motion graphics are hard

After Effectssssss whattttt.

so I had a 10-15 min overview of AfterEffects when I started this little motion graphic comic thing for my Fashion & Lifestyle Illustration class. It's not the best since I need to take a class to really know how to do this stuff, but I'm interested in taking an elective if I can.

Here is some process work, and I'll post the video later this weekend. :D

Sketches to loosen up

Thumbnails (I somehow lost some more that lead to the final one)

Final lineart


Light studies

Color studies

Screenshot

Basically I learned that I should draw the lineart in separate sections to animate... but this was a 2 part assignment in which I had already made the lineart all on one spread. With time constraints, I had to just work around it. Lessons learned indeed.

It was a 10 sec loop, but after my experience, I really appreciate people who work in this medium.

Working? ORLY

Now, onto other things I'm doing...

This horizontal piece above, unfortunately, doesn't work for this layout.... desperately I put it in under short notice. correcting it now.

a WIP from Fashion & Lifestyle, since I'm fixing some things around with after crit last week...

My lines are much more direct and loose now, and its really freeing. I need to show some restraint and attempt more minimal linework. and cleaner work.

In terms of inspirational fashion illustrators, I've really admired René GRUAU and Kenneth Paul Block for their loose and decisive lines, textures from various dry and wet traditional media, and bold use of color. http://theerrantaesthete.com/2009/07/13/swan-necked-hauteur/ - a great little post about Block's work and appeal.

A major costume designer I feel connected to is Edith Head. Back when I had short hair and wore my glasses more often, I was told I looked like her (or Edna Mode from the Incredibles).

A recent interest is with costume designer John Dunn, who has worked on Boardwalk Empire; he is amazingly tuned to period style and subtle touches of characters' relationship to clothing and status. http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/boardwalk-empire-costume-designer-091510- a great interview that notes some thought process on character development and wardrobe.

For people who wonder if I have a tumblr... I do. Will be posting mostly inspiration fashion stuff.

http://authenticbrew.tumblr.com/

And for those who don't follow me on twitter (wudanni) or listen to my music podcast (Authentic Jams), I have streaming feeds on the right side of this blog.

painting some more!

So I finished up the ol' Kilpatrick thing.... here's some photos:

and now I'm working on this (starring my friends Joni and Brian):

Late night painting with my best friend Nescafe Taster's Choice + Hazelnut Creamer!

Toyota Lecture series on Design...

I have to admit that sometimes I don't take advantage of lectures at CCS... or rather, I get informed at the last minute and realize I have stuff to do. D: but the one last night was pretty sweet.
Tim Flattery talked and showed us some slides of his work as a concept artist, vehicle and costume designer. Occasionally designing the look of theme park rides as well as sci-fi/fantasy movies. :D I think he graduated from CCS with a BFA in Design back when it was called the Center for Creative Studies. He later got Teacher of the Year at Art Center in 1994 (if you must know, CCS and Art Center are majorly competitive for auto design in the states). Hmmmm and we currently have faculty that come from Art Center and vice versa.
The last part of the Toyota Lecture Series on Design is on April 28th and April 29th, so mark your calendars!

The College for Creative Studies and Toyota Motor Corporation present:

2010 SPRING TOYOTA LECTURE SERIES ON DESIGN
featuring speakers on April 28

All events are free, open to the public, and will take place at the following location:

College for Creative Studies
Walter and Josephine Ford Campus
Walter B. Ford II Building
Wendell W. Anderson Jr. Auditorium
201 East Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202

Wednesday, April 28 at 6 pm
Niels Diffrient
Renowned industrial designer

Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m.
Scott Robertson
President of Design Studio Press
Chair of Entertainment Design, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA


Looking at classes and stuff for next year is super exhilarating. I am looking into vis comm classes, sculpture/modelmaking in process and materials, and even some printmaking.

Speaking of vis comm, I checked out a library book out called Presentation Techniques by Dick Powell.... its really great stuff from the marker days! Very detailed step-by-step guide on various rendering techniques. Originally printed in 1985 in the UK, it has been reprinted 8 times since publication, with the revised edition from 2005.

I am so excited for next year it is ridiculous.
In other news, I have a lot of stuff to draw and a painting to finish for tomorrow evening (I have to work on it some more, but it is getting there). This hand drawing is actually finished, I just don't have a photo of that yet.
I do have a closeup shot of Don Kilpatrick III....

Te Wei, Sergio Martinez, tumblr

Te Wei passed away this month at the ripe age of 95. He did a lot of great musical animated shorts that depicted Chinese folk culture. He was an artistic role model of my vaguely remembered childhood.

Recently, I found a thread post on Sergio Martinez' process on ConceptArt.org with a scanned interview/step-by-step article from the long defunct magazine, Step By Step. Martinez is well known in book illustration for Treasure Island and Pinocchio.
Since I discovered Martinez' illustrations through the blog Lines and Colors, I've been trying look for more of his work and the techniques he uses to work on both sides of vellum/trace. He has 4 separate, specific blogspots in english/spanish (?) that cover categories of his artwork, but the most comprehensive (and up to date) blog is Sergio's commets.

I bought some vellum the other day and can't wait to try working with some of his techniques!


Due to extreme customization capability in tumblr (apparently its practically like free webhosting), I am considering making an official site in tumblr that is more aesthetically streamlined and pleasing. This blogspot is more personal work than anything else, but it tries to keep a professional air. Gotta keep this classy!

Anyway, if anyone is willing to provide some tips about beginner html code for tumblr, that would be great. I'll doodle for it.