Bubble Time

These are some pictures from last summer, we had a kick with bubbles.  I was going over some old pictures today and thought these were share worthy.

Storyboarding Class!

I was asked by the CG Master Academy to teach a storyboarding class and I'm pumped about it!  I'll be using the material developed by the master storyteller Steve Macleod who I work with at Dreamworks.  Classes start Jan 19th and there are only a few slots available.  Check it out, let me know what you think.

Birds Nest

Kristen and I have just gone through the laborious process of buying a home that Kristen has called "The Bird's Nest", so I came up with this painting to celebrate our first home!  We never thought that we would be able to buy a place in California.  We are so blessed!

wounded

A scan of my gesture drawing class yesterday.  I think it was a 3 minute pose, maybe 5.

Cast Max

My boy fell hard the other day and broke his arm.  He's taking it really well, I've been amazed at his patience.  The day his cast went on, I sat down with him all seriously and asked, "How do you feel that you'll be missing the last couple of t-ball games of the season?"  He looked up, and smiled big, "GREAT!!"

I guess t-ball isn't this kid's thing.  :)

New brush doodles.

I recently came across some new brushes and played around a bit.  These are the result.  

quick sketch

Wow, my last post was 4 months ago?!  REALLY?  Sheesh.  I always thought I would be good about these things.... guess not.

What about me? Don't I matter?

we need more superheros

Playing with some brushes.  This is not the doodle you were looking for.  Move along.

sketch club doodles

I had a free day yesterday and filled it with good things.  I took Max to school, went to the gym with Kristen, saw the Muppet Movie with my kids and wife and had a chance to visit Sketch Club with Marcelo Vignali and the gang.  It was awesome to see the familiar faces those people are amazing.  Here are some doodles from the lunch.  

Cool little drawing exercise, I took this quick doodle and filled in the face.  I'm sure you're like me, everywhere I look, I see faces.  I'm not hearing the voices yet, though.

Happy Birthday Adam Sandler

Did you know it's Adam Sandler's birthday? Of course you did.

feelin a little slow today...

new caricature

Meet Alexa, she has been at Sony Pictures Animation for a while and now she is leaving. I had the pleasure of working on this caricature for her.

Pokemon Max!

My boy is turning 6 years old next week! He wants to have a Pokemon themed party and so we made a playing card for the invitation to his party! I love that Kristen put that he evolves from a five year old!

Happy Birthday buddy!

Bad boy...

I gotta figure out how to be a better hubby.

Luc Desmachelier

Sony says good by to an amazing artist. Bon voyage, ami.

Creating the Anhedonia Logo

This is the animated logo at the end of the new television show, Mr. Sunshine. Think "Sit, Ubu. Sit." or "Bad Robot!!" You can see it better quality at http://vimeo.com/20228001

A few months ago I got a call from my friend Matt Davis asking if I would maybe, possibly be somewhat interested in considering working on a logo like that for Matthew Perry. I jumped at the chance. The company is called Anhedonia Productions, and you're probably wondering what in the world "Anhedonia" means. It's the inability to experience pleasurable emotions from normally pleasurable life events. A pretty crappy situation, but comedy goldmine.

I worked with Andy Erekson and Marcelo Vignali (and his daughter) to come up with a list of 50 ideas of what this logo could be within the theme that Perry had already set up. I boarded out 7 of those ideas and created 3 animated beta tests. Here are some of my favorites...

For exploration:
Face on Jumbotron
Rodeo
Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center
Birth of a child
Bear Attack
Jack in the box
looking at the Mona Lisa

Storyboarded Ideas:






Animation Tests:

I took all that stuff into a meeting with Matthew Perry. It was one of the few celebrity encounters that I have ever had and it was awesome, I won't deny it. We didn't have much time so I started with the story boarded examples, then the videos, then we went over the list. My original idea was to have a new tag at the end of every episode, and Matthew liked that idea a lot. We were all set for it but when he found out that this would be coming from his own pocket and not the studio's, he reconsidered.

The work on this logo went quickly. I probably spent a total of 10 hours on it is all. I think the fact that it was only 4 seconds long was a perk. I finished everything up and sent off a version to be approved and never heard anything back. I knew that they were running out of time and didn't have the final logo so I contacted them. Ben, the guy I was working with, said that there were no notes back on it, which is good news. I delivered the final version and collected my check. It was a great experience.

You know how normally you start out all excited about a project and when you get into it you start to hate it more and more until you question your own worth not only as an artist but as a human being? That never happened on this project. I completely loved working on this thing and now I'm sitting here wondering how I can get more business like that. If you know anyone who needs an animated logo at the end of a sitcom on network television, be a pal and send 'em my way, will ya? Thanks!

I just wanna be tough

Lately I have been trying to work out a little bit more and every time I hear about some fitness app my ears perk up. Recently I heard about this Nike Training Club and I downloaded the app. It has a bunch of really great workouts to get you into shape or help you lose weight or whatever. I did one workout for only 15 minutes and called it good for the day. For the next three days, my legs and hind quarters have been paying for it! Then I found out that it's targeted for women. The longer I live, the more I realize that women are WAY tougher than men. I don't know what I was thinking before....

Mighty Max

Playing with after effects. I've always liked this idea of having these blocks of wood spell out words. Could get pretty fun.

What is Q?

My friend Chris Mitchell has a store in Little Tokyo in LA and he's got space for a little art gallery. I was lucky enough to be asked to participate and this is my piece with one of the preliminary sketches. Check out his blog if you get a chance or check him out on Facebook.

New Post on Drawing a Crowd

Check out my "Drawing a Crowd" blog for this and other caricatures. And let me know what you think, the good and the bad. I want it all!!

Yule tide Smurf

Working on the Smurf's movie stuff, I realize how much Papa Smurf looks like Santa Claus. Merry Christmas to anyone who may read this!

Tilt-Shift effect

Like my model of the Grand Canyon? Just finished it.

Anim Test

Click on the image to see the animation.

warm ups

Getting ready for a pumpking carving. More pictures soon. Going to enter my pumpkin into a contest at work, we'll see how it goes.
Saw this guy as I was walking back from lunch yesterday. Interesting bulging shapely head.

Sketchclub faces

Mr. Perry

Santa Logo

I was asked to come up with a graphic for a logo for the Run with Santa charity event that the Grossman Burn Center is holding sometime during the holiday season. I don't know when the race is, but I'd love to be in it. I've never run so much as a 5k before - I gotta get out and move!