Class 2- First Assignment!

Back at Animation Mentor!
One of the choices for our first assignment was to have "Ballie"(Ball character with two legs) kick a ball. Kicking a ball was considered a one star difficulty, while another choice, turning around 180 degrees, was a two star. Really? Turning around? I didnt want to seem like I opted for the easier one , still, I thought'd be fun to have him kick a ball.
My idea was just to have Ballie ready himself to kick what he thinks is a rubber kickball. But shh get this.... What he doesnt know, is that its actually a bowling ball! hahaha! Take that Ballie! To the bank Ballie!
Anyways here is some of my ref footage. Hopefully this doesnt come out assy.
Animation Mentor-Class2 Assignment 1 (Reference Footage)

back in action

I'm back from from the Philippines, again! I'm gonna just start taking two week vacations every month.

Check out this super rad sculpture I scored! Not quite as cool as barrel man, but a little bit cooler than phallic ashtray.

I know right?!

Tonight is supposed to be my first night back in Animation Mentor, but for some reason I cant seem to log in. And considering the price tag every one of these sessions is precious. I dont even know who my mentor is yet. If this goes on any longer, I better get like, Brad Bird or something. Or anyone French. Like a Gobelins student or something, I'd settle for that.

**Update** Finally got to log in and my new mentor is Greg Kyle! Sweet.

Heres a quickie done for the Unleaded Artists site, a blog started by some Gas Powered Games artists. It just started up so theres not much yet, but heres my meager, unfunny contribution!
The theme was "The unathletic, promiscuous priest who was genetically engineered".

My brain cant process that many words in one sentence. So heres my unathletic priest.

Bad Robot.

One more theme drawing for sketchwich, World Killer.
Now! I'm off to the Philippines! See you later!

I'm Sorry.

My "Elderly Mermaids" entry for the Chades Challenge. New entries are 'sposed to be up friday, but I'll be in the Philippines by then, again!

Apologies if this is in poor taste. I'm just jealous, is all. Insanely jealous.

Check more awesome sketches here!

rat city roller grrrrl.

My base sketch for the sketchwich theme this week. I'm not sure I understand the theme, but here mine is anyway. I'll color this one soon!

**Edit: heres the color:**
So new gig is a blast so far, I'm animating the cartooniest stuff I've ever done, by a longshot. I'm constantly having to push myself out of my "comfort zone" since the animation style is so completely different than what I've been used to. I love it though, it's the kind of crazy stuff I've always wanted to do, and before I know it, the day's over. The team is right now is pretty small, and most of us are going to be doing multiple tasks. It really kind of reminds me of my first gig where we were smaller and all of the artists were doing a little bit of everything; storyboards, designs, and animation included.
I'm also a little apprehensive about drawing on the job again, its been a long while. Like I feel like everyday is going to be one of those days where you feel like you cant draw a damn thing. And you look over, and see someone like Raf doin some crazy stuff and you feel even worse and you dont wanna pin it up on the wall. I dunno, I'm up for the challenge though I'll just have to get over that initial hump! BRING IT ON, uh...... Art! ..thats, not crappy!

BTW, why is my site straight purple on everyones screen except mine.

**Edit- Check it! My first cintiq drawing ever! Her name is Cintiqua.
Turns out Cintiqs dont make my drawings any more awesomer. What a rip off, eh? **

Goodbye ArenaNet

So yesterday was my last official day at ArenaNet. Still kind of broken up about it because I'll miss everyone. But I've accepted a position as a Sr. Animator/character designer at Gas Powered Games (in Redmond) on a new project that is unlike anything they've done before, and is super cartoony, which is right up my alley. I've been wanting to push my career into a more of a hybrid 2d/3d position and it'll also serve as a radical change from the work I've done on Guild Wars, style wise. I start monday!

My awesome awesome co-workers held a chamapagne/wine toast last friday, an all-company ice cream social in the animator room after work yesterday( which I hope to get pictures of) ,and a final send off party last night at my place. I got an awesome goodbye card/drawjam and Jason Juan gave me some great framed life drawings as a parting gift!

But lets talk about our feelings. I'll always be thankful to ANet for takin a chance on me when I had no 3D experience (which is one of the most stressful things to deal with, how am I supposed to get experience if everyone wants experience yadda yadda.) and trusting me to take on the player characters, takin me to E3 twice and paying for my breakfast, Lisa getting our lunch everyday, the list goes on and on. I've made a lot of good friends who I've loved hanging out with in and outside work, and have been completely humbled by freakishly talented artists working here.

Okay so here are some pics, random and from my last day.

I just realized Katy is not in any of these! Lame!

Yeah son.

With Venturini. This picture makes no sense.
With Huge and Hern.
Goodbye desk.Passing my animation secrets onto LL.

One last breakdancing session by request.

the ANet animation team.

Dagahra!

Done last minute, for this weeks, Sketchwich! The topic is Japan's Worst Monster.


and ....well, I dunno, but hopefully I go somewhere cool with this one. Don't count on it though.