Bale Challenge

I didn't win the Bale Challenge, but I didn't expect to. It was fun just to do. I was able to get some feedback on my animation from Andrew Gordon, one of the Spline Doctors. He didn't have time to fully review, but he gave some good overall feedback which was much appreciated. I have too much twinning going on and the movements are a bit robotic. So I know what to work on! Hopefully I can get some more practice in while still at school, but the last 5 weeks will definitely be chaotic with my stop motion short.

I had the best intentions over spring break to get work done, but only started a few things. It was break so I suppose it isn't too bad, but I just have to work extra hard now! Oh well. I'll get things done.

Headless Chicken

I finally remembered to snap a picture of the body of the chicken I am modeling in my 3D Modeling class. Here's the completed body. I'm working on the head right now. Everything but the beak is pretty much done. The beak is proving to be a bit complicated as I have to do some extra work to make sure I can animate the beak as I want to. My goal is to get some extreme mouth movements like Foghorn Leghorn. That should be fun to animate! Just hope I can get it to rig right.
















In other news, I am working on a project for Ideation called The 5 Obstructions. We had to think up of a project and then get together with a partner and give each other obstructions while making our pieces. I'm animating to a portion of the sound clip of Christian Bale flipping out and my obstructions are:

1. create intuitively
2. use cold color
3. remove one feature from a character u are using. (example, no mouth, or no ears)
4. show "contrast" in your piece
5. The final piece must be projected on an already existing object in the cafeteria or
Student Center, with sound. (this could be a napkin dispenser, or a table, or whatever)

I started blocking out my animation and it is actually quite fun animating to the sound clp.
Although I am not used to using such vulgar sound clips, it is quite expressive.

Coraline

I saw Coraline today. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The animation was amazing for a stop motion film. It was very smooth and expressive! Good inspiration for my current stop motion project which is to animate an expression change. The goal was to get my stop motion done tonight so it was done and out of the way.... that didn't happen. I finished making my clay head model. Started setting up to animate, but then I couldn't get the face to cooperate; couldn't get the right expression. Plus someone was in the studio taking photos of objects so the lighting wasn't ideal and kept changing. In the end, I decided to just call it quits for the night and try again tomorrow. It was good to get the model done and start playing around with the face. Now I know what kind of things to expect and try to figure out the best way to animate.

Tomorrow I also have to work on my nurbs model for 3D Modeling. Nurbs modeling is more powerful than polygon, but also more complicated. Hopefully I won't have many problems.

Lots of work to be done! 

Web Work

I'm working on my online portfolio design. I am slowly solidifying my design. It is fairly simple as to not take away from my work. The goal is the make it look professional and be easy to navigate. I think I can accomplish that! I only have two weeks left in the workshop, so it will be up and running soon! It'll house my best pieces whereas this blog will house everything as I make it; a good process blog. I'm enjoying the web design process.

I have to make sure I set aside time to finish up my Pixar Undergraduate Program application! Time keeps getting way from me now that school is picking up pace. I don't have much left to do. Just finalize my cover letter and resume, assemble my portfolio of non 3D work, and put together my demo reel. I have all the pieces. Just have to put together everything and then I can send it out and hope Pixar sees my potential!

Day Off

Yesterday was my long day with classes from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. It isn't as bad as it would seem to be. I think I will enjoy all my Wednesday classes. I have a Greek literature class in morning, followed by 5 hour studio Stop Motion Animation class, and ending with an Online Portfolio workshop. With such a long day yesterday, it is nice to have the day off today!

One thing that I realized yesterday is how intriguing I find learning how different people think. Just listening to my professors is really interesting; seeing where they are coming from and how they view the world. They are really insightful. Being artists they all have a unique way of looking at the world.

The Beginning

After a couple attempts are starting a blog, I am once again starting over, but with the determination to keep up with it! Not only is this the beginning of my blog, but also the beginning of the spring semester of my sophomore year at MCAD!

I'm excited for this semester. It will be full of challenges that's for sure, but I'm ready to tackle any challenge that comes my way!

Something I am working on right now is my application for the Pixar Undergraduate Program this summer. It would be a really neat experience and I am hoping my cover letter, resume, and demo reel show my potential!