I am not Ambrose.

Day 3: The Arby's Beef n Cheddar came from another restaurant.

2009-01-14T02:36:51Z

Worked on the character animatics today. I have to go to bed right now though for work at 5am tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to finish the animatics and also try to get some kind of sound program to cut up the voice files so it's not playing the entire four minute AIFs. :D That could get a tad annoying. I think I can also shrink the file size of the movie down by just cutting the clock sound effect down to one tick/beat and then looping it.

:O Matt I can't stress enough how sorry I am that it's taken this long to finish this up.

After animatics are done I'm going to rework the character artwork and start on the first draft animation and the voices synced up with the movie. When that's done I'll upload it somewhere so we can go back and forth and see what works, what doesn't work, what needs to be timed better, etc etc. Currently, this looks like it'll only be about a 30 second to 1 minute cartoon but that's without stretching out any parts to add for tension or comic effect blah blah so who knows? Anyways, it's not really about time but rather about what's going to work.

Ok, I gotta wrap this up cause it's bedtime. I need to find a good sound program while I'm at it!

Current Status: Goal 1 Finished! - Rough Background Animatic Complete

2009-01-12T02:43:26Z

Background settings are done. Now I just need to set the characters and voice over work on top of this and start tinkering with the timeline. I've got to go to bed soon for work tomorrow(gotta get my five hours of sleep!) so I'll work on this tomorrow afternoon when I get home. Also uuuuggghh to going in at 6am! I'll start drawing out better character designs. Not really a fan of the current ones since Bunny really is too muscle-y for an average male type character. I think the cat is just right though. Anyway, glad I got this first step done since it's probably the most important.

Production Diary - Furry Story Part 1

2009-01-12T01:46:40Z

As always I haven't posted on here in forever. However, since I'm starting back up on the FS project I'm going to go ahead and keep this going as a production diary. Currently, I'm working on the rough animatics of the project. I'm going to be working first as a rough everything then going back and fleshing it out then repeating until we get the final product. Sort of like writing a rough draft then making a first draft then a final draft. That was probably an easy way to say it but I'm kind of telling myself these things as I write so it just helps me think to write out everything blah blah blah.

Anyways! Animatics so far are looking good. Right now it's just a lot of tweening and empty frames with the background roughs in them. Afterwards, I'll go back in and add the characters and voices and lengthen the holding frames/tweens to make sure the timing looks just right. Then it's in-between time! Then I eat snacks! Then I finish things up and see if there's any way I can make it look better! Then I cry a little! Then I send it to Matt for approval!

I lost track of my thoughts there and started rambling. Ok, this has been a good thought process right here with me rambling. I'm glad nobody reads this. :D

My goal for tonight: Finish the background art animatics!
Goals for tomorrow: Finish the rough character animatics!

Something I'm worried about is that the aif files are really huge and may end up crashing Flash. It's my understanding though that those are a better quality to use than MP3 so I can only hope the program and my computer are stable enough to hold them. Welp, it'll be a learning process!

It must be my birthday!

2008-09-01T17:18:08Z

Mmmmmmmmmmmm

P.S. It is.

P.P.S. I'm still not Ambrose.

I got bored and wrote a story about Gradius

2008-08-25T02:48:51Z

Gradius: The Bacterian Wars

Prologue:

"For galactic centuries, a mysterious empire of alien beings known as the Bacterians held control over the vast star systems of outer space. In order to ensure peace between the empire and the conquered civilizations of neighboring planets a deal was made. Once a year an emissary must be sent into the heart of the Bacterian Empire to deliver a peace offering to the Emperor. In the year 6658, however, an uprising occurred that would escalate into what would be known as the First Bacterian War. Officially, what set off the war would be recorded as..."

Chapter 1: "...cause unknown."

Gradian Year 6658
Bacterian Territory - Outpost X3729-Delphi
Mission: Deliver peace offering to Bacterian Empire.

: "Mayday, mayday! I am under attack by Bacterian forces!"

: "This is General Bartz! What is going on over there, Viper?!"

: "The Bacterians have attacked my ship! Requesting permission to return fi-"

: "Negative, Viper! Your mission is to deliver our planet's peace offering to the Emperor of the Bacterians!"

: "..."

: "You've already fired your plasma disruptors at them, haven't you, Viper? Viper!? VIPER!!!"

: "Relax that sphincter, Gramps! I'll deliver our offering one way or another. That's a space-promise!"

: "Return to orbital base, Viper! What took Gradiyears to accomplish you've probably single-handedly destroyed in a matter of Gradiseconds!"

: "Viper OUT!"

: "Blast it all! He cut off the transmission! I'll have you decommissioned for this, Vic Viper!"

Next time...Chapter 2: Fahrenheit Four Billion Fifty-One!

Probably not. Anyways, sorry for the lack of updates. I've been working on a project with revme. Speaking of which, I'm almost done with the set design.

Got bored and started Flash animatatin'

2008-08-07T08:19:53Z

Ok, so it's just a crappy GIF I made. Whatevaaaa! ...I'm so bored. I ran out of ideas for K&S strips even though I really wanted to keep it going. I had a bunch written but none of them were any good. Ah well. Anyway, here's that animation.

I kinda screwed it up in some parts. I'm mostly just experimenting again with animation. I wish I knew how to get like, voice acting and stuff right. If I knew that then I'd probably make actual cartoons. :O Oh, how I'd love to make cartoons.

Looking at it now I guess with some actual planning I could've made it look better. Namely the obvious edits to the table when he moves his arm and the pink dot in his hair from when I accidentally poked it with my stylus and was too lazy to erase it after seeing it. Teehee!

I'm just going to keep posting these koala comics

2008-07-07T05:47:56Z

because I love making them.

Sorry I have to use LJ cuts to post them but they are pretty big width-wise. I didn't want to break the browser window with that horizontal scrolling.

New comic - Koala and Snake

2008-07-03T03:11:01Z

So I started working on something. I can't say when it'll be ready for any kind of launch but here's a preview of it. It's nothing as epic as my usual stories. Just going for something simple to practice with this time around. It's a lot of fun to write though.

Request Filled - Stuffed Animal

2008-06-10T02:40:58Z

OK, well that's another painting down. I really liked drawing in the detail of the pillowcase I used for the "floor" there. Now my hand is killing me. :O If only I got paid for these I could actually afford stuff. Ah well. Another good practice session is over.

Requested Painting - Stuffed Animal(WIP)

2008-06-09T04:59:53Z

Yet another request. This time a certain someone asked for a teddy bear but I ended up getting into the set up process of the still life and just started putting whatever toys I could find in there. I finished the bear. Now I've just gotta add the rest. Started this about six hours ago or more so I've still got a ways to go as you can see.

Requested Painting - Morning Glory

2008-06-08T02:29:54Z

Morning Glories at Sunset

Desk Study

2008-04-27T06:43:00Z

Well, I think this came out okay. Just finished up a simple painting exercise by doing what's on my computer desk. As you can see it's basically cluttered with old mail and books and also a pack of jumbo-sized googly eyes. I think the books behind the glass could've been more interesting but I didn't really know what to do to try sprucing them up. Right behind the glass is basically a ton of white paper so it's not really much to work with.

Desk Study

Playing around with Tablet

2008-04-03T15:07:24Z

Not really sure what this was supposed to be. For some reason I can't get my tablet to work anymore. The pen works with the tablet and all that but it doesn't register pressure sensitivity in Photoshop. I don't know what the deal is. It's really annoying. In any case, drew this after making some random lines for a stylus test then tried to turn it into a drawing.

On second glance...

2008-03-28T05:55:55Z

Ok, pretend this post didn't happen. I had posted an alternate version of the Metroid painting but in retrospect that's a dumb idea. I'll worry about whatever next thing I work on instead.

In its place here's part of a script I started working on but never went anywhere with. It's about a macho robot that saves people.

INT. KIDNAPPER'S HIDEOUT

KIDNAPPER #1 is tying his hostage, ALEX HAWK, to a chair with duct tape. As his hand passes by the boy's nose, the boy sniffs him.

ALEX HAWK
Smells like somebody's been making hot dogs.

KIDNAPPER #1 jolts up away from the kid. A weirded-out look is on his face.

ALEX HAWK (CONT'D)
Hope ya made one for me!

KIDNAPPER #1
I didn't; and don't sniff me. It's weird.

KIDNAPPER #1 squints at him.

KIDNAPPER #1 (CONT'D)
You're weird.

KIDNAPPER #2 walks into the room talking on a cellphone. In his other hand, he is holding a half-eaten hot dog. He shushes KIDNAPPER #1 by holding up a finger with the hand he's holding the hot dog in. KIDNAPPER #1 stands by listening to the phone call.

KIDNAPPER #2
Yes, Mr. Hawk. Leave the briefcase in the phone booth at Royal Hills Park.

INT. LIVING ROOM - HAWK RESIDENCE

MR. HAWK looks stern but also tense as he talks to the kidnappers from his end of the phone. Behind him are two POLICE OFFICERS and INSPECTOR FALOOG.

MR. HAWK
And I have your word my son will be returned safely to me?

KIDNAPPER #2 (O.C.)
Of course, MR. HAWK. When we get what we've asked for.

MR. HAWK looks over at the police. INSPECTOR FALOOG looks at him from the tracing equipment and gives him a nod.

MR. HAWK
You will; but if you've harmed my son in any way-

KIDNAPPER #2 (O.C.)
Goodbye, MR. HAWK.

MR. HAWK
(in a sing-songy voice)
Bye-eeeee!

POLICE OFFICER
We've traced the call. The suspects are located in a residence on the outskirts of town.

INSPECTOR
Good work. We'll send in-

DR. ONION (O.C.)
BOXBODY.

FINISHED - Metroid Prime Steam Edition

2008-03-26T07:50:32Z

UPDATE This mofo is done. Refresh your browsers if it's showing the old version.

Work in progress painting for the Metroid Prime Let's Play Megathread at the SA Forums. I think it's coming along pretty nicely. Started this thing about seven hours ago and am only just now finishing the top part of Ridley's body. Geeeeeeeez. This is probably going to be the biggest painting I've done so far. I'll try to find a place to host the full size image somewhere if I can. There's a lot of tiny details that are getting left out of the shrunken one posted here.

Anyhoo, this is pretty much what I'm doing with my spring break. Instead of, you know, working on that paper for Art History I'm supposed to be working on.

I'll keep updating this entry as I go along like I did with the forest.

Total time for this piece: 10 hours

I can't feel my right hand anymore so I think that's a good stopping point for today.

Update: Ok, so I went back in and finished Ridley. Also changed the gatling gun in his mouth to actually point to Samus. Before it was just sort of sitting there but this definitely adds more to the scene.

Desert Scene

2008-02-12T23:45:43Z

Desert Scene
Click image for bigger version.

So, this is the second painting I finished for PodRPG. I finally found another non-paying concept art job to tide me over. I get an artistic buildup and I just have to do something you know? So I like working on these kinds of projects. Also, I just need a really good excuse to experiment more with Photoshop. This time around I got to work with sand. Or at least trying to simulate a sandy desert. Not sure if it worked out well or not.

Anyways, I had a weird black out the other day. I had just gotten done taking a wizz in the bathroom when I got this terrible headache and just passed out. It was the first time something like that's ever happened to me so I was kinda spooked at first. When I woke up I was all sweaty and my left leg was really hurting. I slammed my knee pretty hard on the side of the sink and sprained my ankle. The worst part was I totally forgot to wash my hands. So yeah, now I've missed my art history exam because of it as well as another ceramic class and painting class I missed out on. Hopefully that won't have too negative an impact on my grades.

Also, if anyone has any ideas for something I can paint while I practice working more with Photoshop I'd love to hear some ideas. Matt, if there's anything you'd like to see for Kittysneezes let me know. :O I think you're the only person who reads this journal anyway.

Dingler strikes again!

2008-02-06T08:30:09Z

Photoshop - Forest Painting
Click image for bigger version.</a>

Renegades: The Chronicles of Cookie and Baconella

2008-01-04T04:07:08Z

Chapter 16: The War of the Dino-Reich

Let's draw some comics!

2007-11-24T00:56:35Z

Jesus Christ, UPS, what's the deal?

2007-11-23T21:38:52Z

I won't even tell the story because it's probably been posted a million times but long story short I won't be able to get a package until next Monday because of these retards and their inability to comprehend basic customer service over trying to drive around as fast as humanly possible. Keep in mind I ordered this package last week and it was sent as Next Day. Now my sister works for them as a driver and from what she's told me I can indeed confirm that they are just as lousy everywhere as they are over here.

Oh my God, what an awful day.

Is it painting day already?

2007-04-18T04:23:05Z

Now it's Disney time.

New painting!

2007-04-13T05:30:58Z

Something I did in watercolor class. I am just one wild and crazy guy I don't even watch cartoons or read Disney Adventures magazine!

Yet another painting.

2007-03-01T01:07:48Z

Finished another painting as the student art show slooowly creeps up on me in about a month or so.

What sassy comedy goes on here?

2007-02-21T06:41:00Z

There is a great new comic out by "some persons" called Sassy Spinsters. I think you all should give it a looky-loo:

http://www.drunkduck.com/Sassy_Spinsters/index.php?p=157518

We can't stop painting!

2007-02-16T06:45:01Z

Yet another painting from Watercolor class. This one based on a photo I took in Virginia City of a house with a bunch of crazy junk in it. Not shown but my favorite bit was the torpedo in the tree. There is also an iron man metal sculpture on the road up. The rest of the city is just some tiny town that's like "WE ARE HISTORICAL BECAUSE 'BONANZA' WAS SET HERE. HOOBITY DOO!"