Playing with Animation in Photoshop

As I'm nearing completion of my storyboards, I accidentally created this interesting (i.m.o.) loop when I was just blocking out the extremes for my character blinking.  I would definitely like to animate more in Photoshop, but that will have to wait until the summer.

Ps: Unfortunately, the only way I know how to upload an animated gif is through Photobucket, which for whatever reason hitches on the second pose.  I suppose this will have to do for now...

Busy Busy

Sorry blog, not much posting until the end of the semester.  Gotta keep hammering on them storyboards.

"Sexy" Walk Cycle

First cg walk cycle with personality.  I was really inspired by the goofy dances in A Night at the Roxbury and was aiming to give him the "nightclub douche-bag with the popped collar" vibe.  I wish I put a lot more erratic energy in his movements, but at the very least he has some swagger.

With that said, cue the Bee Gees...

"Sexy" Walk Cycle- Max from Kyle Lopez on Vimeo.

Rig = Max for Maya

Work In Progress: Animatic Concept Art

The idea is there, but I still await the day that I can work with color and composition effectively...

Character Exploration

Some character design studies for my upcoming animatic. Mainly focused on simplistic but readable facial design since he will be behind a desk for a majority of the short.

Alumni Guest: Meeting Art Baltazar

Last evening we met Art Baltazar, a comic book artist who graduated from our school back in '92.  Attending his lecture was a real treat since I used to read Gorilla Gorilla on those lazy summer evenings in the Disney Adventures magazine when I was still a kid.

But meeting him was more than just an untapped nugget of nostalgia.  What makes him especially influential to me is that he made a career out of drawing in the style that he loves to draw in.  He didn't adhere to life or figure drawing because it isn't something he enjoyed doing.  He recognized their assets, but he wanted to draw the way he wanted to and not try to copy someone else's style.

Gorilla Gorilla collage from artbaltazar.com

Afterwards, I asked that he draw Spider-Man in my sketchbook.  It's not only a character that represents overcoming life's adversities, but his drawing serves as my own reminder to be true to yourself with your art.  We must always remember that we have our own voice.  Nurture it, don't suppress it.

Train Drawings: Day #4 (and other quick studies)

Self explanitory

(+1 random Digimon)

(Cats are really good animals to practice quick drawing)

(trying to practice contour)

Train Drawings: Day #3

Legs are a bit squished on the 2nd page, but that's why it's called practice :D

Train Drawings: Day #2

Another quick sketch I did on the way home