When I first started animating I was turned on to these pencils... Black Warrior... I have to say that I became addicted. When I moved up to the NW, I had a panic because only office stores carried them and none of the stores here had them in stock. I had like 3 pencils left and the way I sharpen pencils...the go fast, even with the pencil extenders. Well obviously this character isnt me but...eh
this is the full concept of my front page. I made it in 3 sections so that I could play with the depth of field. This was actually for a larger concept that I had, but here is a piece of what I was thinking before the color
since I have been in transitioning and living in temp housing...I have been drawing on an ironing board and sometimes taking my laptop, opening a blank page, laying it flat open, and using it for a lite table. I guess its roughing it, but its better than drawing on the floor...
been there, done that...but it does remind me of my childhood laying on the floor and watching cartoons.
I remember working on a project and someone talked about how storyboards were overrated... I felt disoriented and dizzy by the statement, like I was about to go into cardiac arrest. I know not every story person works with boards, but I know most AT LEAST work with thumbnails or beat boards to visualize their idea. So in essence, they are working with a type of story board.
the blue col-erase 20044. Sounds like a weapon, but I guess for most artists it is. This is has been my choice for many years. Even before I got deep deep into animation I used to mimic the comic book artists who had rough examples in Wizard magazine. You can see it all over Florian Satzinger's blog (great work). A definite must have for all artist and animators who love to draw, but there are a few similar pencils that 'kinda' have the same feel... buy em' by the box because they go fast (CLICK ON THE PICTURE)!
diggin in the crates. came across some older images that I had some fun with.
So I have had a lack of posts here on my blog, but putting a lot of posts at the Pencil Test Depot I am sure that will slow over the next month. I am moving back to Los Angeles and I have been preparing the move as well as mentally for the next part of my career. A lot of research and sketching... It has been an eye opener and refreshing to get back into the student mind state. I have always put it in my mind that I have a long way to go in my animation career (I will probably still be saying that at age 60). Funny how the path has been...and I have to thank my wife for being very strong through this transition. Its funny to see how you inspire someone with drive and passion...at the same time how you are inspired by someones calm and peaceful outlook on life. The perfect balance and another reason why I love my wife. New posts soon...
keep grindin'
these are some head passes I did on a character. Some are a little off model, but the idea of what I want is there. keep plugging away.
Pencil Test Depot (click here to see)
I created this blog because I was tired of going all over looking at pencil tests. I also have a bunch I have collected over the years that I will share with all of the people who like looking at rough animation by good animators. I have always found them very valuable and I have always studied them. Now there will be an easy way to access them from anywhere.
Enjoy
design ..design ..and more design. Trying to make the best of the time when I work in my home office. Generating ideas and concepts.
this was the fourth character design I created months back and when I started to do his head turn sheet, he needed a hat. I based his first hat from Lee Van Cleef then tried another. Ultimately I went back to my first idea. The other designs will be show in the sketch files/ making of.
so the short that I co-directed with Andrew Burke and Aaron Halifax got leaked early on the internet. The writing was done by Erik Wolpaw and Jay Pinkerton...funny stuff. Major thanks to Lars Jensvold, Jason Brashill, Mike Stevens, Bill Fletcher and Keith Huggins for helping us make it come all together.
Meet the Spy
Hope you enjoy it.
Cartoon Brew...thanks for all the great compliments
new ventures... and new horizons... and a bigger release
so I have been wanting these for my collection for a while.. I saw the Calvin and Hobbes collection a while ago but it is was some $$$ and something always came up which stopped me from purchasing it. Luckily Nicole remembered that I wanted it and gave me a good surprise. Two good surprises! I had a feeling that the Batman Animated Series: The Complete Collection would be released as a bundle but it was just a speculation. A few months ago I saw it and was geeking, but still didn't want to shell out the ends at that time. If you love animation and art both of these are worth the money. I fell in love with the animated Batman and Bruce Timm's take on it. I was in high school when it came out and I watched it faithfully everday after school. So many cartoons mimicked the style after and Bruce set a trend.
Calvin and Hobbes is an American icon that I think if you are a fan of comics you should get it. The skill of coming up with short, funny, and clever ideas for strips is a great skill. Inspirational is the only word for it. Bill Watterson also hints to why he has never let anyone touch the characters. I am glad that they have not been animated. I know people have approached him to have them hit the tv screen and movie theatre, but I believe he has made the right decision in holding on to his work ....as is...
So I have been doing a lot of stuff at work and a big part of it has been doing beat boards and story boards. I can't say what it is for but you will get to see it soon. It has been taking time away from personal work a bit, but it is helping me grow in different areas. Our team is becoming tighter knit and we are moving forward with a lot of good ideas. Especially with all the economic issues going on..it is definitely good to be where I am at..and doing what I am doing.
stay tuned...
color on Shopping Cart, one of the images from the Consumption project. Click the picture or click here to check it out: CONSUMPTION
this is a project I have been working on after work there will be more progress posted on the Consumption website as I move forward.
this is the full concept of my front page. I made it in 3 sections so that I could play with the depth of field. This was actually for a larger concept that I had, but here is a piece of what I was thinking before the color
