Been studying

Well, I have been offline for quite some time. It is all because I have been studying and trying to learn more about Compositing and Photography (light and color).
These are some of the resources I have studying up on:


Oh yeah and the Stuff on TheFoundry website about Nuke and using it for color correction and compositing of course.

I have also been doing some Figure Drawing, there was a workshop today.

So yeah, that is just a quick update for what has been going on.

Personal Pipeline Project Updqate

Hey, quick update on the PPP work. I have been doing extensive R&D on the functionality of the tool sets in the new ZBrush 3.5R, and even more on workflow and uses of the ZSphere and ZSketch. Which should help me properly produce the character. But, the R&D and concept art material is meshed together at this point. Depending on whether or not I am going to do an actual animation and not just "Beauty Shot animation," will determine when and if I work on a storyboard /story.
So, yeah. I am still working on the Concept Art and doing plenty of R&D study, soon I will leave studying character creation and methods that fit my production. And will start studying Rigging than from there will be more polishing and post production R&D.

Concept Art 1

Alright a bit of an update on the Personal Pipeline Project. This concept is the one in ink and graphite. It is a mesh between two original ideas of mine from a bit earlier. Between the caricature of myself and the other of FatLee (inspired by a hero of mine, Bruce Lee), which is an unfinished idea. But, the good thing about PreoPro stages such as R&D and Concept Art is new ideas and the refining of old ones.

A Bunch of New Stuff

Alright, so it has been a few days since my last post and believe me I have been hard at work.
My Personal Pipeline Project has slowed down a bit, because of the work from other classes. But, I have still been gathering as many resources and setting in line material to help me learn through the process. And I will be furthering the Concept Art work within the next few days, as well as get back to utilizing my R&D resources.
Next up, I have been kept rather busy lately with my Animation Art test. At FullSail I have to prove my worth as an Animator before moving on. So sooner rather than later I took it. I turned it in Wednesday morning and I have gotten a great critique from Sam Ewing since than. And it has definitely made me more confident in what the results will be.
And just a few more things, I have been trying to get back into fine arts and photography. With fine arts it has been a focus of watercolor and anatomy studies, but to stay on track I have kept the anatomy studies to that of gesture drawings which relates a lot closer to animation. And in photography I have been experimenting with counterbalancing Shutter Speed and Aperture to achieve a stylized lighting effect in my shots. I love to have a lot of contrast, rich colors and deep shadows.
Well I hope you enjoy the new stuff.
























Hope You Enjoy My Stuff, I appreciate Any Critiques or Comments, even questions.

Getting Started

Well, I have not posted in a bit. No doubt because I have been working.
But, this absence has not been wasted. I have begun a project that I have been toying with in my head for quit some time.
The idea is for me to go through an entire production pipeline by myself. This way I can teach myself about the different aspects of a production of a feature ( for this instance, it is just the creation of a character and a fulfillment of an idea) or a short. I will keep this short and get right to it than.

The first aspect of any production is an idea, than of course a concept (concept art), and than R&D ( research and development). Currently I am tackling Concept Art as well as R&D.
So please check it out and tell me what you think.
I was trying to decide what character I should create for this project, and it was tough. But, than I decided to use this surreal expression of myself that I drew for fun. Now for now it is not decided that this will be the subject or the final look. So bare with me for work in progress posts.

And as for R&D I have been gathering all the material and resources I can on pipeline production for different packages like Zbrush (http://www.pixologic.com/home.php) which is a digital modeling/sculpting software and Softimage for rigging and animation.

Right now I am diligently taking notes on a Masterclass lecture on full Zbrush character development.

Welcome Back

Been gone for a while. I will get right to it than. I have a lot that I have been doing. To much for one post. I have been writing, animating, and getting back to photography. I don't even know where to begin. For now I will just put up a few photographs. I will keep them coming, and I hope you enjoy.

It has been a short while, hasn't it?

It has been a little while until my last post. Justifiable though. It was a very busy month for my last set of classes and I have taken a Leave of Absence, leaving me without an internet connection. So now that I can, an update is in order.
This month was a very, I don't want to say counter productive. I will just go with stagnant. The last month of class was more driven towards video game content and other things of that nature. As well as, and I unfortunately admit this. Motion Capture, which in no light is an art form. I will admit that it is a technical achievement and scientifically very aw inspiring. But, not an Art Form. I have made this argument as to why several times, my reasons have substance and are valid as well as justifiable. So with that said I will not clutter my blog with such nonsense.
I am really against posting this MOC class update, but I am going to either way.
Below you will find the credits list, as well as the final product for the motion capture class. I advise you not to watch it.
Any questions feel free to contact me.
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Credits
This is the COMPLETE Log of the performance and/or responsibilities of each member of the group Team Patton



Patton Tunstall-

Technical Advisor
Assistive Render Technician
Assistive Lighting Technician
Assets Provider
Team Inspiration
Comedic Material
Vile Betrayer

Matthew Fossett-

Environment Modeler
Environment Texture Artist
Lighting Technician

Harry Robbins-

Visual Effects Modeler
Co-Visual Effects Material Editor
Co-Visual Effects Designer
Tracking Technician
Cortex Template Technician

Jose Diaz-

Co-Character Shading Network Coordinator
Co-Visualization Coordinator
Assistive Environment Modeler
Validity Officer
Co-Visual Effects Designer
Editing Technician
Video Artist for Intro and Credits
Audio Editing
Post Editing Artist
Goku BlendShapes Artist
Assistive Project Supervisor
Endorphin Technician
Endorphin Rendering Technician
Pipeline/Production Assistant

Robert Quintana-

Co-Character Shading Network Coordinator
Co-Visualization Coordinator
Co-Visual Effects Designer
Co-Visual Effects Material Technician
Motion Builder-Characterization
Motion Builder-Solving
Motion Builder-Layer Animation
Motion Builder-Story
Scene Construction
Visual Effects Animator
Rendering Technician
Cinematographer
Camera Animation
Vegeta BlendShapes Artist
StoryBoard Artist
Motion Capture Choreographer
Assistive Tracking Technician
Pipeline/Production
Presenter
Project Coordination
Archive
Editing and Compostiting Assistant







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CAN is over!!!

Well, the news is in! And I have passed CAN, or more like CAN'T. I didn't pass well, but I passed.

As if I could get anymore frustrated with CAN

It is true, as if CAN could frustrate me any more than it already has. I am out of the class and it as if the class is affecting me from beyond the grave. I am trying to show my trusted class mates and email instructors for critiques on my lip sync final, and the sound is out of sync on the video. But, never the less the playblast is accurate. So, how to I explain, "Oh for some reason the lip sync is out of sync on my lip sync when I play it online, but if I show you the Quicktime on my flash drive it will be in sync." What are you serious? I look like an idiot, and I thought that it came out decent for my first one. And even showed the slightest bit of promise. But, no, CAN lives on to slap me in the face. I hope I don't fail on top of that.
I will try to post some new stuff soon. If anyone is out there.

Final Turn in on Lip Sync

Well, this is it. What you see here is my first ever lip sync and/or animation done to an audio clip. Also, it probably goes without saying that this is what I turned in as my final for the Lip Sync assignment in CAN. I don't really have anything else to add.


Thanks Sam and everyone else who gave me pep talks to help me to keep going. This class affected me, it got under my skin and hurt me a lot. Hopefully with work I can over come.
Now all I have to do is wait and hope that I passed (guffaw).
Thanks MuMu.

Final Stretch

It is the final day to work on this assignment, turn in is Saturday 24th 1am. This is what I have at this point, I am going to be touching up this one and adding the lip sync to it. With this version I will be taking some of the cluttered gestures out and adding a pose at the start so that my character can move into the lip sync. Thanks Sam for that note by the way. As well as I will be fixing some of the shaking and flashing. I have been told that I have strong poses that are working, but apparently I have cluttered it up with some keys. With that said the list of things to do for this version to be ready for turn in is as follows; Add starting pose to prelude lip sync, remove cluttering poses from head slapping gesture, try to hold the body at some points to add a natural stillness, add blinking at key points to insinuate thinking, check timing to make sure he is moving before speaking not after, add the lip movements/phonetics.
I won't lie, that is a pretty intimidating list of goals for this animation. And I would be lying if I said I will achieve all these goals or that I will get them done well. But, I can say that I sure as hell am going to try.




And just to make sure I give credit where credit is due, here are the notes that I received from Sam Ewing on the previous post.
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Hey Trooper,
I've taken a look at Dailies 2 lip-sync animation "Cage", and, as you've asked for comments, here they are. (If you don't mind I'll make these brief, knowing you have a deadline to deal with. And please remember that these are just ideas, with which you can agree or not, as your artistic spirit and good taste dictates. You're on the right track... Trust yourself.)
I suggest you start the scene before he begins to speak... give the audience a look at his expression and what he thinks before he says it.
Generally, it feels a little floaty. Add some snap, ie. move faster between the key poses. Also, as the line is given in a quiet manner, I would attempt to make him even more still; don't neglect the power of inactivity. This will add contrast when he does move, ie. slaps head, makes cage of hands, etc.
Try a blink when he changes eye direction. Check your copy of The Illusion of Life and see what Frank and Ollie have to recomend about this. By the way, I liked it that he closes his eyes while he speaks at one point, adds an effortlessness and naturalness to the delivery of his line.
Fix the pop when he hits his head. You had that working in a previous edition, so I figure it's an easy fix.
Perhaps bring his hands together sooner to make the cage. Again, let your audience see before they hear?
Have fun. Thanks for the chance to look at your work.
Regards,
Sam
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Thanks Sam

Update on the Dailies 2 post

Couldn't sleep and made a dent in the revisions that I mentioned earlier. Yeah. I think there is a huge difference now. Might actually be able to make this work.

Dailies2

This is maybe pass 2.5, I have been experimenting with the timing more and some poses. After going over this play blast I have decided to remove the accent he motions when speaking "they work." I will not sacrifice fluidity for gestural poses, especially those that are flashing about. Later today I will be removing them and fine tune what I already have. Make sure it is working. Than I move on to animating the lips and getting the phonetics in. Hopefully this will work out the way I am planning, that way I may actually be able to pass this class. Maybe, perhaps even with a decent animation. And my first lip sync at that.

Dailies

This is my second pass on the lip sync animation, not exactly a completed second pass. I am missing a some breakdowns and anticipations at the end of the animation. This is due to me working straight ahead on the breaks and anticipations. I am actually enjoying working on this.
As far as the scene goes, I wanted the setting to match the backstory that I was told to write but. I am told that the scene is too busy. So what I am going to do is hide the geometry of the scene and turn in just the character standing. And later ask my VFX/Lighting guy Patton Tunstall to light the scene and render it for me. But, for now this is what I got.

Pose Test

This is a pose test for for my first lip sync, it is the last assignment of CAN (character animation).
So yeah, the clip is from the great television show, "The Office." Voice: Steve Carell, a little insight though. The backstory and characterization of the bug character. He is a 40 year old dude who is a huge dork working at best buy. A total bum, lazy and sarcastic.

Sam Ewing: Notes

This is the real thing right here people, a critique from Sam Ewing on the last post. A direct copy from an email from him nothing was changed. I wish that I could have gotten a hold of this before I turned the garbage in, but alas we learn and move on.

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Just in case I fail to post my comment at rtqstudios page, I will copy them here for you.
Hey Trooper,
It's a funny idea, I like it. May I comment on three of your poses?
1) When he pulls back with hand to face. Move hand out of the way so we can see his expression better.
2) When he looks into the bowl and we cannot see his face. Perhaps a good place for a funny pose distorted by the water? Also, this pose seems held too long.
3) Last poses with his head down... you have him bow directly towards camera, flattening everything. Turn him a bit. Or, lose these poses all together and finish with something unexpected. Dead fish dangling from his fingers, turns and flushes him down the toilet with extreme dignity? or perhaps it wasn't dead after all and starts wiggling again? Or?
Good Luck,
Sam
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How Unfortunate

I can't express how tired I am of this class and how I can't wait to be finished with it. I am in disbelief of how my work has been affected by my time in this class. Emotionally it has been difficult for me to deal with the class, my confidence did take a hit. But, I have spoken with my mentor several times over the course of this class and with his help I have been able to overcome. I cannot say the same for the product of my turn-ins for this class. I have come to terms with the current endeavors that I have been faced with this month, and have decided to endure and work through it. Hopefully I can make it past this class and move on. Than I will be able to resume my fruitful learning of animation and it's practice. Rather than having to sift through the unhappy ramblings of the miserable instructors and their confining and regimented animation assignments.
Hopefully I can make it through this class and move on.
With that said and vented, and feeling much better, this is what I will be turning in for the final for this assignment. It is awful, but ironically enough I see some things in it that I can smile at.
Critiques are greatly appreciated and wish me luck in passing what has truly been a test of my devotion to animation.

Got to finish this by monday

I have to finish this by Monday and I have to be honest I don't feel that it is going very well. It is carrying on a lot better than the other animations for this class that I have had to produce. But, I don't feel like I am achieving anything.
Well, anyways. This is an updated playblast for the Emotional Change assignment. I have been playing with the timing a lot and I feel that I am getting closer to something that I will be able to work with and get the idea across. Added a few more poses and adding more anticipations and breakdowns. Tuning some holds and arcs. Here is what I got and I will post what I turn in.


Is anyone out there?
I have been thinking lately, I know why I like to write. I feel like someone is listening.

PoseTest

I am currently in a course called CAN Character Animation. It goes without saying that the class has been making me absolutely miserable, because of all the dry work that I have to do. But, the assignment that I am working on currently it actually pretty nice. Why? Because it is actual character animation. The assignment is called an Emotional Change which is in fact what it is.
The scenario that I chose is the character discovering his fish dead, I chose this one because my sister's and I's fish died 2 weeks ago.
So, this is my Pose Test. Mainly Keys, a few breaks and a bit of an ease and out foundation. The rest of the scene is blocked.
Pose Test.

New Stuff coming soon I promise

Whether or not anyone has been reading or viewing this blog and looking at my material. I have been without an internet connection for a few days and have been rather busy with school work and class schedule. But, I will be either posting class animations. Or will be posting drawings soon.
Considering my current level of disappointment concerning my work in this class I might just post pone posting until I have new personal work updates.
Thanks, whoever is listening.