I can tear o's

New website!

2009-12-22T00:50:00.003-05:00

Howdy folks,

So I got a legit website now so i'll most likely be posting to it more often than my blog... maybe?

Here it is:
Chris Cantero's site

Gig 'em!

Test Render

2009-12-14T07:38:00.001-05:00

Here's a test render for my senior film. I've also been experimenting in the way I want him to move. I'm using a variety of infomercial salesman as reference such as Billy Mays and Vince the Sham Wow guy. I think i'm getting close but i'm wondering if I can give him something that makes his movements feel alien....since he is an alien salesman.

Change in thought

2009-10-30T20:32:00.013-04:00

So I’ve been frame by framing "The Incredibles" recently and ran across an awesome example of a character changing thought. It's done a billion times throughout the movie but this instance really stood out to me as really awesome.

As all of you know... this is where Bob comes back home after his lil stunt with Fro Zone. Helen catches him in the act and tries to play it off. Helen finds a piece of rubble and for a second you can see him thinking "oh crap she knows." (side note... check out the arm position of helen. Her hand is holding the rubble in the sweet spot 1/3rd's rule of film...nice!)

And then this is what trips me up. His thought process is so clear. Here is how I interpret his thoughts before he even says a word. "Oh honey... I was just working out... no biggie."

This blows me away. With hardly any movement at all he is totally radiating his thoughts. They make it look so easy.

Acting in animation

2009-10-16T13:33:00.005-04:00

In order to animate a character coming to life you have to better understand yourself and why you do the things you do. I found this acting professor and she has some great advice on acting. I have so much to learn!

The biggest thing I've learned from her is to really understand the motivation behind a thought and show the character thinking before an action happens. Whether it be something small like an eye dart to taking off a sock and then speaking or doing whatever action they want to do. I'm starting to realize that anticipation is a huge driving force to show a character is alive.

Facial Rig

2009-10-15T16:23:00.003-04:00

His face moves!

Weight painting

2009-10-10T12:53:00.004-04:00

I'm weight painting my character now... animation is close.....

Finished UVing my character

2009-10-08T15:32:00.005-04:00

BOOM BABY! Finally finished setting up the UV's. Now I can finish the rig and texture him.

Did an occlusion pass for kicks and giggles.

Updated demo reel!

2009-10-02T23:11:00.000-04:00

It's my senior film character!

2009-09-29T22:13:00.002-04:00

Here's a screen grab of my character for my senior film. He's not done obviously. =)

Samuari Jack cut out animation

2009-09-17T10:05:00.000-04:00

Samurai Jack Cutout (Cartoon Network Promo) from Bent Image Lab on Vimeo.

I love samurai jack!

Some new drawings!

2009-09-08T03:03:00.006-04:00

Here's some "new" drawings. I did them awhile ago but never took pictures of 'em. My camera sucks! To bad i'm not working at Six Flags anymore... I would like to color them. I guess i'll have to get my own airbrush paints some day.

I'm working on a fun little illustration right now. It's of the "Inklings." The Inklings was a social group and was composed of giants like C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. I suck at coloring digitally so hopefully I won't butcher it too bad.

I was in the Animation Magazine!

2009-08-30T23:07:00.003-04:00

This is kinda old news but my senior film concept was entered into a competition and my concept made it into the August 2009 Issue of the Animation Magazine. I didn't win anything but it was still fun to see my work in a magazine!

The Facial Expression Repertoire

2009-08-05T10:08:00.003-04:00

I was looking for some reference for facial expressions and ran across this site. Very helpful site. They technically break down facial expressions and analyze facial expressions through psychology.

The Facial Expression Repertoire

Here's what they say about it:
"The Facial Expression Repertoire provides a wide range of multimedia reference materials intended for the animator as a guideline for all kinds of facial animation projects. It consists of a database of categorized facial expressions including emotions, physical states as well as other non-verbal facial conduct such as conversational expressions. These expressions are presented in various formats: still images, video clips and written explanations of the makeup and usage of each expression will be provided. The database is meant to serve as a repertoire for any animated character, offering to the animator a library of appropriate, expressive options to choose from. "

Sweet animation tools

2009-07-05T23:46:00.006-04:00

I found this guys blog and he has a bunch of cool tutorials and mel scripts. Check him out at:

Flip online

Here's something I found pretty interesting. It's a mel script that has pop ups with inspiring quotes from great animators. Pretty awesome to get you that extra motivation to keep animating.

Anim food

Also has a sweet motion path tracking tool he made:
Tracking tool

I've only recently started really planning my arcs and nailing them down. It makes a huge impact on your animations. I knew it was a principle for some reason. =)

My current 30 second reel

2009-07-05T22:22:00.011-04:00

My 30 second reel. I'm going to have a bunch of new stuff by the end of the summer.

I look at my animation now and see all the problems with it. It's funny when your in a big period of growth how fast your old animations get out dated in showing your skill level.

Right now I'm working on a short film for the company I'm interning with. It's a fun little short. It's inspired to me to change my senior film around actually. I'm also working on a commercial and getting to learn after effects a lil more. They have me assigned to a mentor and he is a former Industrial Light and Magic/Stan Winston studios employee. He is really.... really good. I'm learning a ton from him. I feel like an idiot daily being around him...lol.

In my spare time... haha... I'm working on a 3 second dialogue piece. Hopefully I'll have that done soon. It's amazing only a year ago how ignorant I was to the animation process and how much my eyes have been opened. Animation is hard....and takes a LONG time. I wonder how many surprises I will come across by next year! On top of that I'm working at Six Flags drawing caricatures. I'm going to start photographing some of those so I can post 'em.

Updated Dialogue

2009-05-22T17:58:00.002-04:00

My dialgoue... it's about 95% done.

Some changes

2009-05-19T20:03:00.007-04:00

This is my pitch poster for my senior film... made some changes to it.... I actually decided I kinda like it. Well I like it now... we'll see if I still like it after the critque tomorrow!

It's the story of an Intergalactic Architect that has built 6 of the 7 ancient wonders of the world. He is now pitching his latest architectural wonder to a new client.... the Pharaoh of Egypt. His character personality is based on Billy Mays.... the ultimate salesman!

First time coloring in photoshop....

2009-05-18T04:22:00.006-04:00

This was my first time coloring in photoshop and inking in illustrator so it was a great learning process! Now that I got the crap out of the way i'm going to re-do this and acutally make something good. Ugh....what was I thinking when I drew that pose.... yuck.

Here's some awesome tutorials I found:
http://www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html
http://kuitsuku.deviantart.com/art/Photoshop-Lineart-Coloring-Tut-56907784
http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-robot.html

Getting better........

2009-05-16T22:41:00.003-04:00

I changed a lot! Still a lot more to go tho.

Work in progress: Warning - cheesy dialogue!!!!

2009-05-15T00:10:00.010-04:00

Character design sketches for senior film

2009-05-02T15:57:00.009-04:00

My main character for my senior film is from India. He's a sly salesman so with that in mind...
I think the one at the bottom left of the page above is the one I like the most.... can't decide...

Playing with different possible expressions
Some early tests...
Some early tests...

Current Demo Reel

2009-04-17T22:04:00.002-04:00

My current demo reel!

24 Hour Animation competition

2009-04-07T14:55:00.004-04:00

This a submission a couple friends and I entered for a 24 hour animation competition that SCAD hosts. I have never animated so fast in my life. The animation obviously suffered due to the time frame but for 24 hours I'm happy with it!!

Blocking for Thiefs: WIP

2009-04-06T16:08:00.003-04:00

Two hip thiefs jumping a wall. Still blocking 'em out.

T-Rex chases dude

2009-03-11T12:31:00.006-04:00

Dude this guy is in trouble....

I finished this for class but there is still more detail I want to add.

The t-rex rig isn't so great. I'm going to try to modify the rig so I can get the arms moving, some eye blinks and some more facial stuff.

The little blue character is for my rigging class. For the final project we had to animate him. He's supposed to be a caricatured version of Han Solo. I thought it might have fun to continue this animation and have him fight the T-rex with a lightsaber..... haha

Demo reel I sent to Lucas Arts

2009-03-01T21:09:00.003-05:00

DOWNLOAD HIGHER QUALITY DEMO REEL HERE

I didn't get to finish all the animations I submitted so the ones i'm still working on are noted "work in progress."

3D erases 2D Work in Progress

2009-02-23T01:54:00.007-05:00

Title: 3D erases 2D

This is a dialogue project for my 2d class but I wanted to do some 3D animation so I'm making 2D and 3D interact! The 2D character is from Disney's Peter Pan... his name is cubby.... one of the lost boys.
The 3D is in blocking 1.

This is still a work in progress!

2D Character animation 1 - Work in progress weight lift

2009-02-16T13:36:00.004-05:00

Scrat weight lift - rough animation

It's not done yet but here's a work in progress clip. I love scrat!! There's a big acorn in the background.... kind of hard to see it.

Character Animation 1: Pantomime Reaction - blocking 1 - work in progress

2009-02-05T12:56:00.004-05:00

Character Animation 1
Assignment: Reaction using the words Advocate and Agonize

This is my blocking 1(aka the story telling poses). It's running a little long so I'm trying to cut it down. I haven't rigged the props yet but he's going to spraying WD40 under his armpits... so that gesture won't make sense until I put it in there.

Walk Cycle with clown

2009-01-26T03:44:00.003-05:00

3d Character Animation 1 : Project 2 - Blocking 1

2009-01-19T23:48:00.008-05:00

Weight Exercise
This exercise we're trying to create the illusion that an object has weight.
In the blocking 1 stage. I had some trouble figuring out how to actually grab objects in Maya. Still working out the kinks in that.

3D Character Animation 1: Project 1

2009-01-14T22:47:00.002-05:00

Weight Transfer: Hop
Simple first assignment for Character Animation 1. Almost to the good stuff!

Six flags and Janimation

2008-12-05T22:44:00.007-05:00

Here's my desk at my internship at Janimation. I love working at Janimation... I can't believe people get paid to do this stuff... to fun to be a job!

Got some Pixar characters to motivate me while i'm animating.

I got in early that day so I was the only one there but here's the studio where the artists do their "thang."

Here's a caricature from working at Six Flags last weekend - I only took one picture.. kinda forgot to take more for my portfolio.

Reference for an animation i'm working on

2008-12-04T20:48:00.009-05:00

At my internship i'm animating a character swinging from a rope. Here's a quick rough stick figure animation just to figure out the timing and the poses I want to do. It's just the keys and the breakdowns.... no inbetweens. I'm going to start animating it in 3D tomorrow.

A supervising animator at Dreamworks named Jason Ryan has some tutorials on his website using stick figures to speed up the process of 3D. It really works! It makes the process of animating in 3D way faster.

Promise Animation Rendered

2008-11-19T13:30:00.003-05:00

Promise Animation from Chris Cantero on Vimeo.

Here is my completed RENDERED version. I can't believe that in one quarter i've gone from never animating a 3D character to acting and dialogue! Thank you SCAD! I can't wait for my advanced 3D animation classes in the coming year and half I have left.

There's a lot of stuff I could improve on this but I'm just going to move on to something new.

Non-rendered version

2008-11-18T22:10:00.009-05:00

Here's my non-rendered completed animation which i'm about to render. I'll have the rendered version posted prolly tonight. The file might be too large to upload it to blogger tho... so we'll see.
This is my first time to do acting and dialogue... I'm happy with my first try.

The volume is pretty soft. You might have to crank your volume to hear it.

Work in Progress

2008-11-16T21:50:00.004-05:00

This is a an acting/dialogue animation(Final for acting for animators class) I'm working on. I just got her to talk!!!! I'm so excited... like a giddy school girl. I have until Wednesday to finish... ahh!!!

Oh yea - and i'll take a picture of my ghetto caricature table soon! =)

Caricaturing gig

2008-11-13T22:39:00.018-05:00

Today I did caricatures at a Realtor Party... it was crazy fun!!! I have never drawn so many caricatures in that short period of time. I stopped counting after 30. It goes a lot faster if you don't have to draw backgrounds/have a theme/airbrush like I do at Six Flags. I was there for about 2 and half hours.

I built a portable desk for caricaturing today also. It cost a whole 15 dollars to make... HAH.. SCAD sells something similar for like 150 dollars... I should start making portable desks and sell them. I made it out of pressure pvc pipes/clamps/veneer strips/and laminated wood. Ghetto yes.... but it works.

Here's a few pics I was able to take before it got busy.

Turnaround/dance

2008-11-12T15:57:00.008-05:00

Animation II final. Done.
Woo, learned a lot from this but next quarter.... I get to the good stuff. Character animation acting!

2D animation exercise

2008-11-08T14:31:00.001-05:00

Non-school related exercise. Real rough stick figure animation.

Phase 2 out of 4/Blocking 2 for turnaround

2008-11-08T12:39:00.007-05:00

Second phase... two more to go! Turnarounds are harder than I thought it would be. So what's so hard about it? It's only two seconds! Well, giving the illusion that the character has weight and his body reacting to that weight is what I struggle with. It's the subtle details that make a world of difference.

Blocking for turnaround/dance

2008-11-05T16:23:00.002-05:00

This is just the keyframes/blocking for my turnaround/dance! I'm calling it the chimicunga! It will be sweeping America...

Stairs

2008-11-04T02:14:00.002-05:00

Done... finally... time for next project!

Greek Orthodox Church model

2008-10-21T22:25:00.005-04:00

Really quick model I did today... using it for reference.

Another walk cycle

2008-10-20T10:05:00.002-04:00

He's pretty fly for a robot guy.

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-10-20T08:48:00.005-04:00

This video shows you that people you think have it all together.... are really struggling with the same things you are going through.

Cardboard Testimonies

Walk cycle for class - Profile view

2008-10-14T17:40:00.004-04:00

This is my first walk cycle for my animation II class... my second 3D walk cycle overall.... so much fun. Oh yea, I added some music just for kicks and giggles.

My first walk cycle!! In 3D anyway

2008-10-13T10:41:00.004-04:00

This was not a class project - we're actually doing two walk cycles this week.

For those of you who are animation savvy... I just used to default settings on the graph editor. That should explain alot.

Old Man

2008-10-10T12:33:00.004-04:00

Character design: Old Man... he's such a gangsta

Crane Animation

2008-10-07T15:16:00.001-04:00

The little crane that could!

http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/

2008-10-05T13:19:00.006-04:00

Cardboard Testimonies

I see so much potential for this website.. hahahah fun stuff.

A few caricatures from the summer

2008-10-03T20:56:00.006-04:00

Just found these on my camera!

Hammer Animation

2008-10-03T20:47:00.001-04:00

Eh... it's ok. It's due this coming Monday so I'm going to re-do it this weekend if I have time.

20 Resolutions from James

2008-09-28T22:55:00.001-04:00

James 1:5 To ask God for wisdom to speak and with a single mind
James 1:9-10 To boast only in exaltation in Christ, & humiliation in world
James 1:13 To set a watch over my mouth
James 1:19 To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak
James 2:1-4 To learn the gospel way of speaking to poor and the rich
James 2:12 To speak always in the consciousness of the final judgment
James 2:16 To never stand on anyone’s face with my words
James 3:14 To never claim as reality something I do not experience
James 4:1 To resist quarrelsome words in order to mortify a quarrelsome heart
James 4:11 To never speak evil of another
James 4:13 To never boast in what I will accomplish
James 4:15 To always speak as one subject to the providences of God
James 5:9 To never grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door
James 5:12 To never allow anything but total integrity in my speech
James 5:13 To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer
James 5:14 To sing praises to God whenever I am cheerful
James 5:14 To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick
James 5:15 To confess it freely whenever I have failed
James 5:15 To pray with and for one another when I am together with others
James 5:19 To speak words of restoration when I see another wander

Learning the principles of animation.... again... this time in the computer

2008-09-24T00:41:00.002-04:00

Monologue for Acting for Animation class

2008-09-17T08:26:00.014-04:00

For my acting for animation class we had to chose a monologue to act out and then eventually animate with lip sync. I couldn't find a monologue I liked so I just wrote my own. I wish we had more time... she only gave us a day and a half. What a slave driver!

Obedience to wisdom monologue

My obedience is found in trust for I am a citizen of the truth and wage war with the lies of this world. Here are thoughts that are expressed between the lines of our lives.

I am utterly helpless as I am tossed and thrown by the forces of this world but I will not falter because I put my trust in the truth. Money, women and fame are not my strength and to enter that door would be to enter bondage. I’m ignorant of so many things in this world but I do know that too much sunshine brings a desert to the lands. Why can no one see the desert that is forming all around them? Why do I
see it so plainly? I don’t want this sight that has been set before me. Rain cannot prevent this inevitable destruction. It will take a storm and there will be many casualties.

My sorrow for the blind looms all around me. Things were going so well for me but this sorrow has forced me to break out of my complacency and has driven me to stand for the beauty of the truth.

This new stand brings a new realm of discipline in my life and strengthens me beyond comprehension and into true wisdom.
Wisdom is my new form of discipline. She (wisdom) is my comfort and my rock foundation. I cry out for understanding of this wisdom. The truth will reveal this wisdom in due time.

There are promises not seen by other men. They know it in their hearts but deny the truth. It is all around them, in everything and in everyone; yet they turn their backs. There is something missing yet they can’t quite pinpoint the itch. This itch festers but is not realized.

I hungered for propriety and have been filled of that craving. There is no medium between the extremes and I mercifully try to impart this love. This love is not based on feelings, thoughts and desires but is based on a joy that cannot be revoked. It is untouchable, self contained and cannot be assaulted by any foolish human attempts.

I scour my heart for impurity, that wisdom may refine my soul, and purge me of the dross of deceit. This wisdom demands purity and I reap the rewards of purity in every aspect of my life. My body is my slave and I beat it into submission.

My desire is peace among the nations, but not the peace of gritted teeth clenched in pretentious toleration. No, I yearn for the peace that comes from the healing, wholeness, and harmony of all peoples. I yearn for that day when all things will be brought under one head, when we scratch the itch, and realize our true identity as
Wisdom's children. The lies of this world laugh and mock and overtake the faint of heart. But, whoever lives with the truth find true life even in the midst of death.

So, nations rise together and store up the commands of wisdom within you. Acknowledge it and it will make your paths straight. Persecution is expected to follow for following the righteous. Realize that blessed are you when you are persecuted for this wisdom; for great is your reward in time. The insults that will result will be a welcomed bliss because you and I stand by the right. Let us rejoice!

I have reached a state of complete joy. This joy is not something that man can takeaway. It is serene, untouchable, self contained and is independent of all the variables that will be thrown into one’s life. Enter into this pillar of strength with me!

Michael Phelps - frame by frame shot

2008-08-31T02:13:00.002-04:00

Phelps Frame by frame

What Obama's Vice President pick says about Obama

2008-08-24T16:04:00.002-04:00

Scuba Cat AND Dog!

2008-08-23T22:18:00.001-04:00

Ninja tips on dealing with college

2008-08-23T01:55:00.005-04:00

LOL...wow awesome
"There is nothing that clears out a quad when you want to play ultimate frizz bee like a mountain lion"

Wow im blogging a lot today

2008-08-14T22:47:00.006-04:00

"Two Georgians Say They Have Bigfoot’s Body"

Haha... I knew they were crazy in Georgia but seriously...

Stop motion animation- re-make of scene from Tron

2008-08-14T21:14:00.003-04:00

Way cool! This was made using nothing but stop motion... no CG.
Dang.

Tron
Uploaded by freres-hueon

Collie Rev VIII Selected, In Training

2008-08-14T21:06:00.000-04:00

MEMORANDUM

DATE:August 11, 2008
TO: Texas A&M students, faculty and staff
SUBJECT:Collie Rev VIII Selected, In Training

I am pleased to inform the Aggie Family that Reveille VIII has been selected and that she will continue Texas A&M’s collie mascot tradition. And I am proud to say that she will be at Kyle Field for the season-opening football game against Arkansas State on August 30. I know there was concern that the process was taking quite a bit of time, perhaps too long. I, too, shared in these concerns, and expressed them to those directly involved in the process. But all’s well that ends well, and I think that’s certainly the case with this selection. The process worked well in the final analysis, and I personally thank everyone who served on the broad-based 16-member committee that was so instrumental in the selection. I am confident that a great choice has been made—and I think Aggies everywhere will agree when they meet Reveille VIII later this month and in the coming months and years. For a sneak preview of Reveille VIII, a beautiful 2-year-old female collie from Topeka, Kan., go to:
http://dmc-news.tamu.edu/templates/?a=6478&z=37.

For more information, go to: http://dmc-news.tamu.edu/templates/?a=6479&z=15

Gig 'Em!

Elsa A. Murano, President

Obama and the Freedom of Choice Act

2008-08-14T20:21:00.006-04:00

Uh...wow...

I think it's ironic it's called the Freedom of Choice Act when taxpayers have to pay for other's abortions.

Obama and the Freedom of Choice Act

from Between Two Worlds by JT

I've linked before to this video of Barack Obama addressing the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (July 17, 2007):

Popout

Note in particular this line: "The first thing I'll do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."

What is the Freedom of Choice Act?

Senator Barbara Boxer, co-sponser of the bill, has said: "The Freedom of Choice Act supercedes any law, regulation or local ordinance that impinges on a woman’s right to choose. That means a poor woman cannot be denied the use of Medicaid if she chooses to have an abortion." In other words, state governments and the federal government would be mandated to fund abortion with taxpayer money.

David Freddoso (The Case Against Barack Obama) elaborates on what this bill entails:

This bill would effectively cancel every state, federal, and local regulation of abortion, no matter how modest or reasonable. It would even, according to the National Organization of Women, abolish all state restrictions on government funding for abortions. If Obama becomes president and lives up to this promise, then everyone who pays income tax will be paying an abortionist to perform an abortion.

In making this promise, Freddoso writes, Obama is promising:

to abolish state laws that protect doctors and nurses from losing their jobs if they refuse to participate in abortions
to abolish requirements for parental notification and informed consent for mothers who consider the procedure

Freddoso also notes:

Obama is one of the very few pro-choice advocates who accepts no restrictions on late-term abortions, or any kind of abortions. I could find no instance in his entire career in which he voted for any regulation or restriction on the practice of abortion.

Noah's Ark Replica

2008-08-10T15:27:00.004-04:00

Neato bandito

Noah's Ark Replica

Some caricatures from today - with my NEW camera!

2008-08-08T00:54:00.011-04:00

These kids were my best kids all day.... they freaked out when they saw it.... in a good way. They are in the wrong order... the girl should be on the left.

She was quiet.

These kids were crazy. They wanted to be a fairy, knight and playing on the computer. Good combination eh?

They were from Alaska!!

The first picture I took with with my new camera... yummmmm omelet!! Actually it doesn't look so good... ohhhhhh but it was.

My first realistic caricature - "Oh snap"

2008-08-06T21:35:00.015-04:00

"Oh snap"
"Oh no son... you DID just did not"

My grandmother's camera really doesn't do it justice. It's really reflective so I wasn't able to get a good picture. I'm 'bout to get my own so I don't have to leech on other peeps.
This is my first try at doing a realistic looking caricature. It's painted using an airbrush. Six flag's doesn't do these... I was just doing it in my free time. This dude is just made up - not a real person.

Sketch N my neck N

2008-08-06T01:07:00.004-04:00

I sat around a lot today at work so I did some sketchn'! I don't have a camera to take to work yet so I didn't get any shots today.....

Why God Doesn't Fully Explain Pain

2008-08-04T01:58:00.000-04:00

Why God Doesn't Fully Explain Pain

from Desiring God Blog

(Author: John Piper)

One of the reasons God rarely gives micro reasons for his painful providences, but regularly gives magnificent macro reasons, is that there are too many micro reasons for us to manage, namely, millions and millions and millions and millions and millions.

God says things like:

These bad things happened to you because I intend to work it together for your good (Romans 8).
These happened so that you would rely more on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1).
This happened so that the gold and silver of your faith would be refined (1 Peter 1).
This thorn is so that the power of Christ would be magnified in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12).

But we can always object that there are other easier ways for God to accomplish those things. We want to know more specifics: Why now? Why this much? Why this often? Why this way? Why these people?

The problem is, we would have to be God to grasp all that God is doing in our problems. In fact, pushing too hard for more detailed explanations from God is a kind of demand that we be God.

Think of this, you are a blacksmith making horseshoes. You are hammering on a white hot shoe and it ricochets off and hits you in the leg and burns you. In your haste to tend to your leg you let the shoe alone unfinished. You wonder why God let this happen. You were singing a hymn and doing his will.

Your helper, not knowing the horseshoe was unfinished gathered it up and put it with the others.

Later there was an invasion of your country by a hostile army with a powerful cavalry. They came through your town and demanded that you supply them with food and with shoes for their horses. You comply.

Their commander has his horse shoed by his own smith using the stolen horseshoes, and the unfinished shoe with the thin weak spot is put on the commander's horse.

In the decisive battle against the loyal troops defending your homeland the enemy commander is leading the final charge. The weak shoe snaps and catches on a root and causes his horse to fall. He crashes to the ground and his own soldiers, galloping at full speed, trample him to death.

This causes such a confusion that the defenders are able to rout the enemy and the country is saved.

Now you might say, well, it would sure help me trust God if he informed me of these events so that I would know why the horseshoe ricocheted and burned my leg. Well maybe it would help you. Maybe not.

God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in your life, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell you all of them because your brain can't hold all of them.

Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.

Let's trust him and not ask for what our brains cannot contain.

Archeological finds affirms the bible...once again

2008-08-04T01:39:00.007-04:00

What did Jesus' tomb look like?

Caricatures

2008-07-31T11:53:00.005-04:00

These kids wanted to be Jedi. (How do you make Jedi plural.. jedies?) Anyway so I made them Jedies.

This kid's dad was crazy. He hung over me the whole time saying "Do this...do that..." in spanish. But he was a fun kid.

Some caricatures from the start of the summer

2008-06-26T18:22:00.014-04:00

My 3D Projects are finished!

2008-05-29T08:31:00.004-04:00

Last assignment! Jump

2008-05-26T13:43:00.002-04:00

Pete Jumping

This animation has best sense of weight i've done yet! yay!

Not finished

2008-05-23T05:28:00.002-04:00

Not finished

Max Fleischer Scene - Not done!

2008-05-23T03:17:00.002-04:00

Max Fleischer Scene - Not done!

Assignment 8 - Zip

2008-05-19T02:16:00.002-04:00

Reminds me of my cross country/track days....

Assignment 8 - Run

2008-05-18T00:50:00.003-04:00

A character running... he looks a little TOO happy
I shot this at 30 FPS so it looks a little fast.... it's supposed to be 24 FPS.

Aladdin's Walk Cycle

2008-05-17T19:48:00.003-04:00

Didn't completely finish but it's finished enough! I think this was a bad character choice(but I couldn't resist cause he's my fav disney character) for my first walk cycle but I learned a lot!

The new mushu

2008-05-14T00:28:00.003-04:00

I forgot to upload this. I re-did the mushu project and here it is. I forgot to make him blink in the beginning... opps. I'll re-do it again after finals are over. I can still make it better.

Acronym for the Parable of the Sower

2008-05-13T08:01:00.009-04:00

Acronym for the Parable of the Sower

Here's a little acronym I made for the 4 different ways we "sow" the Word in our hearts.

This can be looked at as the 4 different types of people and how they accept the word. OR, it could apply to all people and how we accept different principles of the Bible. We can be really strong in one aspect of our faith (have good roots) but in other parts of our faith we may be less mature (don't have strong roots) so it only lasts for a short time.

PROGOTHO

Sounds like a product of miracle grow. How ironic!

P (path) - Mark 4:4 - As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
(Someone that hears the word but it does not produce any fruit)

RO (root) - Mark 4:5-6 -Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
(Someone that hears the word and accepts it - but he has no roots so it doesn't last)

GO (good soil) - Mark 4:8 - Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.
(Hear the word - accept it - and produce good fruit)

THO (thorns) - Mark 4:7 - Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
(Accept the truth - but worries, wealth, desires make them unfruitful)

Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Aladdin with some details - Just the key frames

2008-05-12T15:02:00.002-04:00

Aladdin with some details - Just the key frames

Still got ALOT of work to do

Aladdin's Skeleton for a Walk Cycle- 50% done?

2008-05-10T17:58:00.007-04:00

Aladdin's Skeleton for a Walk Cycle- 50% done?

These are just the "key frames." Which means these are just the main actions. I have to go in and add "inbetween" drawings to connect all the actions and add details.

Not finished - Animation 1 - Assignment 6 - Walk Cycle

2008-05-07T12:58:00.005-04:00

75% finished.. I still have a week and a half to do this so i'm going to put it off for a little bit and work on my next character - which is Aladdin....haha maybe

Animation 1 - Assignment 5 - Mushu head turn

2008-04-30T11:55:00.007-04:00

Mushu Head Turn

FEAR MUSHU...he's a fearsome DRAGON
I really don't like this. It's really subtle things I don't like but i'm going to re-do this. I've been experimenting with all different kinds of pencils to try to get a more interesting line quality and I found out that animator Glen Keane uses Sanford Ebony Jet Black sketching pencils. I just bought a couple so i'll see if "his" pencils magically bring my drawings to life.

Chocolate 3D models

2008-04-25T01:36:00.007-04:00

Ever had a chocolate elephant? Neither have I... for the project we're doing we have to model a bunch of chocolates....here's a couple of examples.

Yummm

Frog "sidestep" animation - Rough out

2008-04-23T01:09:00.010-04:00

Rough out for the frog

I finished animating the movements! Now I just gotta go in and add the details... like his face... toes... hands.... I still got 13 hours till it's due...woo!
A friend pointed out that the frog looks like he sees something and dodges "it" just in the nic of time. So if I have time... I'm going to have a ball attached to a crane swing through as he sidesteps.

Animation 1 - Assignment 3 Part B

2008-04-21T10:54:00.004-04:00

I forgot to upload this video a few days ago.

I'm working on my first character animation now, woo! And two other animation exercises. Oh my peaches it's hard.. but fun!

John Piper - How to Be a Fountain of Life

2008-04-20T23:15:00.001-04:00

How to Be a Fountain of Life

April 16, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

Every Christian should want to be a “fountain of life” for others. How does that happen?

Here is a group of passages that answer this question. The answer is in the order.

Psalm 36:9, For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Proverbs 16:22, Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.

Proverbs 14:27, The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 10:11, The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 13:14, The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.

ARGUMENTS FOR GOD’S EXISTENCE- Week 1 - ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN

2008-04-18T11:00:00.011-04:00

This is ALL taken from the author Peter Kreeft - well - 99% of this is Peter Kreeft's writings - all I did was put it in a more bible study friendly format. This is for the O-House Bible study but I thought everyone could benefit from the study!

ARGUMENTS FOR GOD’S EXISTENCE:

Before we answer this question, we must distinguish five questions that are often confused.

First, there is the question of whether something EXISTS or not. A thing can exist whether we know it or not.

New elements on the periodic table. They could be out there we just have not discovered them yet.

Second, there is the question of whether we KNOW it exists. (To answer this question affirmatively is to presuppose that the first question is answered affirmatively, of course; though a thing can exist without our knowing it, WE CANNOT KNOW IT EXISTS UNLESS IT EXISTS)

How do you know QUARKS exist? We have read about it in text books but we have never ACTUALLY seen QUARKS –we just take for granted on what scientists have discovered. (Atoms are composed of quarks and leptons btw)

Third, there is the question of whether we have a REASON for our knowledge. We can know some things without being able to lead others to that knowledge by reasons. Many Christians think God's existence is like that.

For example: I can know about nuclear fission. But I can’t lead someone to be able to actually make a nuclear fission bomb.

Fourth, there is the question of whether this reason, if it exists, amounts to a PROOF. Most reasons do not. Most of the reasons we give for what we believe amount to probabilities, not proofs.

For instance, the building you sit in may collapse in one minute, but the reliability of the contractor and the construction materials is a good reason for thinking that very improbable.

Fifth, if there is a proof, is it a SCIENTIFIC proof, a proof by the scientific method, i.e., by experiment, observation, and measurement? Philosophical proofs can be good proofs, but they do not have to be scientific proofs.

Arguments for God’s for existence are like roads – they are deductive logical statements. You start at one point and make points until you get to the final destination.

ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN:

Where there is a design – there is a designer

There is design throughout the universe – so there must be a universal designer

Why is the first statement true?

- Why must we believe the major premise, that all design implies a designer? Because everyone admits this principle in practice. For instance, suppose you came upon a deserted island and found "S.O.S." written in the sand on the beach. You would not think the wind or the waves had written it by mere chance but that someone had been there, someone intelligent enough to design and write the message. If you found a stone hut on the island with windows, doors, and a fireplace, you would not think a hurricane had piled up the stones that way by chance. You immediately infer a designer when you see design.

A cool story:

- When the first moon rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, two U.S. scientists stood watching it, side by side. One was a believer, the other an unbeliever. The believer said, "Isn't it wonderful that our rocket is going to hit the moon by chance?" The unbeliever objected, "What do you mean, chance? We put millions of manhours of design into that rocket." "Oh," said the believer, "you don't think chance is a good explanation for the rocket? Then why do you think it's a good explanation for the universe? There's much more design in a universe than in a rocket. We can design a rocket, but we couldn't design a whole universe. I wonder who can?" Later that day the two were strolling down a street and passed an antique store. The atheist admired a picture in the window and asked, "I wonder who painted that picture?" "No one," joked the believer; "it just happened by chance."

Is it possible that design happens by chance without a designer?

- There is perhaps one chance in a trillion that "S.O.S." could be written in the sand by the wind. But who would use a one-in-a-trillion explanation? Someone once said that if you sat a million monkeys at a million typewriters for a million years, one of them would eventually type out all of Hamlet by chance. But when we find the text of Hamlet, we don't wonder whether it came from chance and monkeys. Why then does the atheist use that incredibly improbable explanation for the universe? Clearly, because it is his only chance of remaining an atheist. At this point we need a psychological explanation of the atheist rather than a logical explanation of the universe. We have a logical explanation of the universe, but the atheist does not like it. It's called God.

Another argument:

- There is one especially strong version of the argument from design that hits close to home because it's about the design of the very thing we use to think about design: our brains. The human brain is the most complex piece of design in the known universe. In many ways it is like a computer. Now just suppose there were a computer that was programmed only by chance. For instance, suppose you were in a plane and the public-address system announced that there was no pilot, but the plane was being flown by a computer that had been programmed by a random fall of hailstones on its keyboard or by a baseball player in spiked shoes dancing on computer cards. How much confidence would you have in that plane? But if our brain computer has no cosmic intelligence behind the heredity and environment that program it, why should we trust it when it tells us about anything, even about the brain?

Another especially strong aspect of the design argument is the so-called anthropic principle,

- According to which the universe seems to have been specially designed from the beginning for human life to evolve. If the temperature of the primal fireball that resulted from the Big Bang some fifteen to twenty billion years ago, which was the beginning of our universe, had been a trillionth of a degree colder or hotter, the carbon molecule that is the foundation of all organic life could never have developed. The number of possible universes is trillions of trillions; only one of them could support human life: this one. Sounds suspiciously like a plot. If the cosmic rays had bombarded the primordial slime at a slightly different angle or time or intensity, the hemoglobin molecule, necessary for all warm-blooded animals, could never have evolved. The chance of this molecule's evolving is something like one in a trillion trillion. Add together each of the chances and you have something far more unbelievable than a million monkeys writing Hamlet.

There are relatively few atheists among neurologists and brain surgeons and among astrophysicists, but many among psychologists, sociologists, and historians. The reason seems obvious: the first study divine design, the second study human undesign.

But doesn't evolution explain everything without a divine Designer?

- Just the opposite; evolution is a beautiful example of design, a great clue to God. There is very good scientific evidence for the evolving, ordered appearance of species, from simple to complex. But there is no scientific proof of natural selection as the mechanism of evolution, Natural selection "explains" the emergence of higher forms without intelligent design by the survival-of-the-fittest principle. But this is sheer theory. There is no evidence that abstract, theoretical thinking or altruistic love make it easier for man to survive. How did they evolve then?

Furthermore, could the design that obviously now exists in man and in the human brain come from something with less or no design?

- Such an explanation violates the principle of causality, which states that you can't get more in the effect than you had in the cause. If there is intelligence in the effect (man), there must be intelligence in the cause. But a universe ruled by blind chance has no intelligence. Therefore there must be a cause for human intelligence that transcends the universe: a mind behind the physical universe. (Most great scientists have believed in such a mind, by the way, even those who did not accept any revealed religion.)

How much does this argument prove? Not all that the Christian means by God, of course—no argument can do that. But it proves a pretty thick slice of God: some designing intelligence great enough to account for all the design in the universe and the human mind. If that's not God, what is it? Steven Spielberg?

Definitions:

Premise: In discourse and logic, a premise is a claim that is a reason (or element of a set of reasons) for, or objection against, some other claim. In other words, it is a statement presumed true within the context of an argument toward a conclusion.

Causality: describes the relationship between causes and effects, and is fundamental to all natural science, especially physics. It is also studied from the perspectives of philosophy, computer science, and statistics.

Animation 1 - Assignment 3 Part A - Pendulum Loop

2008-04-16T02:37:00.015-04:00

Only a couple more assignments and we get to finally do some character animation... oh my bunsen burner thank you.

I thought this would be easy...but actually this was a pretty tough concept for me. It took me like... 4 tries to get it right. The animation principle involved is called overlapping action. It's about 60 drawings.

With all my assignments up to date i've been free handing the circles and lines. The extra work is starting to pay off because all my circles and lines are becoming fairly consistent without the crutch of using stencils and rulers and what not.

I'm almost finished with the other assignment - I have to make one change... but i'm tired so i'll do that tomorrow.... well actually tomorrow is already today so... later "today" i'll do it.

Thanks and Gig 'em!

Did Jesus' sacrifice cover alien's atonement on planet Zebulon?

2008-04-11T23:30:00.021-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11736311/

This article talks about how Scientists think that they have found liquid water on one of Saturn's moons.

lol....After I read this article an interesting thought ran across my desultory mind. If there ARE aliens then did Jesus' sacrifice on the cross mediate the barrier between God and... Alien?
An interesting verse I found:

John 10:16 - "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."

BUT in...

1 Peter 3:18 - "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit"

Hmmm...

Do aliens have their own form of the bible? Does God speak differently to Aliens? Are Aliens and humans equal creations? Do aliens have a similar story of falling away from God? Did Adam's sin automatically cause sin to enter the lives of Aliens? Are Aliens made in God's image?

OR...this makes most sense to me... are Aliens just an "animal?" When God created all the animals he gave Man authority over them. Does Man have authority over aliens like Man has authority over animals?

If we DO encounter aliens I wonder how God will reveal his plan in the creation of them. Will the Holy Spirit inspire a prophet to write a new chapter for the bible?

Woah... this isn't biblical...
(Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.)
So only God can create...BUT....CRAZY IDEA...what if.... like.... Satan chose to make his "own" creation. Like... he made a creature in HIS image. Would Satan use his alien creation to try to destroy God's creation? I would be sCuRRRd.

This would make a fun fiction story!

Animation 1 - Assignment 2 Part B - Get creative with a ball in perspective

2008-04-09T13:15:00.003-04:00

Bouncing down a hallway!

Animation 1 - Assignment 2 Part A - Rubber Ball in Perspective - Updated

2008-04-04T23:35:00.008-04:00

Assignment 2 Part A - Rubber Ball in Perspective
Hand drawn animation
1 Point Persepctive

This ball is drawn with the illusion that it is going away from the viewer aka perspective. 45 drawings or so.
I forgot who "invented" perspective so I looked back through my old text book - he was an Italian Renaissance architect named Filippo Brunelleschi.

Animation 1- Assignment 1 Part B - Bowling Ball Bounce

2008-04-02T12:21:00.002-04:00

Project 1 - Part Two: Bowling ball bounce
Hand drawn animation

Exciting... I think so! This is an old school hand drawn animation - no computer. This one is about 30 drawings. The goal of these ball assignments is to start understanding some of the 12 principles of animation. Which are:
Squash and stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose, Follow Through and Overlapping Action, Slow In and Slow Out, Arcs, Secondary Action, Timing, Exaggeration, Solid Drawing, Appeal.

Animation 1- Assignment 1 Part A - Rubber ball bounce

2008-04-02T12:17:00.001-04:00

Project 1 - Part One: Rubber Ball Bounce
Hand drawn animation

Exciting... I think so! This is an old school hand drawn animation - no computer. It's about 50 drawings.

Cutout Animation

2008-03-12T15:59:00.000-04:00

Cutout Animation - Motions studies Project (aka intro into animation)

There's a few mistakes... but i'm done... woo!

"Finals Suck so bad" Jam

2008-03-09T00:09:00.000-05:00

"Finals suck so bad" Jam

Finals suck..... so I wrote a sucky song with my sucky voice to show how sucky finals really sucky are... shucks

Animatic

2008-02-20T02:04:00.000-05:00

Animatic for storyboard
Class: Motion Studies
I got a C on this project.... my first C at SCAD! I'm proud of it... and display it proudly!

An animatic is a moving storyboard. Storyboards are used by directors in order to plan out the shots of the movie. The story is of a crazy programmer that goes to get a drink of water....observes a building outside...and then goes back to his desk and presses a "button" to blow up the building outside. It's a in the "rough" stage. I had to compress the video so I could upload it... so the quality has been deteriorated.

Teddy Monkey Theme Song Concept

2008-02-15T20:38:00.000-05:00

Concept Idea: Teddy Monkey Theme Song
Class: I just did this cause it was fun!

This is a concept Idea I had for Teddy Monkey's Theme song. That's me (with my superstar voice) with a acoustic guitar lick I made up. I have an idea for a hardcore rock version but I don't have the equipment to record it...shame.