Special Effects! The Summer of 2012.

I created these in two programs: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe AfterEffects.

First I draw each layer I want to animate in Photoshop. Then I import them in AfterEffects, put "pegs" on them, and rotate or move them. I also can add "special effects" to the animation, as well as sound.

This work, here, was an editorial cartoon I submitted to the Winston-Salem Journal. It was rejected, but I liked it so much that I "animated" it in class.

Finally, we had an assignment in class to animate a famous painting. I did A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Édouard Manet. Follow the link if you want to know more about him.

Some of my 3D modeling in Maya

This is not my best work, but I wanted to show what Maya looked like to those who have never seen it. Unlike some of my 3D animations, I modeled all of these totally myself.

Some of my people drawing.

During my education, I began to realize that my humans looked like Sunday comic strip characters. While this is OK for comic strips, I realized that I needed to start learning to draw people.

Sawtooth helped me with this, as well as my course in Figure Drawing at Forsyth Tech.

Here is a sample of my figure drawing work.

The Early Days of School:Some of my 2D Animations.

My first classes were modeling 3D animation in Maya, and making 2D animations in "Toon Boom" as Harmony was called in 2012. I do not yet have any of my 3D models compiled yet, but I have a sample of my 2D work that I made in 2012.

My classmates really helped me though the struggles of the first two semesters. Two in particular that helped me during class were Barbara P. and Daniel M. I had so many questions and the tutor that was there at the time, John, and later Joe C, put me back on track.

As I grew as a student, my need for tutoring was less frequent, and for the past year or so I have not needed a tutor. Yet I still remember those early days, where I have contemplated quitting and dropping out of the program many times.

Here is a sample of my animations. These aren't all of them, but it has taken a long time to gather them all in one place.

What I did before going back to school.

My interest in art began in childhood, but returned in the year 2004. As a temporary employee, I began doodling with the highlighters on post it notes during my breaks. It was just a way to get away from the stresses of the job for just a moment. I did not consciously realize that I was making art, until I saw a pattern in my work. I created strange worlds, animals that lived in the clouds and interesting logos that didn't really have a meaning. My favorite color was pink. My second favorite color was blue.

One of these days, I may try to find my early art and post it here.

My art began to become more sophisticated as I took my first art lessons. I took watercolor and drawing lessons at Forsyth Technical Community College's Continuing Education program whenever I could. Eventually I took art classes at my Alma Mater, Salem College, which had courses for the community, and Sawtooth. My Sawtooth classes overlapped my course of study in Digital Effects and Animation at Forsyth Technical Community College, so the combined classes really enhanced my learning.

Here is a sample of my pre-going back to school days:

Just click on one to enlarge.

Welcome to my Blog!

If you are here, it is because you are a good friend, a family member or probably both! The reason I made this blog is to showcase some of my digital art to show everyone what I've been talking about, bragging about or worrying about for the past three years.

There are several types of art on this blog: 2D animations made by ToonBoom/Harmony, 3D animations in Maya, art made in Photoshop, Google Sketchup 3D art, animations created in Photoshop and animated in After Effects, and just good old fashioned Watercolor, Pencil Sketches and Charcoal Sketches made by non-digital means.

I hope that you enjoy the art show.

-Amber.