Traci's Animation Blog

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admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:31:09 +0000

Wow time goes by so fast! I need to play a little catch up here. Not just for myself but for anyone who might read this. Which means probably just for myself.

The holiday season is now in full swing. That means the end of the year is fast approaching. For me that means time to stop for a minute and reflect on where I’m at and where I want to be and how to get there.

First for catch up. Here are the shots I did while retaking class 2 to focus on improving my body mechanics. The class that I finished in March. And it’s now November. Seriously - where does the time go?

Class 2 Take 2

Blocking +

admin — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:49:25 +0000

An update on my Ballie assignment taking it to blocking plus:
Blocking plus

The next step is to refine and polish and then work out the video reference and planning for the next assignment. I’d like to use this for my reference if my mentor buys off on it:
Hurdle

AM Class 2 Take 2

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:00:33 +0000

I decide to go back to AnimationMentor and retake class 2 and really focus on body mechanics and getting a better sense of weight and physics in my animation.

So here’s the before - my progress reel from all of my AM work:
Progress reel

And here’s the stuff I’ve worked on since AM:

Lips
Balance beam
Moment

And here’s my first new assignment - blocking Ballie doing a simple 180 turn.

Ballie

I’m really focusing on developing a good workflow and keeping it simple (thanks to my mentor Dimos!) and really keeping the control away from the computer. I’m really happy about my decision to retake a class. The thing about animation — and life! — is that you (should) never stop learning and you get out of it what you put into it!

Gymnast shot

admin — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:49:31 +0000

I wanted to post a link to a shot I’m polishing. Still have some loosening on the spine to do but I think I’m getting close!

Gymnast

AM Peer Buddies

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:40:24 +0000

I graduated from AnimationMentor 9 months ago now! I can’t believe that much time has gone by already.

It’s been a busy 9 months though. Our wedding in April in Belize (see the blog), then our reception back home after, a trip to San Diego to Siggraph in August, and then a long weekend in Ashland in September. And of course animation practice in between! Oh yeah - and still working at my non-animation job (12 years and 4 months now at this job!).

I’m still working on putting together my demo reel. I’ve done a couple of dialogue clips and a couple of body mechanics tests since graduation. I learned a lot from all of them but only one is reel-worthy so I’ve still got more work to do.

I volunteered to be a peer buddy at AM this term. It’s great because I have access to the student site again and the lectures for class 4 and the student’s assignments and mentor critiques and forums and in return I have to be available on AM chat and leave at least 7 student critiques and participate in the forums. It’s very cool! I had forgotten how much I missed the student site. The energy is really motivating there and has gotten me back on track to finishing my demo reel.

My husband misses me again though.

New Blog!

admin — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:08:50 +0000

Welcome to my new blog!

I retired the blog I kept while going through AnimationMentor and decided to start a new one to keep up with all kinds of animation related things.

I have to say thanks to the graduates, mentors, and current students that keep up their websites and blogs. Your work and enthusiasm continue to inspire me!