Solved!

2008-02-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

Oh snap you guys... Problem solving and troubleshooting are my favorite things to do! I'm so awesome. Hahahaha... Aw man...

Here is my solution to the blocking problem:

Block with the body translate curve (yellow triangle deal). THEN write down all the rotations of that curve- delete them. Leave all the poses as they are (even though, rotationally they will be off when you delete those main curve rotations). And then go back and paste in the corresponding rotations to the hips and lower spine ONLY.

To do this enables you to have an element of pose to pose, but then at some point, you delete part of that for straight ahead.

Hope this makes sense to anyone who is hurdling this challenge!

Blocking a Cross-Screen 180?

2008-02-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

Dear friends in animation-
If you were attempting to block a shot, in which on F1 you are facing screen right, and F100 you are facing screen left (a complete 180 over the course of traveling the screen), how would you block the rotations? Would you use the Master Node? Plan to counter-animate? Because if you block those poses, how do you set the inbetween rotational poses?

What Happened to the Sock Hop/ Ice-Cream Social?

2008-02-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

I'm approaching polishing on this hop shot- holler at your girl with your thoughts! It's time to put this one to bed!

LAN Adapter- seriously?

2008-02-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

It's surprisingly still in use and it can make you late. Error code 51420? Text your running buddy immediately and let her know you will be stuck at work.

I want wires completely obsolete in the next two years and no I do not think that is too much to ask.

...I would also like to see some hover cars.

T....T-R-U....T-R-U-C-K, keep on truckin' all the way!

2008-02-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Heyo- fast times, we are in the refining process for the next body mechanics shot! So with this one, a couple of things are going on:
1. We have one more week to refine. I'm really hoping this will be polished, believable, and actually feel finished before it's ripped away from me.
2. My mentor challenged me to block in linear. It was awful. I learned a lot, but it really altered my workflow and transition from Blocking Plus to spline... in that, I feel I never really got to be in JUST Blocking Plus.
3. Keeping the body "alive" in subtle movements is much harder than I had anticipated, so now I see why my mentor recommends doing these exercises "dry," and without frills of acting or quick movements.

So there are spacing issues on the left leg on the way into the hop and out of the hop. Also I think the head still feels loose (IT'S SO BIG!). Any ideas?

Resume UPDATE

2008-02-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

So I'm going through the process of updating my resume. This is always a worthwhile process, because I never seem to keep it up to date or looking halfway decet. Here's where it's at now:

Relaxing...

2008-02-12T09:37:00.001-08:00

I love to make postcards...

I just finished reading Eat, Pray, Love. Makes me want to go swimming in Bali... This is me bringing that sentiment to Bothell, WA.

Revision Work 180

2008-02-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Hey all-
Fast times these days... Here is how the shot is revising. I'm starting my new mechanics test and will have that block up this week :)

Moving to Spline

2008-01-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

This next week we'll start planning our new shots and finishing this one up. Here is my submission for critique. There are lot more tweaks for this, so lemme know what you see with those fresh and beautiful eyes of yours!

180 Block Plus

2008-01-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

Here we have a set of revisions from the last block. Some tweaks in foot placement and even the weight shifts. Also, I've begun adding in the Squash'n'Stretch and taken the Y-Trans to spline (as per Mentor recommendation at this point).

I think this will end up coming closer to spline as the week goes on and transition threw Block Plus over the weekend. Anyhow, time to step away and let it simmer... Holler your thoughts!

180 Block

2008-01-19T23:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the blocking of my 180 shot for the week. At this point, it could completely change direction (heh- 180) once I get the feedback from my mentor. So it's time to "let it lie."

"Wanna get a motel room tonight? See what I did?
I didn't let it lie- I said I would, and I didn't..."

The Blocking IP

2008-01-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

So here is the IP of my turnaround. Basically, I'm going for that standoffish/stubborn storm off. Lemme know what you see... There's still time to add a bunch more breakdowns... :)

Weight Shifts

2008-01-12T15:40:00.001-08:00

This week marks the beginning of some more advanced hip studies and weight shifting. Here are some thumbnails of a 180 animation I'll be working on in the next few weeks...

To try out a few other things, I messed around with some traditional animation leg lifting...

UPDATE: Term 1

2008-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Today marks day one of Term 2. I continue to work on the assignments from the 1st Term... Here's the current status of that progress...

Putting things in perspective...

2007-12-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

Both figuratively, and literally... Here is my 'vanilla' walk from my first term at AM. There's still plenty more to tweak in it. I'm pretty sure at this point there always will be.

Happy Holidays!

Retooling

2007-12-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hey all-

I apologize for the hiatus. I just finished my first term with AM! Time is flying now between work and school.

I've been spending the week refining my personality walk, because I've been extremely dissatisfied with it. Basically, I'm shaving it down to the essential personality in a stride. Through using one stride four times, I hope the trait will be repeated enough to convey the personality.

The lesson? If you want to get your point across, sometimes explaining it four different ways only confuses the viewer. Just show them the point four times.

I will post the new block soon. Stay tuned and happy holidays!

Playing

2007-12-18T07:51:00.001-08:00

I'm super busy with working fulltime and AM. So sometimes, if I'm on hold at work, I just want to play. When I keep track of the doodles, I'll put 'em up here as proof that I can still be silly like it's my job.

Balance Revision

2007-12-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

Alright here is my Balance pose after lots of tweaking...

Balance

2007-12-13T23:31:00.001-08:00

The pose test this week is for Balance. What do you think?? Maybe I just really wish I were ice-skating and enjoying the holidays... I need Dutch!

Getting tired...*

2007-12-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

Calling all cars- I can use all the help I can get here. ...Just getting started on this personality walk and blocking it out. I'm going for that slow stroll you do when you are on the phone and wandering aimlessly. YOU KNOW the one... But I've got a 100 frame count! So I think I might have to cut that foot rock I've got started at the front? Help me out. Find me the time! ;)

*Updated video Sat the 8th*

Pushing it...

2007-12-07T00:03:00.001-08:00

Ok here's the next version. Thank you for all for all your comments (posted or otherwise ;) ! I hope to post my stepped personality walk and revised canned walk this weekend. Stay tuned!

I've seen this pose before...

2007-12-05T23:41:00.000-08:00

This week, the pose exercise is to capture 'exhaustion.' Here is my first blocking out of my pose. There are lots of spots that bother me about it, so let me know what you think. I know that slack arm bothers you too... How would YOU adjust the shoulders?

And secondly, this is my pose from last week with a few changes made. The pose goal is 'concern.' What would you change?
Thank you, friends. I hope you are all happy and healthy!