Are We There Yet?

With less than two weeks left to complete my thesis, I'm starting to feel panicky. I feel like I'm running a marathon that's never going to end, and it's an awful feeling! Beans wants to help, but the canine has no opposable thumbs. After Effects requires them.

On my own and freaking out. Should any of you encounter me in these next two weeks, reconsider saying "Hello." It's like that Peter Cetera Chicago song, "Look Away".  

"If you see me walking by, and the tears are in my eye, look away... baby, look away."

Seriously. I just might bite your head off. GRRRRR.

*Above: A sneak peek of one of many inappropriate scenes in my thesis. didn't bother to allow the computer to render properly, so D'OH... the quality of these two images is bound to be totes shitty. deal with it!)

Show and Tell

Final peek at my thesis.

Hopefully, the next time you see anything new from my short, you'll be watching it in full!

Decided to go with sepia tint backgrounds as colored backgrounds got distracting. 

Cardboard + After Effects + a little help from my friends = MAGIC

Old Dog, New Tricks

Those who know me know that I am somewhat of a dinosaur when it comes to technology.

I still: 

Cut checks,

shoot on cameras that require film, 

send snail mail letters, 

and read actual, physical books.

Much like a grandparent, when there's a choice, I gravitate towards the analog.

That said, I am shocked that my friends, Alexis and Jeff, have somehow managed to teach me to use After Effects with success...

Above: A peek at what's to come. 

My thesis is due end-August, so come end-August, whether I like it or not, I'm going to have something to show. *raise the roof* Below: Another test shot. This one with the Mama.

Titillate

Another test shot from my thesis, Boo Hoo Baby.

Will be drawing in all wrinkles After Effects once the darn thing get animated.

Mama needs some wrinkles.

If You're Happy and You Know It

My thesis. Progress is being made.
Sure, I'm still fabricating a bajillion pieces of cardboard props.
You know... pieces that won't be put into motion until mid-July.
While I really do enjoy the fabrication process, I'm also really looking forward to animating again.

Miss Olive.
She is so cute. So fat. So naughty.
To think she's all mine!
Parenthood has been a simultaneously heart-warming and maddening experience.
Wouldn't trade this little monster for the world.
Though had you asked me last night around 2am when she was refusing to sleep, I just might have. 

Online-shopping.
Never thought I'd become an addict.
But ever since the munchkin came around, I can't stop looking at mini clothes.
Loving Gilt.
Olive would be naked otherwise.
How cute is this "Zelda Dress" by Ses Petites Mains?
I wish they had it in MY size.

Vintage artwork.
I've collected a bunch, but few have been nailed up on our walls.
Haven't had the time.
Nor the wall space, for that matter.
Olive created her very first abstract expressionist masterpiece last week in pre-pre-preschool,
and it takes up quite a bit of space.



Painting sans clothing.
Prodigy in the making.

Ongoing Projects

"boo hoo baby" 

the title of my work-in-progress thesis. 

i'm constructing props and characters out of cardboard and animating the pieces using flash and after effects. 

i say that as if i'm an adobe software wiz. 

so not the case. 

luckily i have wonderful friends who are, and they're going to pull me through the fog. 

like pack of selfless sleigh dogs. 

woof.

when not cutting or painting up a storm, i can be found messing around with my other ongoing project.

raising a human being.

here i am with my munchkin in the wee hours of the morning.

she's an early riser.

5am, to be exact.

she's not up for the worms.

she's up for the "yo gabba gabba" clips i pull up for her on youtube.

happy baby, happy mommy.

Me Likee

Am loving the mixture of photorealistic and drawn elements in these shots! Crafty in Motion is a production company that specializes in animating with paper and cardboard. Mmm... cardboard. Above frames taken from shorts by crafty in motion. Cool beans.

Genius

Best thing I've seen in a very long time.

Just Did It

Am back to working on my MFA thesis, "Hunks". Not easy making time to create a quality short with a munchkin in the house. I've got priorities, yo.

Am determined to build all my characters and sets out of cardboard. Don't know how feasible my goal is, but I'm going to try. A sneak peek...

Take a Seat

Cardboard couches are awesome because they're cheap. Yet another peek at one of numerous work-in-process sets I'm working on for "Hunks."