Goals for 2019 – Jan to March Update

First update of my 2019 goals

Its the end of March and a lot of things have happened to far in 2019. Lost a job I had been doing for nearly 6 years and then got a job as a contractor, family stuff happened sadly and then my Birthday. YAY! And very loud lady on the phone on the commuter train in front of me. As you can see very busy.

But nearly April and time for an update on my personal projects so far.

Animation - Character

For January I was unemployed and thinking about my options so I had some time to think about and work on this for a bit. I started with rigging a simple pig model in blender and animating that. As usual I had issues with the rigging and weight painting. I am not a rigger for sure so this could be a problem when doing animations for the future.

3D animated pig walk Cycle. Made in Blender

I wasn’t sure about what to do with 2D so I did the first 10 days of the 30 days of After Effects collection from School of Motion. But in February I wanted to do a short animated gif for Easter, similar to the many I have seen on my twitter feed so I started working on a bunny.

Studied my Animators Survival kit to get the jump looking just right and adjusted from there. Due to a mishap by me by misspelling my project files he is lovingly called Bubby the bouncing egg-marshmallow. And you can see why from the evolution / progress animation below why he is egg yet marshmallow like.

Animated Rabbit hopping made in After Effects

He is almost done and in a scene now so look out for him at Easter. I will probably do a making off post as well to track and criticise it and find ways of improving.

Will continue to work on mini projects for this until I can find / think of a really good big one. Or if you want to work with me on a project just get in touch.

Modelling – Low Poly

So only started on this recently. I haven't started with characters yet just a simple scene inspired by @beakfriends work (I think he has a real name, it may be Max, or ‘the goose guy’ not sure) and quite possibly stealing / loving his turntable style scenes.(PS his girlfriend is also an awesome artist) This is early in the works and first time looking at the toon material in blender. (Dude, if reading this I am still wanting the duck marauder map)

Low polygon 3D scene made in Blender

I haven't started working on the stuff for the ‘Sleuth’ game. I came across a scripting problem I am having real issues resolving so for now it is parked, otherwise I will go cry in the corner for not fixing it. See video below of my issue.

However, I want to improve on the style, models and materials as well as design and use my own character. I am going to start sketching out the layout and colours soon. I hope.

Modelling - High Poly

I started working on an elephant model, but due to working and commuting again he has been left to gather digital dust on my desktop. I am hoping at some point to get him into Sculptris and start working on the real detail (creases and things) but first I need to get the basic model right. I am kinda happy with his eyes / eye socket.

Long shot of 3D model of Elephant

Close up of Elephant eye. Made in Blender

But apart from all that, every now and again I will write a musing on LinkedIn. Cos you know I need to spread my good name far and wide. For example what its like being made redundant and why animation is good for knowledge management

Feel free to follow my ramblings on Twitter or intellectual musings on LinkedIn

Also my commute home is nearly over and sadly have to turn off my Britney Spears that I have been listening to this entire time. (Wait did I say Britney I meant Nikki Minaj, or that other one) I’m down with the kids.

‘Til next time