Shady Pines

More than a month of work, and more money than it ever should have cost, and my experimental animation final is done.

The credits are wrong for that reason.

My comic book running buddy: Mark Crnolatas wrote the thing like we always do, unfortunately it was over the phone instead of over cigars this time.

My girlfriend: Roxanne Anzelc made the costumes, and let me break her hair dryer while I dried the latex on the puppets.

As with most of my first semester at AAU, I really feel like I leveled up. Understanding the process soup to nuts now, I think I could put together something much better next time.

I don't think I will, though.

It's not so much the process (as much as I love spending ten hours on 30 seconds of animation) as it is the cost. I spent a lot of time in the art store for this project, spending money I don't have. It's really hard to justify props when you're wearing the same pair of jeans, and freezing without a hat. Stop motion is charming, but it rarely enhances the story you're trying to tell. This is the same reason I started inking digitally.

(nevermind that it's lots easier)

So, you'll for sure see A LOT more animation from me, it'll just be digital as much as I can help it.

Illustration Friday : Entanglement

None Of Them Knew They Were Robots

My experimental animation final has me teaming up with Mark Crnolatas, my old running buddy from comic book days. It's about an old folks home, and if you've ever found our stuff funny I think you'll be happy with it.

It's coming along nicely, even If I would prefer to do it in After Effects (I hate any art form without an apple z option nowadays)

Here's a walk test:



Notice how 2 steps in: I remember that he's supposed to be old. The fingers need to be toned down, and i could use some recoil on those steps.

(all things I could fix with apple z)

Here's his costar:



I'm really trying to push the contrast between the two, which is difficult given the limitations in my puppet building skills.

I've got two weeks to build a set and get this thing filmed for the final, but it feels really great to be working with friends again.

Even if it is across the country.

Lord Send Me A Mechanic, If I'm Not Beyond Repair

My very first (un-tutored) After Effects animation.

I only had one week to pull together 3 seconds of animation, and my Jack Kirby collection was in Cleveland, leaving the Captain America cartoon for another day.

(providing I can ever afford a computer that's not broken)

(which is why the number of posts have dwindled, don't worry so has my music downloading.)

Since I have no new ideas (scotch took care of that), I went with a reworking of the banner at the top of the page.

(Which for some reason: every time I drew it the guy looked overly Asian. Fearing coming off the wrong way (I'm not sure if enlightenment is a negative stereotype) I went with the most "American" guy I could think of.)

Anyways, hope you like it.

I'll take my comments of the air.

The Evolution Of Macho Man

Photoshop Composite for Animation 101

Daedalus Your Child Is Falling

Experimental Animation project three: Paper Cut-Out

Lust

Experimental Animation project four: Pixelation

Level Up

Experimental Animation assignment number two.

I can't sculpt, my hands are too clumsy. I usually can't reach the last few Pringles either.

But I think I'm beginning to understand timing.

Which is one of the 12 principles of animation, which is how I like to refer to it.

I'm studying the twelve principles of animation. Like I had to traverse a gauntlet, and defeat a minotaur to capture yellow scrolls where it was all written down.

Makes me sound important, like I've discovered the Wu-Tangs secret.

Maybe one day I'll be like Doctor Strange. Meditating in an incense filled room on the twelve principles of animation.

Wearing a Bugs Bunny shirt.

Starship Troopers

Stop motion project number one (with a group) with found objects.

He is an army man, and giant bugs attack him, then he dies.

No, that's not what the assignment sheet said to do.

Begin Training Session

Conte work from my very first workshop as a student.
Yes it's a pirate.

I seriously was waiting to draw the turtle for the second half of the session.

Probably the worst life drawing work I've done in years (also the first time I've been yelled at in years), but let's use this a sign post a year from now.

Never Stopped Me From Gettin Busy

As it stands, I don't have a drafting table, so I'm spending more time in my sketchbook.

Sometimes Digital Underground is playing when that happens.

Which almost makes up for the lack of desk.

Hers And Hers And His

School trip to the San Francisco Zoo. More of an excuse to meet people, eat veggie burgers, and listen to reggae.

Everyone LOVES reggae in this town for some goddawful reason.

Also a good reason to get homesick, since Catie and I used to hit the zoo up and draw back in Cleveland. The benefit, aside from having your pal with you, is that everyone that walked by was amazed you could draw at all.

That was not the case here, and the only reason I'm posting a lot of this work is to track my progress as I go through school.

Also to make Threes Company references.

(which was at the LA zoo, not the SF zoo)

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana

Sketchbook drawing of Roxanne (who I've decided needs to change the spelling to ROCKSanne, thus increasing her rock output by at least 16 percent) outside of a cafe by the park.

I bought the orange marker the day after I moved to San Francisco. Orange is more California-ie.

I think.

Then again by that logic I should have used more gray in Cleveland.

Girls, Girls, Girls

Late night listening to radio-lab, seeing how far I can play with forms.

Where I Lay My Head, That's Where I Call Home

I've been obsessed with the idea of sketch journals for years after reading Carnet De Voyage by Craig Thompson. When I think back it's certainly one of the reasons for renewed(new?) interest in drawing from life that happened a couple of years ago.

So when I moved to San Francisco, I wanted to do something similar, at least to the best of my abilities. Not that I've been able to focus on much besides my new surroundings anyways.



It took four days for my bike to arrive on the train, and this is the first day after that. I had no idea to do this for a week at the time, I just didn't want to be sitting alone with a three dollar glass of wine and matted helmet hair not doing anything but staring.

A few days later it happened again for the same reason, except it was coffee instead of wine.

At this point I'd decided to run with the concept of doing a line drawing a day for the week. This is a theme (the concept, not the schedule) I plan to continue for as long as I can. I'm also keeping a smaller sketchbook for bars, and restaurants, or when I cant bring a bag with me. I'm interested in doing more portraits, and I'm hoping with school I can begin doing that. In a way I think it validates the experience past what I can do just by living it.

The use of ink signifies me being more comfortable in my surroundings, or I forgot my art kit and the pen was all I had. I'll let you decide. The best part of doing these, is that they really allow me to draw like a child again. I'm only reacting to what I see, rather than laying down construction lines. Good a reason as any to keep using the pen.

That, and it makes me feel like Robert Crumb...

(who incidentally migrated from Cleveland to San Francisco)

I had my gall (this gets bigger when you click on it, actually they all do). I had a tourist take a photo of me while I drew this, which took two hours.

The temperature changed twenty-six times in that period.

(BTW, this is the Bay, and not the Golden Gate bridge. I'm holding out, because I'm convinced that I'll have to draw that for a class.)

(and bridges are hard.)

In the castro waiting to get my haircut. Like the day before, I had people commenting on this, which honestly means a heck of a lot. Especially because it was from high school kids walking home, and they hate everything. At almost thirty years old I still don't know how to properly take a compliment, but they're the only things that keep me going sometimes.

Living in Tremont I never took advantage of drawing all the great churches there. Looking back, I wish I would have drawn more from the time I lived there. I certainly lived an interesting life full of much more interesting people. I suppose I never had the confidence to pull it off.

It's funny what a cross-country move will do for you.

Far From Home-Grown

I drew the cover of The Scene!

I cashed the check in San Fransisco, where I live now.

Everybody looks cool on the internet.

The Beer And The Broads And The Broads And The Booze

My Final Dr. Sketchy Cleveland.

The night sketchy went punk.

I should do a left hand drawing every day, I think it slows my brain down, but so did all the celebratory shots of scotch.

Dudas was in my ear most of the night, telling me I was ripping off John Romita Jr.

Fair enough.

Also telling me to draw a copy of "The God Delusion" under this guys foot.

As hard as drawing two figures on a bunch of booze is, I sort of love carrying this drawing around in my sketchbook.

I really want an old lady to see it, say "oh dear" and grab her chest.

There is a Dr. Sketchy in San Francisco.

but it sort of feels like cheating right now...

And Just Where Were We Trying To Get To?

I've been going to the Murray Hill Art Group off and on for 3 years ( I think ) constantly jealous of everyone in the room. Jealous of their defined style, so even if something was "off" it looked right because it was in that style. It was their voice.

The last few weeks I was in Cleveland, I felt like I had a handle on mine. I wasn't there yet, but I knew I was on my way. I often said " I know I'm leaving a life here" to my friends, and I think that pertained to my burgeoning art style most of all.

Murray Hill taught me oceans by osmosis, let's hope the direct approach is more efficient.

Eyes Of Flesh, Eyes Of Flame

I know it's been a while since I rapped with ya....

Yikes, almost two months!

Not that I haven't been drawing, here's some stuff from July's Dr. Sketchy.
Jason and Aaron can describe it better than I can (and they have photos!):
Dr.Sketchy Cleveland

Danielle may be my favorite model from the Sketchy nights. I know I have some drawings somewhere when she did Murray Hill, so it was a great opportunity to play with the color markers.

I wish I was smart enough to use the color to knowingly evoke mood. Unfortunately these are the colors I can afford, so I guess I wish I was RICH enough to use the colors to evoke mood.

2o minutes, three figures, lots of straubs! Yikes!!

Oh, and Garrett from The Examiner has been putting up videos of the events lately too, so you can see what a great time you missed!

Fate Is The Idiot's Excuse, Freedom Is The Sucker's Dream

Unexpected bike ride to the museum, and an unexpected chance to try out something new on a statue drawing. Nowhere near what I want, but a step in the right direction.

You can count on me bringing colored markers to the next life drawing session.

Never Follow A Hippie To A Second Location

I took a break from my oh so very hectic life, and spent four days living like a savage at Bonnaroo. I must have done just the right amount of damage to my brain while I was there, because its the first time I've ever been able to do a travel journal. Well maybe not a travel journal, but I drew through all of The Decemberists' set...

All but one of these were done without a pencil (number 3 had some construction, but you knew that). I feel like I'm developing a shorthand to use for future field sketching, and you're not a deadbeat if you keep going to music festivals for your craft.

Right?

I've Had My Share Of Sand Kicked In My Face - But I've Come Through

A month ago I was asked to be part of Dr.Sketchy's team for a draw off in my neighborhood. Since then, I haven't been able to come up with the words to describe just how much fun I had, so I'll let the articles and pictures do my talking.


Here's a great article from the Cleveland Fine Arts Examiner (Yes, I am in something with the word Fine Art in it)

Drawn And Quartered: A Drawing Battle Royale At Asterisk Gallery


And then here's some ritzy looking pictures of the event itself. Even a picture of me eating a copic marker. Gave me the energy to push through. Like spinach for Popeye and Vitamins for Hulk Hogan.

Alex Riviera Photography




Lab Coats! Trophys! Beer Bottles! This is a pack of winners Lady's and Gentlemen.

Oh yeah. I forgot. WE WON!



The winner of the likeness contest. There's pictures of this lady all through the photos of the night, and you be the judge. I still maintain it's because I used a marker, and it's easy to see.

Left handed drawing. I am way better at these than I ever thought I would be. I'm super close to switching sides.

Co-Op piece with Jason Tilk from Dr.Sketchy. The pencils are mine, the inks his. You can tell that, because I cant afford all those gray markers.





The final challenge of the night was to draw the crowd (in ten minutes!), and rather than work separately, Team Sketchy formed like Voltron (wearing wrestling masks (Ultimo Dragon) when appropriate) and knocked out this masterpiece:





Seven hands! One Drawing! The coolness of this drawing sums up the coolness of the entire night.