New Projects!

Ok, so I'm doing some more stuff with school this quarter- like making a video logo bumper for my motion graphics class as well as a full short cartoon in my special topics class, so updates on those will happen periodically... As far as my other projects go, I'm trying to get a small web-based comic started. I have a base story put together, character bios, basic model sheets, but I have to realize that I'm not really as funny as I think I am, so I need someone to help me write the jokes and subplot.
The idea is about 3 people- two guys and a girl. Tess, Crosby, and Harold. Tess McCormick, 23 is a shorter, curvy, geek girl who works at a music shop. She's a sarcastic, paranoid, cynical conspiracy nut who constantly thinks the government is out to get her, while she prepares for the zombiepocalypse. Her tirade of geek-dom is a lot from the internet: YouTube, webcomics, LOLcats, etc. She's a lot like me.
My second character, Crosby Owens, 25, is a tall, brunette, lanky grad-student who owns a comic book store and has a love for comic books and all things Super-hero. He is that nerdy guy who is goofy and childish, but still has social prowess. He has lots of friends, and a ditzy girlfriend who is a shame to all true-anime fans out there. He's based on a lot of my guy friends
The third main character is Harold Greenberg, 23 is a short, chubby, greasy-haired, acne-ridden uber-nerd with Titanic-sized glasses, who spends every waking minute playing video games, dungeons & dragons, and World of Warcraft. He is pretty much the epitome of the word geek. Extremely socially awkward, he hyperventilates at the sight of a woman, but can almost always get caught watching some kind of very strange porno.
I want the comic to have the air of a kind of big-bang-theory meets Questionable Content. With the witty dialogue, sexual tension, and the youthful spirit of us recent-college-grad-20-somethings. I think it has the potential to be a really great thing, but that may not be for years. I hope it turns into something awesome, but if not, it'll at least be a fun project for me and anyone else who wants to help me out. I'm excited!

Ideas anyone?

Alright, peoples. I need a challenge. I have been really busy with planning my wedding, focusing on school, work, and preparing to adopt a dog, to draw. And it's taken an effect on me. I haven't drawn for fun in a while and thus my blog has suffered, my portfolio is getting to be seen-it-already-where's-the-new-stuff, and I have gotten really bored. So I need an idea for a cartoon, or a series of digital paintings, or a character or ... something. Help me out here. Send me reference photos, send me paintings, anything. I'm interested in seeing what y'all can come up with.

New video!

Ok, so this month has been CRAZY that's why I haven't posted anything lately.
It's the final 3 weeks of the quarter so that means work work work work work. I have two animated shorts to do- one 2D, one 3D. A storyboard animatic to render in After Effects, and an advanced life drawing sketch to ink, shade, and mount. Ugh... not to mention working a 35 hour work week, taking classes to become a trainer, AND I'm planning a wedding. I know the whole world is busy, but damn! I'm wore out... so sorry to say to my followers (assuming there are any) that I haven't had much time to update the blog.

But good news, I have. I did finish my 2D short... it's simple animation, but it's done and ready to view :D I'm gonna try to post the video here, but if not, it'll go to my YouTube channel. Happy viewing!

Shading is improving! YAY!

I'm excited to start this project. This will be part 1 of my 9 part project. This picture is my fiancé, Tony and I as super awesome spies haha. The next ones I will post will contain my bridesmaids and the groomsmen. I've been doing a lot of research and referencing photos from comic books and more realistic cartoons, because I'm really not good at them. My usual drawings come out looking like something from Nickelodeon or Family Guy. Not that there's anything really wrong with that, but I don't want to end up being Seth McFarlane- only being able to do one style and therefore never branching out. I want to be able to provide potential clients and/or employers with a veritable smorgasbord of different styles to pick from that I am able to repeat over and over again. Therefore, I will be more sought after and more likely to be hired. Boom.

But for now, practice is the name of the game. I was very happy the other day to run into a woman that my mother introduced me to. She was a municipal judge for a while, and talked to me for a bit about the legal side of the art world. Which is good, because I didn't know much. She ended up talking to me for the better part of an hour and said that she was very impressed with my portfolio. So that's happy. I felt very excited and VERY flattered that someone of her esteem would think that my cartoons are worth her time. YAY! Happy happy.

So anyway, I hope you like part one- many more to come!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Tonycakes :)
I did this picture of my wonderful fiancé for Valentine's Day. He's Italian, so I couldn't give him big bug-eyes like I love giving to everyone else I draw.. I don't really like the symbol-ish way they turned out, though. I need to differentiate between chinese-looking eyeballs and something a sixth-grader draws.. those almond-shaped things on the top of the head.. but I digress

I want to do more than just cartoons- yes, they're cute, and fun to do... but I need a new challenge. I wish I knew if I had anyone reading my blog.. I would love some feedback. I need some feedback- if anyone is reading this, please comment or something to give me some new ideas. Please please :)

My first 3D animation

This is my very first animation in 3D. Nothing special or fancy, but I want to be able to look back in 10 years and be able to laugh at how much I suck now :)

My friend, Brooke

So, I know I haven't posted in a while- I've been busy. Breaking my foot, re-arranging my house, and planning my wedding (not necessarily in that order). But, today as I was taking a break from my latest animation project, my friend Brooke told me to draw her in cartoon form. So, I did. Here it is. More stuff to come later when I get my head out of my butt.