Imagination Dump

Fat Frog

2011-08-18T20:10:00.001-05:00

Based on a sketch by one of my favorite character designers =]

Peter De Seve

SpongeBob SquarePants!!!!!!!!

2011-08-13T11:14:00.004-05:00

personal project I've been working on based on a design by Robert RyanCory

Expression Study - Excited

2011-08-07T13:16:00.000-05:00

Expression Study - Skeptical

2011-08-06T12:51:00.003-05:00

More of these to come.

more faces

2011-07-25T08:04:00.002-05:00

Six Face

2011-07-22T09:43:00.002-05:00

I've been drawing quite a bit out of one of my favorite Facial Expression Books lately.

It's about damn time.

2011-03-13T23:09:00.003-05:00

I'm finally going to do something I've talked about doing for some time now, and that's to document my process.

I find that anytime I'm showing someone how I do something, I always end up learning something myself.

So I hope this is a step in that direction.

OH baby jizzlington...on...on...onopolis

2009-06-11T23:04:00.001-05:00

DOMINANCE WAR IV

2009-03-23T00:25:00.002-05:00

My Gooba AND Mario WIPs...

2008-09-06T11:24:00.003-05:00

The project is coming along nicely...I am working on Mario right now, and since he will change quite a bit from this initial version... I'll share that as well...

I know I shouldn't....

2008-08-05T12:25:00.003-05:00

because I usually jinx it...but I'm having such a blast with this project, and the momentum is so high I had to share a little bit...

Hooray...

2008-05-05T00:37:00.003-05:00

got a close to final version of the dog for now...

shouts go out to my homies at ReelFX... Tom, Christian, and Drew for helping me get it this far...

I'll call this model good, and I'll start working on the truck and the little boy...

Doggie Deux...

2008-04-22T01:07:00.003-05:00

cleaned up the model and I'm getting close to final...

may or may not keep the tongue...

Rough Doggie Model...

2008-04-15T00:45:00.002-05:00

more doggies for the film...

2008-04-10T00:38:00.003-05:00

fat kid design for my short film...

2008-04-07T00:31:00.003-05:00

Creature...

2008-04-01T00:10:00.003-05:00

I'm working on right now for fun...

and another possible head...

Mud Sketches...

2008-03-20T00:27:00.002-05:00

Alien Octo???

2008-02-18T23:30:00.002-06:00

Having some fun with sketchbook pro =]

08 dogs pt.1

2008-02-15T23:35:00.002-06:00

horrible painting... but I want to see where I can go if I break through the frustration...

Bobby Chiu ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

2007-10-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

I decided to get off my lazy butt and compete in CGtalks HardCore Halloween Modeling Challenge, mostly because I like the name... =]

Anyway, I'm gonna tackle this concept by Bobby Chiu... and hopefully this post will be the first of many as I upgrade my portfolio and ultimately my demo reel...

Head from Box...

2007-06-25T16:36:00.000-05:00

Not sure if you guys will be able to see this, but I have kept plugging away in Mudbox and I created this head from a box last night...

It isn't much to look at, but 6 or so months ago, I couldn't fathom being able to do something like this...

So to actually reach the point where I can do something like this from nothing, is pretty cool... to me... =]

Up until now, I have been using a base head low poly face, and just adding details here and there, and moving landmarks around, but this is all brush strokes in Mud... Anyway, just wanted to share...

Man...

2007-05-10T00:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long lack of posts guys.

I've been pretty busy with work... yes WORK!!!!!!!!! But I have been neglecting the blog, and I will now remedy that...

This is a concept I wanted to do, just because I have been wanting to do some type of demon dog for a while now, and this is what I came up with...

C@C are welcome...

Enuva HB WIP Update...

2007-01-17T07:50:00.000-06:00

Just made a few changes requested on the Tweak forum...

Hellboy Update...

2007-01-14T10:39:00.000-06:00

here's an update... about to start sculpting in Mudbox...

Hellboy WIP...

2007-01-11T00:28:00.000-06:00

More Mudbox fun...I plan on doing the entire character for this one...

My latest Mudboxin'

2007-01-06T03:04:00.000-06:00

Here's a head I did in Mudbox today...spent about 4 hours on him... kind of curious what the rest of him looks like... =)

The Champ...

2007-01-03T03:09:00.000-06:00

I've recently been trying to get a bit more serious about all of my work, and in that vein, I have been watching the Bob Kato DVD's from the gnomon website...

If you need help drawing the human head, and looking for new approaches to making head drawing fun, this series of dvd's are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, this is a sketch I did earlier tonight, and wanted to take a tiny bit further...

quick giraffe concept...

2006-12-19T23:06:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update... I pulled an all-nighter to get a potential employer this model...

Hope you enjoy...

Realistic Human Attempt...

2006-12-17T09:01:00.000-06:00

So I had to stop my last model of the cool character Sylvain Marc designed, in order to try and get a job... =]

I'm doing this character as a test for a local commercial company in the hopes I may get some work out of the deal...

Overall I'm pleased with him, and I feel he's getting closer to finished, so I figured I'd post him for you guys to check out...

Cross your fingers...

Tall Hat Guy???

2006-12-13T14:20:00.000-06:00

I have no idea where this guy came from...

but I guess that's why I called this blog imagination DUMP... =]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!

2006-11-19T01:05:00.000-06:00

What an AWESOME UFC!!!!!

I don't ever talk about it hear, but I am a gigantic Mixed Martial Arts fan... and tonights' UFC was one for the books, with the exception of Tim Sylvia's fight...

I'm so freakin' amped about it now I can't sleep, cus I've worked myself into a tizzy...which isn't difficult to do...

Anyway... I have been trying some new things in regards to my modeling... since apparently the old way wan't working... I mean with me still being unemployed and all... =]

I was very inspired by a recent post by Sylvain Marc, and decided to do a character based on one of his awesome designs...

I'm bascially starting over, and creating a new demo reel, so this will be the cartoony character for my reel... I hope to texture, rig, and just do an all around cool job on this guy, and I figured what better way to document his progress than here on the old, art deprived, BLOG...

So anyway... enough of my rambling... hopefully more posts in the coming days with better and better versions of this chap...

p.s. this is just the low-poly blocked in version figuring out proportions, and stuff like that...

Clint Eastwood Alien...

2006-10-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

update to the previous post... I think I'm starting to overwork this one, and I should start on another, so I'll call this guy done for now... very fun little test, and digital sculpting is a blast...

MUDBOX ROX!!!!!

2006-10-15T01:09:00.000-05:00

Man, I had so much fun playing with MudBox today... a friend of mine let me play with it on his sytem and it is so freakin' awesome...

Anyway, I don't know what this thing is, but I had a blast creating it...

I'm gonna play with it some more when I get a chance, so hopefully I'll have an update soon...

today's fruit...

2006-09-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

okay, just a quick update... my buddy Isaac has been preasuring me to start modeling my little boy character, and I'm getting closer to a design I like... I came up with this today at drawing time with my daughter...

comments and critiques are certainly welcome...

I'm planning on coloring this image in a style I learned during Ant Bully, hopefully it will come close to the level of coolness that concept art had...

NewTitle =]

2006-09-21T01:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know it's nothing to be excited about, but I updated the blog title, as well as, adding a couple of drawings =]

The first two were experiments with a cuter fat kid... but I felt these were getting to cute, and I want this guy to be odd... so they are out... but I still liked them =]

The last one was odd enough, but my daughter took the liberty of giving me her opinion on him using a sharpie marker she was drawing with at the time...

I tried to salvage it in photoshop, but trust me, it looked cool at one point...

Anyway, that's it for now, I've just been trying to get better at Maya, and doing the occasional freelance work to pass the time... hope you guys enjoy...

Okay...

2006-09-12T23:36:00.000-05:00

So it has been way too long since I last updated... I'm actually pretty busy, despite still not being employed.

Thank god for my awesome wife, who is hanging in there and bringin' home the bacon at the same time...

I will post some old stuff, just so I can post something...

These are a few of the characters I did for AntBully in the earlier stages of developement, we did a weird thing on this film, where we built digital maquettes since we didn't have a sculptor, it was a huge pain in the ass since essentially we built the characters twice, but I learned alot and probably got a little better becuase of it... anyway, hope you enjoy...

And by the way, the concept art was done by our amazing character designer Buck Lewis, who was a cool guy, and obviously very talented =]

and hopefully I'll have some new drawings to show soon...

so until next time...

take care...

YEAH!!!!!!

2006-08-10T02:20:00.000-05:00

FINALLY!!!!!

I finished a model that I'm posting on the ole' blog...

The ears posed a bit of a challenge on this character, and specifically the back one. Since his head is turned, and he had such big ears there was the question of how to pose the other ear. I ended up draping it over his back, and that ended up being nice cus I think it has some weight to it...

Anyway, comments and critiques are always welcome...

(updated renders with ambient occlusion)

Gobelins...

2006-08-03T03:09:00.000-05:00

crank out the most amazing artists' I've ever seen... They are a constant source of inspiration, and I wish I could go there and get schooled =]

Just in case...

2006-07-28T02:06:00.000-05:00

you haven't figured it out yet...

I have severe ADD when it comes to my personal work, I have so many things I want to do, and I feel so little time to do it, I can't sit still for too long on one thing.

Anyway, this piece I'm finishing up to post on my website, so it stops looking like shit, is one of those aforementioned projects...

as always, comments and critiques are certainly welcome...

The Ant Bully...

2006-07-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

Man...

I probably shouldn't even post what I'm about to, but it's my damn blog damnit and I can say whatever I damn well please...RIGHT!!!!! Did I mention damn and damnit...

Actually that reminds me... I cuss way to much... really...

Especially since I have two small children... but fuck it what can you do???

I'm constantly reminded of a poster my high school geography teacher/coach, had posted on the door of his classroom... It was similar to the kitty cat "hanging in there" poster he had near the window I was always staring out of... and it read...

"Cursing is a crutch for a conversational cripple."

I never thought about what the poster said, so much as what a fun tongue twister it was, I'd say it over and over in my head and just have a blast...

It certainly beat having to learn geography, which I should have actually done, according to my wife...

Anyway, where was I...

Oh yeah, the movie that I worked on for the past 2 or so years is coming out this weekend and I encourage all of you to go see it, it should be a fun little flick, and please, whatever you do, don't judge it by the insane reviews some people have been giving it...

Check out this duzy from some fucktard at Aint-it-cool...

http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=23974"target="_blank"

I mean gee, talk about nutty...

It really is a shame that this movie has to be compared to Antz and A Bug's Life, it is nothing like either and is really quite thrilling, although admittedly not for very young children... my daughter practically cries every time a commercial comes on for it =]

It is entertaining, and in my opinion better than all the other animated films I've seen this year...

That is only slightly biased since there is shit in the film I wish would have been changed...

Anyway, that's my plea, rather request for all of you visiting the blog today... all three of you...

And I also got a reel together with a few of my models from the film for interviews and such so if you have the chance check it out and let me know what you think...

http://imaginationdump.com/movies/stevereel.mov

That is all, and please, have a pleasant rest of the day...

Funtime...

2006-07-17T14:48:00.000-05:00

everyday around this time, my son takes about a two hour nap, and my daughter and I sit at the dinner table and draw...

There's a lot of stress and fear that come with unemployment and having a family, but there is alot of really great stuff that comes with spending quality time with my kids...

This is a really funtime I look forward to each day =]

Trying something new...

2006-07-12T01:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, I haven't posted in a while, but only because I was trying to make some extra money doing freelance work... This may not have been such a good idea =]

I'm focused now, and have been away from everything long enough...

I'm completely dedicating myself to creating a badass demo, and hopefully finding gainful employment with said demo... so to that end I will be creating the model that you see based on the accompanying image... The plan is to UV and texture, as well as make some targets for the head, and then place at the front of my reel along with My Ant Bully stuff and my Jimmy Neutron stuff... so that's that....

I'm also trying to get better at digital painting, and so I'm also reading tutorials, and playing with color in photshop based on a cool idea a friend of mine taught me...

Basically you take a screengrab from a movie you like, preferably with awesome cinematography, and you try and replicate the image in color study form, pretty rough, but it starts to get your mind trained on seeing things that way, and also helping you to bust out cool concept stuff rather quickly...

so that's the turd you see, that is my first attempt....

anyway, I hope to start posting more, and if anyone has any cool links or suggestions please feel free to post a comment...

AHHH Insomnia =]

2006-06-23T01:15:00.000-05:00

I love the fact that I can't lay down to go to bed until I'm about to collapse...usually 2:30ish =]

I have never had a problem staying up all night, I like the idea that I'm in a small group of people that are awake while the rest of the city is asleep???

Anyway, I decided now is as good a time as any to post a few sketches...

I'm also reading my Art of Cars book, it's so awesome, and if you are interested in Storyboarding, this is the art of book to get, really great stuff in this one...

I haven't seen the film yet... I know, I know...

I tried to take my daughter opening weekend to see it, but we took one step into that dark theatre with those loud trailers, which was The Ant Bully by the way, =] and She was having nothing to do with it, so we turned right back around and left =]

There's a new theatre opening down the street from my house so I'll probably go see it by myself Saturday =]

In the meantime, these are more concepts for my Ice Cream short film...

I think the look will be a very french animation type look, see my links for futher clarification and it will also be cell shaded to look 2-D. I plan on coloring the kid to show what I'm thinking of in my head...

anyway enough rambling, on with the show this it...

finally...

2006-06-14T23:21:00.000-05:00

I get a chance to update...

I've been pretty busy the past few weeks, taken care of my kids and all...

I'm in a terrible amount of pain right now thanks to an exciting chain of events yesterday...

I was waiting for my daughter to do poo poo on the potty when she comes running out of the bathroom, I check the restroom and see that she has done the notorious number 2...

I chase her into the living room to clean her before she sits on the furniture when all of sudden BAM!!!!! I kick the corner of the couch and rip my big toenail off...

blood starts shooting out of my toe, but I still have to clean my daughter because she will get crap everywhere if I don't... meanwhile, my 11 month old decides to go inspect the restroom so now I'm hurrying to finish cleaning her while trying to make sure he's not getting into trouble and the whole time my toe is screaming, "put a towel on me you idiot, I'm bleeding all over your carpet!!!!!"

Anyway, I couldn't sleep last night thanks to the excrutiating throbbing, and hopefully tonight I'll be too tired to care...

I do have a few doodles to share, they are sad rip offs of John's style which I worship... but at least I'm drawing =]

My Issa TatorTots =]

2006-05-27T02:02:00.000-05:00

I got a feeling of accomplishment far greater than any other this week when I, YES daddy, potty trained my 2 and a half year old =]

This has been ringing in my ears all week =]

"Daaaaaddy.... I'M READY.... come clean my BUTT!!!!!"

Late Night Sketchin'...

2006-05-23T23:41:00.000-05:00

with my daughters Big Purple Crayon =]

I really like the feel of drawing with crayons...

Baby steps...

2006-05-20T01:38:00.000-05:00

My son Roman D is learning to walk =]

Yeah...

2006-05-19T22:42:00.000-05:00

I finally got blogger to work correctly =]

So I have been gone for a while, but that's because I was officially layed off last Friday, and I made the transition this week to stay at home daddy =]

Man, I can't believe my wife has been doing this for almost 3 years =]

Pretty amazing woman, heck all stay at home parents are pretty amazing in my book, it's a hell of alot of work to be sure...

Anyway, I plan on keeping you guys updated on stuff, and I will keep plugging away at the things I'm working on...

Dragons and kids =]

2006-04-21T12:38:00.000-05:00

A lovely combination =]

Here is a quick thumbnail I did for a dragon I might model... And the other was a small doodle on a post-it =]

yet another render time sketch....

2006-04-06T20:51:00.000-05:00

I hate Houdini, but I'm glad I get to draw while I'm waiting on ribs to be archived...

More render time sketches...

2006-04-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

my feeble attempts at putting Mark's latest info to work...

ice cream truck sketch...

2006-04-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm also doing a series of pictures that will illustrate how I picture the truck moving...

more to come soon...

I'M WRONG FOR A LIVING...

2006-04-04T14:40:00.000-05:00

Ken wanted us to keep that as our mantra, since it's so true of story artist's...

Oh man, as I type this I'm going on 3 hours of sleep, I seriously could not sleep last night, and all we went over were the basics of what will be involved in doing storyboards =]

Ken is super adamant about doing top downs of all your shots before you even start boarding, so we will be going over that for the next couple of classes, then we will get a sequence assigned to us, we'll board that, then we will get notes, make changes, and then pitch our sequence, I can't wait...

The main things we learned in this class, is how you can't be precious with your drawings, because it will just slow everybody else down, you have to keep it super simple, and you should trust your gut when it comes to your shot ideas...

ehnuvva meeting sketch...

2006-04-03T14:24:00.000-05:00

my first storyboard class is tonight =] I can't wait!!!!!

HellBoy =]

2006-03-29T17:15:00.000-06:00

I love to draw hellboy, and all of this awesome info on drawing,staging, and story has certainly been finding it's way into my doodles...

I'm continuing to work on my portfolio, and demo reel, so hopefully soon I'll have soemthing to show for that =]

Hey Guys and Gals =]

2006-03-16T11:23:00.000-06:00

Okay, unfortunately I'm so freakin' swamped right now... I'm trying to get my demo reel together, my website together, my resume together, my head together... Just alot going on right now...

But, I am rendering alot at work, and so I'm getting a chance to do these little 10 second sketches on my favorite new discovery...

Scratch Pads from Wal-Mart, they are 3 by 5 and are perfect for doodles, and composition studies, I have a five pack at my desk and I'm just sketching away on them. So anyway, that is what this weird collage of skecthes is from, and that's an alien in blue, you have to tilt your head to see it though =]

Also a big shout out to all the guys at StoryBoredom, and Mark Kennedy, these guys have really been keeping moving the past few weeks, I'm learning a ton from them, and I'm so glad they have blogs...

Keep up the great work guys =]

meeting Sketch...

2006-03-07T12:07:00.000-06:00

Just got out of a meeting, and here's what I have to show for it, it's not a perfect side view, but I like the hair =] I wish there was a way to do curly hair like that in 3d easily...

I'll also likely be posting some model stuff that I'm getting together for my demo reel...

It may be kind of weird to see what I'm working on, it's a bit different than what I like to do, but I have to show skill in all areas of modeling, from cartoony, which is what I love, to higher res more realistic stuff, which is a stretch once you see what I'm doing for my "higher res realistic model" =]

more to come...

nother update...

2006-03-03T00:57:00.000-06:00

Cool, so I'm making tiny steps toward progress...

It's funny and a little fucked up how we as adults often times become complacent and are content to stew in our own juices. I'm particularly guilty of doing this on a regular basis, and since I started this Blog I feel like it's helped me to try and remedy myself of that bad habit...

Or at least I like to think that... I recently had to attend a rather disheartening meeting at work which left me quite upset, that was until I talked to my wife...

That always seems to be the case =]

With one sentence she completely changed my perspective on the situation, she said... "Honey, don't look at it as negative, look at it as an oppurtunity."

So I'm doing that, and it's really helping me to deal with stuff way better. I haven't finished building the site yet, but I'm getting closer, and look for that stuff to start appearing on the ole blog =]

The ice cream project is still here, I just have to take care of some stuff, and then it's back to production...

Quick Update...

2006-03-01T12:17:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately, I am cranking away at trying to build a website, as well as content for a demo reel...

hopefully I'll post something soon...

Yippy dog studies...

2006-02-20T23:59:00.000-06:00

Just a few beginning studies of a chihuahua for the film... I'm thinking visually it would look cool to have this big tub-a-lard kid standing next to this annoying little yippy dog, which is most definitely what I see chihuahuas as =]

Ice Cream Kid...

2006-02-16T19:27:00.000-06:00

another concept for the Ice Cream Kid and his loyal companion =]

My ability to draw perspective is shit, but, I still think this captures the feel I'm going for =]

Another Fruitful Meeting...

2006-02-14T13:07:00.000-06:00

I did this during a boring weekly meeting, I think I'm getting a little warmer =]

Creating Characters with Personality

2006-02-14T08:22:00.000-06:00

I got Tom Bancrofts new book yesterday finally, and it is AWESOME!!!!!

I attended a month long course a few months back at work, that covered character design, and this book is the perfect companion to those lectures. I can't begin to tell you guys how awesome it is, and the way the information is presented really makes it stick... AND it's only 13.57 on Amazon... for that price run, don't walk to pick up this book =]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823023494/sr=8-2/qid=1139926720/ref=sr_1_2/103-8662381-7124610?%5Fencoding=UTF8

doggy concept colored...

2006-02-11T02:13:00.000-06:00

man I'm tired, it's 2:00 a.m. and I was ready for bed at 10:00, but I had a color idea for the dog that wouldn't leave me alone, so I just finished it, I think I will sculpt this guy, just because I don't want to loose focus of why I started this project, which is to force myself to do art outside of work for fun...

And sculping this guy will most certainly be that =]

doggy Concepts...

2006-02-09T15:40:00.000-06:00

I did these in a pipeline meeting today, I like them, escpecially the one with his tongue slung up over his nose, there are also some nose options I'm considering, I likely just block this guy out in 3D and then go from there... =]

I have also recently purchased a portable DVD player, and of course I have been watching the crap out of Corpse Bride and Were Rabbit, if you don't own these two films get them!!!!! They are so freakin awesome =]

finished...for now =]

2006-02-01T14:46:00.000-06:00

okay, I know it's more Ice Cream Truck, but I have done the cleanup pass, and tightened up some of the details, like adding the side mirrors and what not... I also added the ice cream to the top, which I'm still undesided on, but I feel like the top needs something, and all the speaker things haven't moved me....

Let me know what you guys think, good or bad... I'm certainly no designer, so I could totally be fucking this thing up....

Thanks to everybody for all the kind words and encouragement, coming from you guys, it is really keeping me going =]

odd dawg...

2006-01-28T13:23:00.000-06:00

I'm stuck at work today, but I was able to draw this guy between renders, and I'm really diggin him, I'll need to make some adjustments to the oddness of the little boy so they look right together...

Ice Cream Truck updat pt. 2...

2006-01-27T10:19:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I got even closer to a finished truck that I think will set the tone for the film. This is looking cool, and once I add the finishing touches, and clean it up a bit, I think it will be really cool =]

Comments and critiques are certainly welcome...

Fat Kid...

2006-01-25T10:03:00.000-06:00

another concept for the fat kid in the film, this guy makes me laugh, so I will be trying to get him started, once I finish the truck, which is about 2 or 3 hours away from completion, model wise...

Ice Cream Truck update...

2006-01-16T10:06:00.000-06:00

I was able to get quite a bit of modeling done this weekend, the proportions are coming along, and I'm liking it so far... I have quite a few details to add to the model, but I plan to start texturing by the end of the week...

funny...

2006-01-12T16:40:00.000-06:00

I came up with this just now at work, I'm switching departments tomorrow, as my part of the production is done, and in the meantime I've been daydreaming about my film...

It's funny, and I have seen this many times in other artist's work, there are certain themes, and ideas that you always come back to, at least I do anyway, and most of those themes, I'm happy to say are making there way into my short film... I guess I just feel really good that I'm finally doing something I think will be cool, and I'm calling all the shots =]

So without further ranting, here is a concept for the main character in my film...

Ice Cream truck rough concept...

2006-01-11T10:14:00.000-06:00

Okay, I got to modeling last night and I was able to come up with some proportions I really like...

I'm going to tweek them some, and tighten up the details, but I'm going for a toon shaded look, so we will see =]

I'm also adding a new section of links, sort of my inspiration for the film's art direction...

Anyway, I'll be updating with more Ice Cream Truck progress in the coming days, as well as some character ideas...

Ice Cream Man...

2006-01-09T15:53:00.000-06:00

a rough concept for the ice cream truck I'll have in the film =]

Back to Work...

2006-01-02T16:13:00.000-06:00

dun dun duunnn...

I'm missing my vacation right about now, so I figured I'd post the quick sketch I just did in open Canvas, the anatomy is crap, but I still like how this feels, can't really decide what she's thinking about, but whatever it is, it's dark, and consuming her...

I'll be posting some concept stuff for my film in the next few days, so stay tuned =]

Production has officially begun...

2005-12-28T16:23:00.000-06:00

I am off of work this week and so technically I'm on vacation... Of course anyone who has two children under the age of two, as I do, knows that is a physical impossibility =]

It is pretty great to spend this time with my children and my wife, and I'm loving it...

I'm also starting the first part of what will be an incredible journey this year. And that's my New Years resolution to begin production on my first short film =]

I was browsing through the latest CGSociety news letter the other day and came across an awesome interview with a talented artist by the name of Paul Yan... I read his interview, and then I checked out his site. It's a really cool site that documents the entire production of his short film EGGHUNT... http://www.paul-yan.com/egghunt/main.html

I emailed him to thank him for inspiring me to finally get off my butt and get to making a short film of my own... He responded with a very encouraging email, as well as, a link to a book I purchased that is proving to be invaluable...

I have finally come up with a story that I feel will be solid and fun and just finished typing up the first draft of the script. I'm going to sit on it till tomorrow and see if I still like it... so anyway that is what's going on, and I will continue to keep you guys updated...

Lots of updating...

2005-12-18T19:01:00.000-06:00

going on here, I did a few more sketches that are very close to a new direction, I'm going...

I'm very frustrated right now with myself, I can't seem to decide between a few story ideas I have for my short film project... On one hand I want to create a very hearfelt piece that may touch people, but I also find humor in some strange places, and I feel like with the heartfelt piece I'm trying really hard, but with the comedy, it comes pretty easy and I have a ton of ideas that make me laugh when I think of them. The problem with those ideas is, probably only a few people would get them, and everyone else would probably be repulsed... so that's my dilemma...

Oh well, I'm having fun with the art side of things for all the ideas, and at least those are feeding my drawing appetite...

That's what's going on with the kid sketches... the other rough painting concepts are for film ideas... enjoy, and check out the new artists sites I added to my inspiration section... They are really awesome, and keep me very excited about art on a daily basis...

Thanks...

2005-12-10T22:59:00.000-06:00

Wow!!!!! A couple of people have actually stopped by...Thanks is all I can say, if I can provide an ounce of the inspiration you provide me with on a daily basis, then I'm very happy for that =]

Here's a quick color concept I did earlier today...

head studies part deux...

2005-12-09T10:12:00.000-06:00

I think I did about 160 of these, but it didn't even seem like it...fun stuff...

more head studies =]

2005-12-08T17:22:00.000-06:00

I'll have more of these tomorrow...

head first pass...

2005-12-06T09:37:00.000-06:00

I got the first pass for "Gunther's" head done, that's what I'm calling him for now, it may or may not stick =]

My process is usually to get a quick first draft done, with solid geo where needed for targets and such, then go in and refine the shapes until it's what I want...

Anyway, as always, comments and critiques are welcome...

Happy Turkey Day indeed...

2005-11-25T00:26:00.000-06:00

Okay, I'm going to refine this guy a bit, but I think I'm getting warmer =] I have wanted to keep a certain since of oddness to the character, but I want to retain the appeal, and that has been difficult since I feel like I keep coming up with a bland design, that is, until today...feast your eyes on this little guy, I think he is going to suit my needs =]

can't wait to get into the computer with this little booger, and start designing his companion =]

a few more...

2005-11-21T10:44:00.000-06:00

I have a few more character studies I'm doing... I really shouldn't post these after John Nevarez's post fest, but I'm trying and I guess that should count for something =]

The one in the Lower Right is the direction I'm going, but it's taking me a bit of work, I started a sculpt this weekend, and I'll have that for review later in the week...

Inspired...

2005-11-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

It seems I'm using that word alot these days...

So many incredible artists inspire me on a daily basis now... and they are so excessible from the comfort of my workstation, or at home, it just really keeps me moving forward to see so many talented and nice people out there doing the same thing I love to do...

I just finished up a month of studying design, and locomotion, as it applies to animation and I'm eager to get started.

Pres finished up his lectures with us the other night and I went home and thought about what he said, so now I'm getting these characters in my head straight and starting to come up with ideas for drawing them.

It's funny how I read a new character designer interview everyday and I still didn't seem to get it, but it's starting to make it through the thick concrete layers of my dense skull and I'm finally grasping this thing called character design... anyway, I will hopefully be updating a little more frequently now =]

enjoy...

Quick Post...

2005-11-09T10:31:00.000-06:00

Work is paying us to attend lectures at the University on anatomy, locomotion, and design as it applies to animation... I still can't believe I get payed to do this sometimes =]

Anyway, I'm supposed to be taking notes, but like all my years in school, I'm drawing instead =]

so here are a few of my "Notes" for your viewing enjoyment =]

AWESOME!!!!!

2005-11-03T09:57:00.000-06:00

Okay, so you can officially see the trailer for the film I'm currently working online now here...

http://movies.aol.com/movie/main.adp?tab=synop&mid=23202

It's so cool to have the public excited about something you've been putting your heart into for over a year now... can't wait to get this thing in theatres =]

I'm also making headway toward designing my own characters for my first venture in film making =] here are a few thumbnails that I'm doing to try and find appealing shapes, I have to say thanks and a big wut up to Pres Romanillos, he has been helping me alot with this stuff and I wouldn't be making the progress I am without his help, he has a wealth of information to share, and he is so freakin talented... He designed Shan-yu for Mulan and lots of other stuff that is just really cool, I'm so glad to be working with him =]

Card Sketches...

2005-10-31T09:55:00.000-06:00

My wife and I spent all day Saturday at car dealerships looking to by a new family truckster...

It was tedious and I was hungry, but I did get a chance to swipe buisness cards and do some sketches =]

Remote...

2005-10-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

Finished Bunny...

2005-10-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

Man, I feel so good right now, I finished my were rabbit bunny sculpt this weekend and I have received quite the warm welcome at work =]

So here we go, I wish you guys could see it in person, the pictures don't do it justice...

I also have to thank my lovely wife, because I was having a rough time with this guy thursday night and was ready to trash him and start over, She painted him for me and it really made me glad I didn't chunk him, Thanks honey, your AWESOME...

Anyway enjoy, I had a blast doing this and I can't wait to do another...

On other fronts...

2005-10-18T15:17:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I told you in an earlier post I was determined to read more, and not just calvin and hobbes, but actually read... So to that end I am currently reading not one but TWO books...

Whoa momma, somebody stop me...

By the way, here is a neat sketch I did at work just now in like a minute, but for some reason it came out awesome...

Anyway, back to what I was saying before the ADHD took over... yes... so the two books I'm reading are actually quite interesting, the first is one I'd reccomend to everybody, religious or not, and that is "The secret to staying in love" by John Powell.

This book is about loving yourself, and how if you can't or don't do that, you will never be able to truly love your neighbor, so I'm reading it, and trying to apply it to my own life, and so that is the first book...

The second book, is about Nietzsche and it's written by a pair of writers and is also a very good read with humor and everything, it's called, "What Nietzsche Really said" and it's written by Robert C. Solomon and Kathleen M. Higgins... You can get both books off of Amazon and they are both pretty cheap...

I'm also excited because we have finally finished our first trailer for an animated feature I'm currently working on titled "AntBully" and it's attached to the new Harry Potter film, so anyone who sees Harry Potter will see some of my professional work...

I have never really talked about what it is that I do specifically so basically, I work for the only feature film animation studio in Dallas, and we make computer animated films right now... I am a character modeler, and my job is to take the 2D concept art and basically sculpt it in the computer, then I generate all the targets for the facial expressions that the animators will use for there performance and I give all of that in a file to the articulation artists who create a character the animators can move around in the computer... It sounds like you'd have to be smart to do it, but really you just need to be really anal retentive, which I am, so there you go...

And this blog is sort of my way of trying to get away from all that technical stuff in my professional life and just have fun with art, instead of looking at it as work all the time.

And I think that's all for now, I have finally come up with an idea for COLD, for some reason not alot comes to mind when I hear that word, except for penguins, but I wanted to stick with the theme I currently have going, mainly cus I like to draw boys and there dogs...

Anyway, that is all for now, kind of random I know, but I just felt like posting...

My Were Rabbit Sculpt pt.1...

2005-10-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

Cool, so I decided I wanted to create a maquette of one of these cute little rabbits after seeing the Wallace and Gromit, Curse of the Were-Rabbit movie...

I was up until about 2 this morning totally rockin on my version. Aside from some clean up, and installation of the proper eyes and teeth, this little guy is almost ready for the oven...

Fun with Post-its...

2005-10-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

Well, I finished alot of stuff this week, and came up with a couple of really cool ideas for short films, my upcoming posts will likely include concept work I do for those ideas...

I'll also be posting my ideas for Illustration Friday, so until then, have a great weekend...

LOST pt. 2...

2005-10-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

as promised earlier, my other ideas for LOST...

LOST...

2005-10-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, so here is one of the 3 ideas I same up with for Lost, I'm painting the other one now, and there is one more that I'll probably just post the sketch of, I'd like to color it, but one of the designs I came up with gave me a really good idea for a short so I'll likely be busy figuring out a script and stuff for that for the next couple of weeks... anyway, I give you LOST...

Float...

2005-10-07T10:18:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is my first attempt at doing an illo for Illustration Friday, overall I'm pleased with the results, I can think of a few things I wanted to change, but my abilities in photoshop are lacking...

Anyway, it is great fun, and I'm starting on ideas for Lost so until next friday here ya go...

Wow...

2005-09-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

twice in one day even =]

as promised earlier, here are a few "tests" I have done with photoshop, and real life acrylic. There is some gouache, I just like thinking about, and spelling that word... but I'm an idiot and so the gouache =] was painted on without any water in the mix, I've never painted before, but I can't wait to start doing it on a regular basis, along with drawing...

so without further ado, I give you...

Kiti Cat with a Soul Patch...

and CrossDressed...

Cool...

2005-09-30T10:45:00.000-05:00

So it seems I have inspired my wife to start her own Blog, and that makes me feel really wonderful...

I think it's so cool I have someone that I can spend this life with figuring things out together, and she aint ugly either =]

believe it or not I have really been trying to paint and draw quite a bit lately and it's getting better and better, who'd of thunk it... here are a few of the things I've don'e lately, but I have been on a bit of a roll lately so I will post more later in the day...

Corpse Bride...

2005-09-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I went to see Corpse Bride yesterday and it was amazing... words can't describe how incredibly detailed and unbeleivable this film was...

Thank god people like Tim Burton are still out there keeping Stop Motion alive. And raising the bar on the artform to such an extraordinary level... And speaking of people keeping greatness alive, Aardman will be releasing Wallace and Gromits' movie here in a few short weeks, I can't wait for Were Rabbit =]

I know...

2005-09-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

I haven't been good about posting this week but mainly because I haven't done a sketch worth posting... Yes sadly I lack any drawing ability what so ever, but unlike the past, I won't stop drawing because I'm no good, instead I'll keep drawing until...okay get this... I get better =]

So anyway, I actually was able to produce one decent sketch this morning of my hefty baby boy sucking on his own hand, and I am posting that now...

Oh yeah, he doesn't look like this at all, because I suck, but he is cute like the baby in my drawing =]

Oh and one more thing, the dead rat smell is gone from the house... YEAH!!!!!

Stinkin' Damn Rat...

2005-09-09T11:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we had a mouse/rat in our garage and somehow it made it's way into our walls...

This caused great stress to my wife, and after several rounds of poison the little bastard is finally dead.

Unfortunately he still haunts us from the grave... apparently he decided the best place to meet his maker was inside one of the walls... So now we have this putrid stench in our house, which should be around for at least a few more days, and we can't do anything about it, except burn candles.

So, in honor of the son-of-a-fuck rat that I hate with every ounce of my being, which is being lessened by a diet right now, but is still somewhat rotund, I give you...