AAU Spring 2013

Why do I get this feeling I'm going to get my ass kicked this semester at AAU.  For the first time I'm taking 2 classes: Character Design and Layout Design for Animators.  On top of that I'm teaching at 2 different institutions (Art Institute of California - Inland Empire and Mt. San Antonio College).  After going back to teaching after being an academic chair for such a long time the routine is difficult to get used to.  In any case, taking classes at AAU is a blast.  This is my "do-over" as I get a chance to skyrocket like never before.  The stakes are much higher as the sacrifice and goals are much more important: My Family.  During my undergraduate at Art Center I was only working part time and had other obligations that prevented me from giving it my all.  Now eons later, it's time to make my mark as I'm much wiser than before and the benefits of finishing well will reap benefits for the rest of my career.  So, here I go!!!  I can tell that due to my instructors I'm going "FULL TILT" this quarter like never before.  Prayerfully...hopefully, I will finish well.  Both of my instructors have a great reputation and have a full career of great work at Disney, Pixar, Don Bluth, etc. and are still working in the industry.  Stay tuned for updates as I plan to be absolutely in my postings here.

ANM605 Layout for Animators SP 13

Okay, I'm also in a layout class. I spent the entire weekend evaluating scenes to use for my homework from Robin Hood, Justice League, 9 and finally Superman Batman: Apocalypse.  So my homework was to thumbnail a scene in the beginning, middle and end.  So I used a scene from Superman Batman: Apocalypse...a favorite of mine:

ANM 633 Character Design for Animators SP 13

Yes, I'm finally taking a traditional character design class.  Well, traditional in the academic sense.  In my undergraduate at Art Center I took Entertainment Design twice before they actually made it a major.  So, my instructor is Jennifer Oliver who is a former Character Key Artist for Feature and is primarily doing freelance illustration for various folks.  So far, so good but it's only the first week.  I'm just stoked to finally be taking a character class.  For my elective I'm going to take Creature Design but unfortunately, Terryl Whitlatch is no longer teaching for AAU....I think she's taking a break.  Anyway, for Week 1 we are supposed to do (5) 2-min, 5-min and 10-min poses to show our drawing ability.  Whoo!  This couldn't have been an easier week 1 since I've been teaching this stuff for a very long time.  Anyway, I still had to challenge myself because now I'm going it for myself and I'm very tough on myself.  So, I have 5 drawings from each but it's broken down into the 4 rejected and 1 Final for each timed pose. I actually did numerous amount of drawing before I even picked my drawings.  I also used Conte Crayon which I haven't ever used like this since I was 20.  It was quite liberating, too as I had to give up my control with charcoal pencils.

2-Minutes:

5-Minutes:

10-Minutes: 

Ill 660 Digital Painting: Project 3 Final

My final project is called, "Embrace".  I began this as a present to my wife 8 years ago as a traditional oil painting but I never finished it.  As our daughter grew the more difficulty I had finishing it as well and busy with work didn't help either.  Anyway, I was able to resurrect it for my MFA Digital Painting class.

The concept is simply a prayer that our daughter will one day not be enamored by the veneer of childhood fantasies and embrace the truth found in Jesus Christ.  This is also a commitment to my wife that I will lead our family in a loving relationship under our Sovereign Lord.  This is also based on Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

So this depicts my daughter as an elf reaching out for Jesus as she turns her back on the magic and fantasies of youth that easily ensnares girls as they grow into womanhood.  I used my hand in the painting since Jesus needed working man's hands as a carpenter.

Project 3: Final WIP

Okay, I began laying in the grass this morning and here is the update.  I've been waiting on this thing for a bit and sort of procrastinating about it because it's such a large space.  Most of it is going to be in shadow anyway but at least here is the beginning of the end of the major painted areas.  I also added in the pixie/magic orbs.  It gives it a nice touch and I'll be able to put some reflected light on her and the grass.

Project 3: Changes

I decided to make my daughter an elf like I had originally planned years back.  So here is the change: pointed ears.  She actually does have one pointed ear but not to this extreme.  I wanted to keep it somewhat ambiguous, too.

Project 3 WIP #3

Here is the state of my final as it is right now.  It's due on Monday, December 17th @ midnight.  I still have a lot to do so I need to spare no expense to get this thing done.  After I get everything modeled and painted I need to do some special effects to create more depth and focus on the Messiah's hands and Emma.  I need to work on getting some softer edges, ambient light/glow, etc.  Here's a detail of her face, too.  I didn't need to detail her face this much and primarily did it for my wife.  I'll post another WIP as I get closer to the finish.

Project 3 WIP

Here is the WIP for my daughter.  There is still much to do for this project but here's an update to this painting.

Digital Painting: Project 2 Final (sort of)

This painting isn't quite as final as it is shown.  I will be doing additional embellishments to the wings for a better grade.  I received an A- on it however my instructor did point out that the wings are underpainted which I thoroughly agree with.  So, if time permits I will work on it some more.

Project 3: WIP

Here is my Project 3 for my digital painting class.  I have a series of sketches including color comps and the actual WIP as it stands today.  It's due on December 17th.  The concept is one that I've been working on for the past 7 years since my daughter was 3.  It's a prayer really that my wife and I have about our daughter not giving in to the "princess" mentality of happily ever after with a Prince Charming and a fairytale romance but rather embracing a true faith and a true love found in Jesus Christ.  So she is portrayed ready to embrace Christ's hands as he invites her with hands extended down to her.