Sigg Jones Animation : by Supinfocom

This animated short is inspiring. It was created by a French animation company called Supinfocom watch this animation for its character design, art direction and timing. Very nice!

"Ka" by Cirque Du Soleil

As a creative, I find many of the Cirque Du Soleil productions absolutely inspiring. A feast for our senses, they combine story, drama, acrobatics, music, sound, costume, makeup, and stage technology to create a one of a kind experience. I have not seen Ka yet, however, I hope for things to slow down a bit before I can do so. In addition to the above, the show also showcases a array of martial arts...what more could you ask. Remember that a production like this is the product of many talented people working together who are excellent at what they do. I hope you find inspiration in this.

Let me know if you check it out.

"Overlook II" Red Rock Canyon: Las Vegas, NV

"Overlook I" Red Rock Canyon: Las Vegas, NV

"Overlook I"
Created using Painter IX
Brushes used: Artist Oils > Oily Bristle & Smudge Blender
Lighting Effects

"Namaste"

Van Gogh Skull

"Van Gogh Skull"
Created in Corel Painter iX
Brushes used: Artists Oils > Oil Bristle & Dry Palette Knife

"David's Eye"

"David's Eye"
Created in Corel Painter iX
Brushes used : Oil Pastels & Dry Palette Knife

The hardest thing to adjust for in this painting was the power the bottle had over everything else in the composition. It was the darkest and the tallest. To tame it, I increased the transparency of the bottle and made the piece darker in tone so that the bottle seems to be pushed into the background. I increased the difference in value in the foreground items so that they would jump forward.

Painter iX : 8 Minute Sketches.

Dragon Horizon

A demonstration on atmospheric perspective, using layers in Painter IX and using the eraser to get organic detail in the mountains and foreground subject matter.

Davey Jones :: Pirates of the Caribbean

I just needed to post this picture because it inspired me. The animation and visual effects work on this character is the best I have ever seen. Definitely something to aspire to. Well done and thanks for taking us up another level.

An interview with the visual effects supervisor John Knoll from ILM can be seen here.

http://www.movieweb.com/news/75/13475.php

The trailer for the third Pirates installment "At World's End" can be found here:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808713062/trailer

Altamira and Lascaux Cave Paintings

This was a great topic of study for me. After learning about these cave paintings found in Lascaux, France, and Altamira, Spain, I now want to make it a goal during my lifetime to visit these works of art. As a painter, I'm inspired by their ingenuity and honesty. These artists had no materials, but made the best with what they had. They learned how to create their own pigments, binders and containers to hold the paint. More amazingly, are that many of these were created in a dark cave where there was little or no light and some were painted 14 feet from the cave's floor. Makes you wonder?

Many of these showed enough detail that scientists could identify the type of animal species present during that time. They payed close attention to anatomy and gesture. These images are testament for we as humans wanting to create, learn, discover and share.

Learn more here:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/C/cave.html#images

Oil Painting Highlights

iPup Project v.1.21

The "iPup Project" is now ready for viewing. Please post comments and questions here. Thanks to everyone who made this project possible. You may view the animation by clicking the image or link below. http://www.randolfdimalanta.com/gallery/animation/ipup/index.html

The animation was created for my Animation Production II Class for Miami International University over a nine month period. My instructors were Dori-Littel Heck, Patricio Fernandez, Thom Jouele and Diana Arambide. A special thank you goes out to Ruel Pascual for helping me make iPup come alive.

Tools Used: Pencil, Paper, Erasers, Flash, Maya, After Effects, Combustion, Final Cut, Soundtrack Pro and Photoshop.

Feel free to post comments and questions about the project here.

Thanks Enjoy!

On Keeping Sketchbooks

This is inline with the Samurai Lecture posted earlier - your sketchbook should be your main sword. Keep a sketchbook wherever you go. Keeping one is the single most important tool that will improve your work. However, like anything, nothing will happen if you don't use it.

Draw in it everyday. This activity develops discipline, discipline you need to succeed in your field. Draw in it for five minutes everyday. If you are studying animation, practice drawing people by using a pen. Date your drawings too, as this is the only way you can see your improvement.

The sketchbook is a safe place to explore, to take risks and to record thoughts and ideas. I always jot ideas down because 1) I have a poor memory, 2) I may want to develop it further and 3) it may be worth a million dollars one day...maybe, and nobody has to see it.

Be sure your sketchbook is hardbound. I prefer this because it will last a long time and will weather the elements...10 years from now, you'll have it and if you date the pictures, you'll have a nice record of your progress.

The DESIGN Sketchbook:
Here's how you use it to jumpstart your design career. One of the hardest things we have to do as art and design students is to develop our own visual language. How do we communicate visually? This is what we are developing while in school, and sometimes this comes out when you begin working professionally in the field. Why wait that long? Work on your visual language now.

The sketchbook gives you this all important insight into your visual style. I sometimes cut out examples of designs I like and paste them into my book - one image per page. When the sketchbook is filled, you can look back and you'll learn about yourself. You see what things attract you like colors, subject matter and maybe even certain layouts and designs. Its a nice thing to see.

This gives you a competitive edge... but here's how you can make money at it. Sometimes, I'm asked to do work requiring a quick turnaround (meaning it was due yesterday - those of you already in the trenches already know about it), and its during those times that my sketchbooks help me the most. They help me by showing me solutions that I already like. It also helps with speed, because a majority of the research is already complete, I simply look through my sketchbooks at designs that I think would fit the design problem and I would emulate it the piece. Not copy it, but use it as reference and inspiration, make it my own in order to fit the solution. So, when a client asks me for one mockup, I am able to provide 3 or 5 for approval (clients like options). It makes things go smoother, and yes....it makes you look really gooood and really fast. :-)

The ANIMATOR Sketchbook:
There is no shortcut to good solid drawing and to get better at it, you just have to do it. The investment will pay off and you will be glad you did, and it only takes 5 minutes a day...here's how.

Keep a hardbound sketchbook wherever you go and promise yourself that you will draw in it daily. If you are just starting, get a timer, set it for five minutes and just draw. You can do it while waiting for lunch, before you go to bed, during a commercial, at the movie, anywhere. One of my lifedrawing instructors carried one with him wherever he went and even sketched at a funeral.

You are training yourself to see as an artist and at the same time, you are building the discipline needed in which you can grow. Drawing is a form of communication. Like reading and writing, it takes practice to be really good at it. Just keep going and persist.

If there's an earthquake, be sure you get your five minutes of drawing time in, if there's a volcanic eruption, get your five minutes in no matter what. Heck, draw the lava! There is something to be said about filling up volumes upon volumes of sketchbooks and is definitely the sure fire way to reach your deserved success. You have nothing to lose.

As an animator, practice how to draw people quickly by focusing on the three step process of gesture, form and anatomy. Try drawing in a public place and capture someone who is standing placing an order at the counter. You have less than a minute to capture this pose....now draw. If the person moves away, rely then on your visual memory, your knowledge of form and anatomy to complete the drawing, then move on to the next one.

If you keep this in mind and draw in a sketchbook that is always by your side, you will feel like an artist. You record everything and most importantly, you see things that only an artist can see. This is how you learn how to draw. The class will help, but doing a little of this daily will pay off immensely.

Its not unusual too for an employer to ask to see a sketchbook. It shows your thought process and that you choose to keep it in order to stay sharp. You really can't lose in keeping one - don't be lazy about it. A lazy samurai usually will get cut - ouch!

Keep those sketchbooks close by - Fire it up!

The Samurai's Sword

To the students who have crossed paths with me on this great journey. Hope this adds fuel to your fire. Fire it up! - Randolf

Imagine that you are a trained and loyal samurai. You are the best in the clan, your sword is extremely sharp and you are ready at a moment's notice to do what is asked of you by your Master. This "sword" that you carry, .... is symbolic of your "skill" as an artist. It is with you at all times.

When you are called for an assignment, you run to your master, kneel and eagerly wait for instructions. You gently grip the hilt of your sword, you listen attentively and you are ready. When you know what to do, you fulfill the request with an open heart and you make sure the job is done completely and fully. Once done, you return and you are commended on a job well done. "Great job samurai .

Now, when you return to your chamber, you do not put your sword away.

You take the sword out, and you quietly go to the corner of your room. You sit down with your sword, you take out a sharpening stone and you slowly and carefully sharpen it to retain its deadly edge. The other samurai in your clan do not do this, just you.

You do this on your own.....by yourself.....with no master....no peer..... no instructor....no family member....or fellow samurai next to you. You sharpen it on your own and you do it because it is the right thing to do and it is your duty.

When you are called upon again, you sword is sharp, precise and always ready to serve you.

Keep your sword sharp.