Two Books In a Year

Two books in a year...

It's official...

2016 has brought a lot of change to my life; from continuing to work for an amazing company in California called "Skulley Effects," to starting an apprenticeship with a local tattoo shop. I have been apart of several music videos, a possible film, and now two books. 

If you have been staying up to date with my journey you'll know that I have been apart of the children's book "Mitzi the Dish Rag Dog", by Francisco Figueroa. About almost 3 years ago I was asked to be apart of a project by a wonderful friend of my mothers. He had been wanting to write a children's book for a while and was looking for an artist to bring it to life on the pages. So after a wonderful interview, countless drawings, and wonderful discussions I had the honor of doing all of the illustrations for this great book. Then after publishing I was then emailed by another author named Julie Keitges. She had written a historical novel several years ago and had wanted to adjust her book cover. With great excitement after the first publication I accepted the next job. Then after 5 months of edits the official image has been released on Amazon. 

2016 has definitely kept me on my toes, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Check it out!

Now if you would like to check out these great pieces I have added the links below..

Great Harry's Captain By Julie Keitges

Mitzi The Dish Rag Dog By Francisco Figueroa

Music, Music, and More Music

The Music just keeps flowing!

Well everyone with the release of the Children's Book and everything going on, I have officially moved back home to Nebraska. I had some certain issues going on and I really needed to take care of them. Though I had an amazing time in California; with all the people I have met and the work I have done! I wouldn't change a thing! 

My boss still kept me though!

So even though I moved my boss kept me on at the studio and changed me to just work remotely! Which I am very ecstatic about and really can't wait to get started! I've honestly loved every moment I've spent there and all of the things I have learned since becoming a Beauty Compositor! I'm glad that I can keep expanding. 

So with that here are two new videos I had the privilege of working on..

Enjoy!

I'm An Official Published Illustrator

After 3 years of work; it's finally paid off...

So about 3 years ago I was commissioned by a family friend to possibly work on a Children's book that he had been putting together. I was absolutely ecstatic with the wondrous offer and of course took the job! 

With enough hard work, a wonderful boss, and an incredible opportunity and future we finally published! It was an amazing experience from the ground up; a true adventure to say the least. From doing traditional sketches to transferring them to the digital side; then taking those and getting ready for the publisher. All the while making the Author's vision come alive on every page! 

It was a long 3 years, but in all honesty I wouldn't trade it for anything and I look forward to the next adventure I will have in the publishing world! 

And please enjoy the book with with someone you love <3 

Pay it Forward! 

http://www.lulu.com/shop/francisco-a-figueroa/mitzi-the-dish-rag-dog/ebook/product-22624614.html

Policy Changes

And so it begins...

Alright so this is not going to be a normal post for me; this post will be getting right to the point of things and stating some information for new and old clients. 

So please read if you plan to order any of my art pieces...

In some previous works I have drawn I have been getting cut short with the money I request from clients. I have been pleasant and have given them several days to weeks to send me payment for my time and my efforts, but some times very rarely I do not get paid at all. It's become a real bother and quite hurtful because I put a lot of time and effort and I'm basically giving you a piece of myself. Art means the world to me and to have it treated like it's not worth it is quite unfair to the artist. 

So I am putting my foot down, and from now on their are going to be some changes. 

1) I will not send you your requested commission till I am fully paid. 

2) If I do not receive payment in one to two weeks, I will sell your piece to someone else.

*Though if need be, depending on circumstances, I will extend the payment date if need be. 

3) I put a lot of love and care into my pieces, so please treat them as such. Do not get offended with the price I throw at you when you are commissioning a piece from me, I will not budge. 

4) Sample images of your piece that will be sent digitally for approval will be watermarked. 

Thank you for your time and I hope for  your future business :)

Down With The Sickness

"Ugggghhhhhhhhhhh..."

It's really all I can muster at this point; but I do admit I am at fault. I'm definitely one of those people who just refuses to go to the doctor and try to fight it alone and hopefully not die! Though so far I have not died..so it's going good! 

Besides the point...

While being sick I've been able to catch up on some art projects. My boss has requested a series of skulls done for his walls. So with the extra time between napping and not dying I was able to design some images for him. 

So with that enjoy...I'm going to go back to not dying! :D

Designer

Just keep going forward...you've got this!

Well I'm back in California and back to work! I had an absolute blast being back home; and honestly I thought I would never say that about Nebraska, but I did. I forgot how much I miss the simple life and family. It was heartbreaking leaving, but I know that I need to be an adult and continue on! So I'm back! Let's get this done!

Update...

In other news I have been designing T-Shirts for some pretty amazing people. The first shirt is from an Apparel Shop named "Drop Anchor Apparel." My friend Alex Dongilli opened this shop up on his own and might I say he is very talented. I'm so proud to have been part of the design team for a bit and do some work for him. 

The next design was for another really good friend of mine; his name is Rascal Martinez. This man has taken the music world by storm and he comes from a small town in Nebraska. I had the honor of actually originally doing a design on one of his guitars; which ended up going so well that he printed the exact design onto some of his t-shirts! So not only should you check out the design, but check out the link to his Youtube...I promise you won't regret it ;)

Rascal Martinez Link

Find Your Own Way

"So let your heart be your compass when you're lost and you should follow it wherever it may go. "

In life you will find yourself in situations you could never imagine before; between the highs and lows, you are basically on an adventure for your life. Embrace it and go where ever your compass leads you! I've bee all over; Europe to France to almost all over the US. I've loved every step I've taken and the people I have met along the way. Being exposed to so many different cultures my art has been broadened to new horizons and I have grown more as a person myself! Though there is no limits, life is short and I plan to keep growing and exposing myself to more of what life has to offer! 

That's probably why I'm all over the scales of art...

Honestly all of this rambling was because I was commissioned to design a compass for one of my childhood friends. He has been through some highs and lows, but he brighter than ever. Every mistake, experience, and memory makes you who you are today...and you should be proud that you've come this far and are still breathing! He is definitely an inspiration and it was an honor to do this for him. 

Try Something New

Always be open to trying new things, you never know what might happen.

I've always believed in not saying "What If," or having any regrets. In one of my previous posts I stated that you should always eat dessert first and to find something you love and let it kill you. It's not the money and how long you live, it's about how you live it and doing what you love in order to be happy. As long as your happy it doesn't matter; sure money comes into play because we are only human and no matter what it plays a part into being alive. 

So enough of my ramblings and deep thoughts into life (What can I say I'm an artist, we go through these a lot!), the reason for this specific post is to state to always try something new. With that I recently got to play around with a CNC Machine.

CNC Machining is a process used in the manufacturing sector that involves the use of computers to control machine tools. Tools that can be controlled in this manner include lathes, mills, routers, and grinders. The CNC in CNC Machining stands for Computer Numerical Control.

This specific CNC Machine was basically a huge computer controlled wood engraver. Now with this I have definitely almost experienced everything in the art area; computer work, pencil and paper, now a giant wood printer! Honestly it was a whole lot of fun playing around with a machine like that; I ended up making two signs (After countless mistakes), but I didn't loose a finger so that is good as well! The first sign was a test run and it turned out quite well that of course I gave it to my mother because she loves everything I do :D The second piece I did was for the Visual FX Company I work for; just a little piece I did for my boss for letting me come home for such a long time! 

This is the piece I did for Skulley Effects; I designed it in photoshop then printed it on the CNC Machine. Once cut I burned it with the torch to bring out the design in the wood. With such light wood and complicated design you could barely see it unless darkened up. As you can see there is a skull in the line design; a little Visual FX magic before your eyes you could say! 

This piece was the first test and run piece. It turned out very well and I gave it to my mother. It was burned as well after cut, but not as much. 

Selena You Say?

"Can't keep my hands to myself..."

California really has been sweeping over me. Work, friends, opportunities, horrible gas prices and parking; nothing is perfect and California is far from it, though it really has pushed me harder than ever and has made me dream more! 

If you can make it here you can make it anywhere!

I do really believe in those words; I'm living the artist life. Sleeping on a blow up mattress in a friends living room, passing out resumes to everyone I know, playing DND, and making some amazing connections with such a diverse group of people. I've been very lucky and I've loved every second of it; you need to experience the lows to really appreciate the highs and that is just what I am doing.

Appreciate the small things...

One of the greatest opportunities I was given was with "Skulley Effects." I've been learning a whole new software setup; from Combustion to Mocha to After Effects! It's all been an amazing adventure and I love being able to transition from 3D to 2D at will now. I may be a Character Rigger, but now I have the bit of experience to do Beauty Compositing as well! 

So what's with the lyrics in the beginning?

Because with all this learning I was able to help out with another music video. Selena Gomez's new song "Can't Keep My Hands To Myself," actually. This project was a whole different setup than the Disturbed Music Video I was able to help out with as well. Though it was still just as fun I do promise, so please check it out for yourself; the link is below!

Hands To Myself

Still Drawing?

It's been a while...

It's honestly been a while since I've touched my pencil to my paper. Going into the digital world has all been so different such a fun and interesting new adventure. I've been learning things left and right about everything; but sometimes going back to your roots is one of the truest happiest moments you can give yourself. 

Find what you love and let it kill you...

So as it becomes 2016 I make some resolutions...some that will never happen, because hey we all have a couple of those. (Probably just for shits and giggles haha) Though one resolution that I will be following through is going back to my roots. Touching that pencil back to the paper, going back to the times that really brought me happiness. Where I can get lost within the paper, the strokes, and my imagination. Where reality is lost and everything is okay for a moment. 

Life is short..Eat Dessert First!

And I am eating Dessert first! I've actually been entered into an art competition down in Michigan from my Uncle (Apparently he thinks I'm talented enough to compete with the professionals), but I don't plan to disappoint him. So while I think of some ideas to draw here is a recent piece I did that I never posted about to you all...and please if you have any ideas let me know. Remember...dream big!

Busy Bee

Well it sure has been a while hasn't it?

As you have all read I recently moved to California a couple months ago to pursue a career in the Film and Game Industry. And with enough hard work and passion in art, I have done just that. 

Visual Effects?

I may have gotten my Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Animation and specialize in Setup Design, but I'm currently interning at a wonderful company called Skulley FX. It's a Visual Effects Studio specializing in Music Videos, Commercials, and Films; with wonderful artists at the helm and some amazing talent, it's been an honor to intern there. 

Now I will admit it's been a real transition from going to 3D to 2D, but I'm managing. Apparently I have a knack for Beauty Composition! I actually have recently worked on the new Disturbed Music Video! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LypjOTTH6E

Check it out!

Though I am definitely still working on my rigging by working for another company called Free Dominion Studios LLC. Which is an up and coming PC Game Studio based in Orlando Florida! There I'm one of the head Technical Artists on the team; responsible for creating functional and personal rigs for characters and props if need be.

All in all it's been a wonderful experience! Thank you all for your support!!

Calibraska

So I decided to pack up and go to California. I had come to realize that there really wasn't anything in Nebraska for me; except family and a couple friends, but if I wanted to do something in my field I needed to leave and start again. 

A total of 19 hours driving a stick shift mini cooper.

With one of my best friends.

Through several states.

One being Utah, which I discovered was hell to drive through! (There was literally NOTHING!)

And now it's been almost a week since I have arrived in California. I'm currently sleeping on a blow up mattress in the living room of my old roommate from college. I'm so blessed to have some amazing friends that have literally taken me in broke; basically living the artist lifestyle till I can find a permanent job! Though, luck has been on my side. I was recently hired to be a Technical Rigger at Free Dominion Studios for 3 years! It's part time and I'm very excited to be on the team, but I still need something permanent if I plan to eat more than Ramen for the rest of my life! 

Which to that I have met some pretty amazing people in the industry here. All of which have been helping me out and giving me possible opportunities. I'm trying to get all the interviews in before I permanently decide what I plan to do with my life. 

The Process

Practice, Practice, Practice...

I was always told to do this. In order to get better you nee to practice and push yourself. Come out of your comfort zone and do something extraordinary. Because in order to achieve you need to try. 

"But how do you do it?"

To do a lot of my traditional work there is a lot of math involved. 

I graph out the image I want to do (starting with 7 16ths); and whether I want to do something bigger or smaller I will either go up or down from there. Then on the actual drawing paper I will measure out exactly 1 inch square boxes. 

Then from there I start square by square and get to work. 

I have been asked this question a lot in my life when it came to my work. First, I always say that I have always wanted to be an artist since I was little. I was the first to put clothes on my stick figures for goodness sakes! Being serious though I have never wavered in my decision for my life long career. So I have been practicing all my life to be at the level that I am and I'm still pushing and practicing to do even more!

And you can do the same.

Just believe in yourself!

Aint That Sweet

I'm an official published Illustrator!

Aint that sweet?!

The book went to print on Monday, August 30th 2015. I will be kept up to date when the books are starting to hit the shelves, but I'm already so excited. The idea of going into a book store and going to the children's section then seeing the book in someone's arms is just exhilarating! The idea of bringing a bright smile to a child's face is what thrills me!

Now don't kill me, but I can't announce what the book is called...yet. Though like I said, once I know when the book is officially on shelves I shall let you all know! 

In other news...

In the meantime I have been preparing myself to moving to California. I'll be couch surfing on some of my really good friends sofa's while I look for a job in the industry.

It's time for this small town girl to go to the big city and give it all she's got! I want to be a Technical Artist for a living and I'm not letting anyone get in my way. I'll freelance, eat ramen, get coffee, start at the bottom of the totem pole if I have too. Because you have to start somewhere and where better to start then the bottom. It just gives you more drive to reach that top! 

So wish me luck, and maybe if your hiring me..you should really give me a shot as well! 

With that...

I'll leave you guys with a recent Graphite Piece I did while filling out Resumes. This is probably by far the biggest portrait I have done..for now. The smile is what really captivated me in drawing him (late to be found out as Charlie Hunnam from Son's of Anarchy). I hope you all enjoy..and please critiques are welcome!

Almost Done!

It's almost published!

This is definitely a time to celebrate. I have almost completed all the illustrations I have been hired for, for "Mitzi the Dishrag Dog" by Fransisco Figeuroa. 

To give you some insight I was hired to do some illustrations for an upcoming Children's Book back in November of 2014. It is now August 2015 and I'm almost finished. The sketches have been critiques, the publisher has bought the book, and I am finishing up with the color on each page. This is definitely a long awaited excitement! The book should be released in the next couple of months and I promise I shall keep you all updated. 

Along with that...

I have also been doing some freelance Character Rigging work on the side. I'm still planning on moving to California here soon and seeing what I can do out there. This is what I love to do and I believe I have a real talent for it; it's time to go where all the job opportunities are and show them what I have under my belt of experience!

So wish me luck! 

Be Beautiful

" Take criticism...SMASH it into dust...and use it to paint breathtaking images of unicorns frolicking through fields of greatness!" ~ Mathew Gray Gubler

I can not tell you how great these words are! Not only do they make me laugh (of course), but they make me move forward in this hard life and stay my up beat self!

Why?

It's been almost 2 months since I've graduated Full Sail University! I graduated not only the Valedictorian, but I also got high honors; such as the Academic Achievers Award and 5 Course Director Awards. I did so much better in school than I would of though, but I'm so proud of myself and thankful for all the people who have gotten me where I am today. I am still looking for job and I have met some great people along the way and have learned so many things!

So "Why?" you ask? Because just when I think that I might have failed, I learn that I need to take what I've learned and been told and make something so much beautiful!

Demo Reel

And I can finally breathe...

*GASP*

Well to all whom are reading this; it's official, I'm done with my Demo Reel. The long nights, blood, sweat, and tears have finally paid forward to this. Yes, I will admit that it is not perfect; but it is my first reel and I've very proud of it. 

I'd honestly like to say "Thank You," to everyone who has helped me or been there for me on this journey. It's been an absolute wild ride here at Full Sail. From meeting so much people who have changed my life to experiencing new technology that I wouldn't ever touch back home in Nebraska. 

Well enough tears and enough waiting...

Here we go!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NNKiK-QVnY&feature=youtu.be

And His Name Is...Birb

Let's see how fast we can go here...

I've been super busy trying to get a lot of my demo reel work done, along with rigging my friends models and packing to head back home. Yes, sadly if I do not get a job I will have to head back to good ole' Nebraska for a bit and hang out with my family; which all in all isn't a bad thing. But I will worry a lot about whether or not I'll be employed soon or not! 

Though I think every college kid worries about this...

Though I still have some time; so let's get as much done as I can and hope for the best!!

WHOOP WHOOP! :D

So here is the first asset I have rigged for my friend. She has named this little guy Birb; which is quite fitting, though he looks like a Mango....

I rigged this little guy in about an hour! I'm pretty impressed with myself; sure he isn't super complicated, but he has a squash and stretch system on him and custom controls (the wings icon controls his foot curls and his tail). She wanted a super simple rig to display her modeling skills and I think I did the job quite well!

Also check out the screen share I did!!

Let's Get The Ducks In Order Now....

Well hello to everyone reading this right now! 

As I come close to Graduation; June 5th, everything starts to pile up and hit me like a freight train. Time to get my ducks in order and get stuff done for graduation.

So that brings us to my Demo Reel...

The official Demo Reel will be released once I graduate June 5th; but for now I'll give you a little teaser on all of my assets. Now remember I'm a Setup Artist, which means I specialize in placing all of the joints within a 3D mesh and getting it up to a point where Animators can actually animate the mesh properly. 

So lets begin...

Body Builder

The focus of this asset is to show my knowledge of the Male Anatomy. Within this specific mesh is a fully functional Maya Muscle System; which mind is a pain in the butt to create, but oh so rewarding. These muscles scale, stretch, slide, and jiggle underneath the skin to give it more of a real life look when simulated in animation. 

Female

The second asset is to show my knowledge of the Female Anatomy. What people don't realize is how different Females and Males are on the inside; past the obvious differences of course. For example; when a Female breathes she breathes from the upper chest and breast area, while the male breathes from the side of the ribs.

Frenchie the French Bulldog

Frenchie's purpose is to show you that not only can I do more realistic Rigs and Effects, but I can also do cartoon, quadruped rigs as well. Like the others he has custom controls and are all easily manipulated for the Animators use. 

If you want to see his teaser trailer check my earlier post...

Frenchie the French Bulldog

To the people viewing this right as I type...

Alright so I've been super busy lately with getting my demo reel all put together. As you know I'll be graduating in June and I'm very excited to release all of the hard work I've been up to those 3 months.

Just to give you a teaser of what I've been up too...

This month I rigged a small stylized French Bulldog as my second asset for my Final Demo Reel. Full IK leg system, IK Spline that follows the chest and hip controls when moved, and custom controls; along with a joint and blendshape driven facial setup. I also couldn't do this without my animator Zachary Gillespie​ and the modeler fishzombie. 

In all..

I enjoyed this rig very much and learned a lot. I've been studying a lot of human anatomy so it was a nice transition for me to start studying some animal anatomy. I also went home and played with my dog to see how she moved; in the end I had some great knowledge, but an upset dog! 

Screen Capture of the Controls for Frenchie

Rendered out preview of Frenchie

Now check out Frenchie's little trailer before his big debut...