My Computer is trying to lift me up

I just worked a 12 hour day. Spent the whole day building the base for 11 After Effects comps. I get home, and it's fashion night on TV. So no video games or relaxing movies for me. My wife gets to watch 4 straight hours of reality TV that I don't really care for. She truly deserves it though. I decide to paint, put on the headphones and fire up pandora and this is the first song that comes on. What could be more motivational?

Bierstadt Machines

This morning I was studying some Bierstadt paintings and at work today we talked about Terminator 4 and the war against the machines. I guess both kinda seeped into my subconscious tonight.

This took about 20 minutes for the bulk of the work and 20 more for a few more details. 

nuclear funk

I think I was in a funk tonight. After working out, my creativity and energy went downhill fast. I started by reading through the first lesson of an environment workshop on Conceptart.org but did the typical thing that most people do with lessons on the internet. I cut corners.

I didn't take part in the perspective lessons that I should have and so when I started painting I came up with the same old boring perspective that I always seem to do.

I was practicing something else on this and that's texturing and laying down solid large brushstrokes instead of 200 smaller brushstrokes. This usually works better with REALLY dynamic lighting though since your lights and shadows in your foreground areas are at two very different ends of the spectrum. 

 Overall I think this took about 2 hours :P bleh. But it helped me to realize that I need to work on some more dynamic perspectives. 

The Mission

Listening to Ennio's Mission Score really makes me wish I was outside painting.

post siggraph sketches

I'll post some siggraph information as soon as I feel like it. Siggraph was a big boost to my creativity. Big thanks to Cliff Berry for dragging me along. 

Here's some speed sketches from the past two days. 

New beginnings

Tonight I finished my new site, my first demo reel, and my reel specific matte painting resume. 

I am so happy.

Check out my new portfolio site here.

 

Woot

At about 12:00 noon today I got excited when my favorite internet tv show released episode 72.

The Totally Rad Show

Tuesday afternoon is always my favorite day of the work week, because of the show. This week has held me in higher anticipation than any other episode so far.

The show's intro and exit has fan submitted artwork in the backgrounds. I submitted a background to the show to be used for when they reviewed the Mummy.

and IT WAS SELECTED! (Boondock Saints Reference there).

It goes without saying (but I'm gonna say it anyway) that I am elated.

I can't wait to put this in my demo reel.

BTW. Happy Birthday to me and Jeff Cannata, we share the same birthday. Happy Birthday Jeff! I really hope you're career takes off soon because you sir. Are RAD. You can make sound effects for my backgrounds anytime.

Dan, you are the man and I hope to work on one of your features or commercials someday.

Hello Albrecht! I've followed your work since I first saw you on TechTV. You are as awesome as you are hilarious.

Steve, you're motion graphics and videography is awesome and hilarious. Very professional. You really are the the oil that makes the show run smoothly.

Awesome episode, keep up the good work guys I LOVE the show.
(been getting caught up on the episodes. I started watching at episode 59. Big thanks to my buddy Lee Glasgow introducing me to the show.)