RACC Grant Awarded!!!

Can't believe it, the RACC grant I wrote is awarded!  Here are some concept pieces I've been working on.

concept art for "When Ruby was Blue" story

 As all collages are created from torn pieces of a larger, whole image, this little girl learns of the power she has to create something beautiful from a broken past.

AFRU "Fire Sale" show submissions

Here is some old work I submitted for AFRU's "Fire Sale" show, coming up this Friday.

I just discovered this gallery, and I love their mission statement.  Check it:
http://www.afrugallery.com/

Very First Grant Proposal

 
Hey Look, it's my very first grant proposal!  Can't wait to get the rejection letter.

Great experience writing it, looking forward to writing more in the future.

Puppet in Prague Tune-up: New Fingers

This little lady finally got some new fingers.  Can't wait to animate her one of these days, but she still needs a little tune-up.  She might be getting some ball and socket jointed legs soon.

Prague Summer, 2013

I went back to Prague this summer, which was amazing, yet again.  I was there back in the summer of 2010 for the Puppets in Prague workshop, but I just can't get enough.  Here are some highlights of my trip:

The Charles Bridge, possibly my favorite bridge.

Once crossed, you can find the Karel Zeman Museum.  He's the old school, practical, visual effects master who influenced projects such as Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

 

 

"I try to take advantage of each technique, eliminate the borders, and through this synthesis create images of a new quality on screen." -Karel Zeman

 

 He uses ink in water for smoke effects

 Using flat scenery and matte paintings in front of the camera, Zeman creates the perfect illusion of perspective:

 

 

Tableau of how to combine live action with stop motion

Then, I met up with some people from this year's Puppets in Prague workshop, which inspired me to go home and finalize my own puppet from 2010, who was lacking proper fingers

We had a chance to crash with Anna Adler, lover of painting faces, and a Research Scholar for Fullbright.  She's exploring puppetry and performance in the Czech Republic.

And this is the lovely Emelia Hilton, who invited me along on her adventures.  Really amazing things happen when she's around.

"The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven." - Mark Twain

It has been far too long since I've posted, but it's because I've been in the lab cooking up a new story...well, actually an old one.

Since January, I have immersed myself into developing an experimental story that is very personal to me and intertwined with who I am.  Every time I put it out there, it's like throwing my own heart down on the critique slab, hoping that it survives the opinions of others.

I'd like to wait until I have better, clearer work fleshed out, but if I did that, I would never post anything.


All of these images have been cut out of the story, and I think it's made it stronger..

My mom's failed battle with cancer, and how I coped by drawing myself into my own little fantasy worlds is the inspiration for my story.  She was a strong and humorous woman, who always found the joy in the sorrow.

Paranorman Portfolio Pics

These are some of the puppets I got to work on for Paranorman.  Mostly, I'd cast and seam the hands.  My favorite times were when these guys would hang out at my desk while I repaired tears in their skin.  Like old friends I miss them...and like old friends they're wrapped up in plastic and locked in a dark room forever.

Art in the Canteen 2013