Friday, December 27, 2013

CALIFORNIA

For the holidays this year, I decided to spread some California-style cheer. It's the state that I was born and raised in, and when I stop to think about it, it's a pretty phenomenal place. I'm so fortunate to still reside here along with some of my closest friends and family.

So, with the help of the Post Modern Muses, let's take a tour of all the diverse terrains, climates (mostly sunny), and sights of the Golden State. God, you'd think that I work for the California tourism board...but seriously, I freaking love this place!!






Saturday, September 14, 2013

The Muses are coming...y'all ready?

Very soon, I'll be posting the epic story of how I met my Post Modern Muses. It was a life-altering occasion, so it'll most likely be posted in multiple parts. Cause one post just ain't enough to witness the divine assembling of: Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce. Here's a sneak peek, starring the one and only Nicki Minaj.

I thought I'd show a bit of my storyboarding process while I'm at it. Let's work our way backwards, starting with the clean-up panels. These are the final versions all inked and shaded.




Now here are the roughs. This is where I begin using the Cintiq, working in the best software in the world, Photoshop. I like to use blue ink and keep it loose. This is mainly to find the composition and staging...while also beginning to explore potential character poses/acting. I try to really solidify the timing and panel count here as well.




Lastly (well actually, firstly), are the thumbnails. I like to keep this super sketchy...at times so much so, it's undecipherable (thanks past self). But I find this part very freeing, it's the time where I can scribble and explore potential ideas in my sketchbook. Though they are often doctor-hand-writing-level scribbly, I try to thumbnail out the entire sequence from start to finish to work out the story as much as possible from the very beginning.




Before all of this, I write out the script/dialogue...usually in my sketchbook, because like thumbnails, there's something untethered about pen and paper rather than the finality I feel from working in the computer. The computer comes when I feel like the boards are in a good place to dive in. The dialogue of course evolves as the drawings evolve, but I like to have a blueprint from the start.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Amusing Muse Musings

Here are some more birthday cards that I did recently starring my Post Modern Muses. Who the cards went to will remain anonymous...but the Post Modern Muses won't. They are Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Britney Spears. And boy do they love celebrating holidays and special occasions. (PS: Coming soon, I'll recount how I first met these Muses, in storyboards loosely based on a true story).

The first card goes to someone who strongly dislikes moving, and unfortunately might have to do it again soon. But at least she's not rooming with five high maintenance divas.





The next one goes to someone who we threw a surprise party for...the Muses almost ruined it.


And here are some cards that I did that celebrate other people's Post Modern Muses. I based them on real outfits/styles that these fabulous ladies wore.

Here is the one and only Dolly Parton (based on one of her big and bold 1970s looks). The recipient of this card admires Dolly for her high spirits and huge...talents.



Finally, I gave one of the funniest people that I know this card featuring another one of the funniest people that (I wish that) I knew, Goldie Hawn. I ask you, what is better than Goldie's goofy swagger all over the Laugh-In set in the 1960s? Nothing, that's what.



Saturday, March 30, 2013

Monster Revision

Last October I posted some storyboards that I did based on an old draft of the script for the DreamWorks' movie Monsters Vs. Aliens (you can see that version here). After showing it to some of the amazing Story Artists that I work with and hearing their wise feedback, I realized that the sequence needed more character development and a clearer emotional thread to really give the story the impact I was going for. The beginning is totally different, and then I sprinkled revisions throughout that (hopefully) make it stronger.