Friday, June 18, 2010

Keep on Sketching!

As promised here are the latest sketches from my day out at the zoo last Wednesday. I can't emphasize enough how much I love ebony pencils. My film is going as planned, and there is little to update with that. I plan to upload my 11second club entry WIP as soon as I push it a little more. Committing to an 11 Second Club animation whilst also doing freelance and my film has been tough, but it's a learning experience and I never want to waist a good learning experience.

Enjoy said zoo pictures below.

I do so love drawing Giraffes


Finally got to see the polar bear and he did not disappoint.


One of the seals had cataract, made for a very frighting sight so close to the glass.


Got to see the Kangaroos up close, though they were sleeping. Lazy buggers.


The antelope/gazelles or whatever they were, were very active and fun to draw.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Updates from Billions of years ago

Things have been going well as of late. One of the coolest updates I can share with you is the purchase of my very first fossil. I got it at a great price, as most half this size go for 40 or so bucks, I snagged this beauty for 15. It's real, the people I bought this off of are a local store that purchases and sells precious stones and minerals from archeologists, miners, etc. and so I have confidence in their ability to discern fake from authentic.

I use it now to remind me of the great diversity of life, the vastness of all the creatures that have come before me and died so many years ago. It shows me how precious and finite life can be in this great cosmic arena, and so it is my duty to make it the best one possible.
Measuring in at 4" this is one of the larger Trilobites I have seen.

In other news, I'm keeping up as best I can with the zoo schedule. My Wednesdays are pretty jam packed. In the morning I get up and head for the zoo around noon, making sure to bring pencils, a sketchbook, and sunscreen. By the time I leave at 5 I have an hour to get back home, get some lunch and then it's off to the urban farm at which I volunteer from 6-8. After that is done I can relax and enjoy 'Wing Wednesdays' with all of my great friends and roommates at Buffalo Wild Wings. Wednesday brings a great sense of accomplishment and ends it with friends, it is by far the day I look foward to the most.

Below: Pictures from the zoo!

Giraffe eager for some treats.


The polar bear swam right over our heads!


The lions were actually pretty active, a welcome situation for any artist.

I don't know when I plan to upload my sketches, but there were plenty to be had.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Snafu and Animation

"I just learned a secret it's a honey it's a pip! But the enemy is listening so I'll never let it slip!" Working on some Snafu related projects for a friend of mine. Other than making character sheets I'm also story boarding some sequences. That's the only tip I can drop on it at the moment. Until then feel free to enjoy some little Snafu character studies I've been doing.

Golly that's a lot, hope he makes it!


Pip as ever, and how!


Given them Nazis a belly fulla lead!

A good soldiers always remembers his gas mask.

What a dumb sod what a clown, just the kind of boob who lets his battery run down!

In other news I am happy to report that I am on schedule with my film. Animating a scene, sometimes two, a day has been a hassle but one can't argue with the results. Bottom pile used to be only just a few scenes of fully animated film, now the tide seems to be turning in the other direction. If I can keep this up I should be ready to tie down earlier than expected!
Rough Animation (Top shelf) compared to Full Animation (Bottom shelf)