Logo Process Shot

I've been working on this animation for the past month or so, and now it's finally coming together!

Happy 4th of July!

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my younger sister's birthday, so I made her this silly little animation! She's working on getting her driver's licensee so I'm sure she'll enjoy it. Happy birthday Sydney!

New Job

I started a new job this week at RIT, working in the IT department. I'm learning a ton about the back end of the process behind the render farm, and un-breaking computers. Even though its just a temp job I'm super stoaked about it!

Graduation Day

Yesterday I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology! It was great to see all my friends one last time, as well as faculty and staff. I am excited to be going out into the world and trying to find a job! Overall, I'm happy with my college experience, and would recommend RIT to anyone who wants to get a quality education!

Quadruped Rig

The Behemoth

This character was created by Ben Miller. I will be using him as my quadruped rig for my rigging study. He is called The Behemoth, and he is a mix between a gorilla and some hoofed creature. Eyeless, he uses his keen sense of smell to wander the tundra in search of his next meal!

Some things I want to include in this rig are:

Simulated muscle deformation with Maya Muscle
Quadruped-Biped blend

Beginning of the Last Quarter of College

That is right! It is now the first week of the last quarter of school for me! I made it and now it's time to make this last quarter count. As I mentioned before, I have two independent studies and my thesis to work on this quarter. I talked to both my professors, and I have a good idea of where I am going with each class.

For rigging, I have two character designs that I hope to use for my models. One is a character by Zac Retz, a student that graduated the year before me from RIT. He has a great style, and I love the look of this little character:

Her back story is that she is a ghost hunter. The ghosts have stolen all the color from the world and she is on a mission to slay the ghosts and return all the colors!

I am currently planning out the rig while the character is being modled by Liu Tain Shu. He's a great modeler, so when the character's finished I'll be sure to post it!

Some things I'd like to include for this rig:

Noodel Arms

Sliding Spine Pivot

Stretchy Arms

Dynamics/Expressions

Updates!

So the end of winter quarter is now here! For this next quarter I have two independent studies, which I am stoked about. One is a Python scripting study, and one is a Rigging study.

For the Python study, I'll be creating deformers from scratch that will run better than the Maya deformers. I want to make a jiggle deformer, and maybe a wrap deformer too (if I have time) and make some other tools specific towards rigging (auto rigger maybe). It really depends on what I have the time to do!

For the Rigging study, I will be trying out advanced techniques and trying to see how far I can push the rigs to move realistically and cartoony. I want to rig a quadruped, and well as a machine of some kind. Maybe I can put them both together some how. I found this really awesome tiger modle, but my professor suggested I shouldn't try rigging it because it had some issues with the mesh. Regardless, I'm super excited to be able to get back to my true love once more!

I'll keep you posted on how all that is doing as more work comes my way!

Water LuLu Work in Progress

Work in progress of my thesis film, written and directed by my film partner Katie Schiffer and I. My responsibilities included all rigging within the film (characters and props), facial modeling of Carl (main character), some set and prop models and textures, half of the total animation, and lighting and rendering test.  Katie is lead animator, and well as VFX artist (although you won't see those until next time!). Modeling, graphic design and the wife character provided by other parties who will be listed in the credits next time!

Thesis Update

Hello! I would like to announce that the animation of Water LuLu is finished as of approximately 5:30 last night! We have our in-progress screening this Sunday, and then I'll post the in-progress version here. I just wanted to keep you posted!

Caveman Animation

Here's an animation of a cave man I did for particle effects class - and also, it's my birthday! So, birthday caveman!!

*Rig provided by Creative Crash from here

The Big Bang!

After Effects Particular animation of the Big Bang!

Splined Thesis Animation - In Progress Polish

This is a shot from my Thesis Water LuLu. This is one of the later shots. It has been splined, and it is in the polishing stage. I just wanted to post it to show we've been working!