Joker In The Box

Here is something I am working on which started out as a clay sculpt and was scanned in, then retopologized using zremesher.  After that I spent one night sculpting in all the details and then polypainting.   Trying to decide if I should push it to a more human / realistic head or keep it more plastic / toy looking.

Created with Zbrush 4R6

DED 04.04.14 "Animals Who Pretend Otherwise"

Painted in Photoshop CS6

DED 02.24.14 Call To Arms

Sketchbook drawing + Photoshop CS6

Cat In The Hat

Cat In The Hat, a photo by greyother on Flickr.

Another tribute to Gris Grimly (and Dr. Suess) done with Zbrush and Photoshop.

Monster With A Heart

Here is a Valentine's Day Card project I completed for LA Film School.  Apologies to Gris Grimly and Donnie Darko for the design.  Done with Zbrush and Photoshop.

Animating Eyes and Blinks

The following are notes taken at CG Con in L.A.

Much of this information was inspired by "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch

Eye Animation:

Eye animation is 90% (!?!?) of acting.

4 Types of eye movement:

1. Convergence (focus can indicate subtle cross eyed effect)
2. Saccades (eye darting = 2-3 frames)
3. Fixations (moments of focus)
4. Smooth pursuit / tracking of object

All of these things should indicate character intent.
NO movement indicates shock / intensity / character is lost in thought

Holding out thumb at arm's length will represent size of "focal window".

Pupil dilation occurs because of change in local lighting.
Enlarged pupils indicate arousal / influence of drugs / attraction

Blinks:

Eyes close faster than they open.
Blinks create emotion.
Blinks show change in thought process.
Always cut on a blink in terms of editing.
"We blink to cut the film that is out daily life" / Blink = natural edit
Rapid blinking may indicate switching emotions / discomfort or relief


We blink ever 2 seconds or so.
One eye's blink should be offset slightly from the other.
One eye usually blinks before the other.  Offset is 1-2 frames.

NO blinks = intense / angry / scared
Babies don't blink very much
Elderly blinks much slower

I hope this is useful to you animators out there!!

This video was recommended to me and I have to say it is VERY useful for this stuff:

Anim School Advice On Eye Animation

Zbrush Fish

Zbrush Fish