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I am working on making some backgrounds.  I am just having fun and exploring different styles.  Here is the first one I have done:

My CalArts Graduation!

So I did it!  On Friday I graduated from CalArts Character Animation program!  

For me personally, it wasn't just about 4 years of hard work.  I remember when I had my baby boy and I knew I had to make changes.  I wrote down my options, and the one I chose was CalArts to help gain responsibility and reclaim my artistic voice.  Little did I know exactly how much I would grow and gain here.  The friends and inspiration alone I am incredibly thankful for.  To me it was more than working hard to get a degree, it was about rewriting the future for both Raiden and I.  It was a hard change, and I am so proud.  Thank you CalArts and all my friends there!

My theme song this year has been Alicia Keys's "Superwoman" and that was the theme of my graduation.  But really Raiden and I did it together -- and so he walked up on stage with me and we had a bit of a surprise on stage which no one knew was coming!  Check it out in the video and photos!

Before we walked:

The Reveal of our Super Identities:

Our good, dear friend, and role model for Raiden, and fellow graduate form the Art School at CalArts,Gavin McCoy:

Some of my best friends and I at the Graduates' Dinner:

The Owner of Scoops is an alumni of CalArts too!  He served the ice cream at our grad dinner!

A photo taken of all the CalArts Graduates getting their Graduating Class photo taken:

My last Character Animation End of the Year Meeting group photo:

Hiawatha

My final film at CalArts is Hiawatha, based off of Henry Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha.  The story in my film is of a boy who learns to trust in Universal Love.  I worked closely with the amazing musicians, Drew Corey and Elliot Glasser, to narrate the poem through song and in a experiential way.  Their hard work, great skill, and beautiful spirits made this film come alive.  Click on the link below to view Hiawatha:

Production Production Production

Hiawatha Almost Here!

Hiawatha ANimation - the Production Production Production Series

Can you guess what this one is?

Hiawatha Production Madness

Hiawatha Production Production Production...

Hiawatha and His Grandma

Some stuff from the film I am making right now, Hiawatha:

Aaloka

Sculptures

I  finally got around to painting these sculptures I made last year from my film, the Ride:

 

Cherries Balloons

Honey Maid: This is Wholesome :30 TV Commercial | Official

Finally yeah!!! - an ad by a major brand name that features a family with 2 dads.  Honey Maid made the ad beautifully, showing different wholesome families for their "This is Wholesome" campaign.  Check out the video below:

Sketchbook Pages

Character Sketches

Here are sone characters I am developing:

Color Script

Here is my color script for Hiawatha:

Hiawatha Character Development

Here are some loose sketches I did as I am developing my Hiawatha character some more:

At the Door on Summers' Evenings

Here is another shot from my upcoming film, Hiawatha:

By the Shores of Gitche Gumee

Here is a shot I am working on from my upcoming film, Hiawatha:

Nokomis

Here are some sketches I did today of the grandmother, Nokomis, that will be in my film this year:

Raiden's 1st Art Show

My son, Raiden, had his 1st art opening last night with his school.  He had 3 pieces in the show and he was very excited.  I was excited because for the longest time he didn't want to draw because he was self conscious about his work.  Lately he has been drawing so much and it makes me happy to see him feel comfortable with himself and with finding artistic ways of expressing himself.  Before we went to the show we went on a hike up a mountain.  Our friend and fellow artist, Ana Ramirez, came to the opening which it made it really special for Raiden.  Here are some pictures of this event:

Baby Moose

Cats

Here are some cat drawings I did today for fun:

Hiawatha

Some concept sketches for my film this year:

Happy New Year

Nokomis Maidens III

Nokomis's Maidens

Here are some more sketches from my designs of Nokomis's Maidens: