The Set Piece

I finally created the main "Set Piece" for Deer in the Headlights: A Lightning Bug Story. I'll be using this illustration for the opening shot, the web site page, and probably a few other places. It was done using Pastels in Corel Painter, then I brought it into Photoshop for a few touch-ups. Of course, it was created on my Cintiq. Oh, Cintiq. How did I ever live without you? ...I suppose I just used my smaller Wacom tablet. Anywho, here's the illustration:

The Sunday Sketches

What a drawing-filled weekend I've had! I did some more sketches on colored paper today. Also did a few charcoal drawings again. Check 'em out...

The Saturday Sketches

Had to take a break from the storyboarding today and just do some sketching. I bought myself a neat little sketchbook with colored paper, so I did a few sketches in that, playing with some highlights:

And then I did another one of my new fav sketch/brush pen ink/Photoshop color illustration type dealies:

Deer in the Headlights - Thumbnails

If you click on one of the thin little strips to the left of this text, you will find some really tall images consisting of all my thumbnail sketches for my latest story, Deer in the Headlights: A Lightning Bug Story. Over 300 boards this time around, which, I believe, is a new record for me. Not sure if this is a longer story or if I'm just putting more acting into my boards. I suppose I'll find out when I start recording the dialogue and putting together the animatic. But first, I must complete the actual story boards! Sounds time-consuming, but fun. I will, of course, be doing them totally digitally using my Cintiq (still justifying that pricetag!).

Be sure to skim over the thumbnails and let me know what you think!

Deer in the Headlights - Color Studies

My work continues on Deer in the Headlights: A Lightning Bug Story!  I've got the first draft of the script complete, and the first act is already thumbnailed.  I'm also working on finalizing the character designs (at least to the point where I can use them in my boards) and the sets.  Below is something new for me.  I decided to do a few "color/lighting studies" to help visualize the story.  I used Corel Painter (soft pastels) and, naturally, my Cintiq.

I think they turned out alright for a first go at such a thing.  What do you think?

The Secret Life of the American Teenager's Hair

I know we've all been watching the summer smash-hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family. And we all know the real star of the show...Amy, the main character's, hair! How do they get it to part like that?!? Simply a marvel. So, like any good animator would, I had to do some exploratory sketches to try to discover the secret life of the american teenager's hair. Below is a collage of what I found...

Deer in the Headlights: A Lightning Bug Story

I'm very pleased to announce that my next short-story animatic will be Deer in the Headlights: A Lightning Bug Story! I've been working on development sketches for over a month now, and I've finally got the story where I want it. Next up is the script, then thumbnails of the story boards, then the actual boards, voice track, etc. Still plenty more to work on/out, but here is your first look at the deer and the lightning bug characters.

Exciting stuff! Stay tuned for more, and be sure to let me know what you think!