Return of the Thesis Updates! (Stardate 04302013)

Hello Thesiskateers! (I'm listening to Thrilling Adventure Hour while I write this, so I'd like to think of you all as the Adventurekateers to my Captain Laserbeam. Don't know what I'm talking about? What's wrong with you?)

So after 2 weeks of radio silence, I return to deliver good news:

This project tentitively titled "Creature Fears" has been green lit!!!

(I actually really want to change the title because I was asked to come up with one last minute and I don't really like it. Suggestions are welcome.)

I presented it to the Thesis Committee on Friday night and they enjoyed the story and characters and are on board for my proposed plan of execution.

A family portrait I put together for a take away card for my presentation. Someday it will be in color....

I have received a few questions regarding what a thesis for an art degree means, so I'll run down what the proposed (and I guess now approved!) project is:

In order to prove my "mastery" of character design and modeling (considering this is a Master's degree. after all), I will deliver the following:

- All three characters made into maquettes (my summer project! fun!)
- All three characters modeled in 3D: one bipedal human, one quadruped creature, one bipedal creature
- All three characters textured, lit, rigged (gulp), and animated (not by me, hopefully) in a simple walk cycle or other proof of movement
- A simple environment modeled in 3D
- An art book comprising of process and concept art with DVD reel

It's going to be quite the feat, considering the characters I have designed means I need to model hair, cloth, fur, hard surface, and 3 different types of skin.... most of those I don't know how to do yet. Good thing we have a guy on faculty who was on the team at Pixar that did Merrida's hair (I KNOW!).

So here are the concepts I have done so far:

Sarah: 13 years old, awkward and shy, but very caring and loyal

Fashion based on late 90's/early 00's. including flair capris and butterfly clips

She's not the cool girl, so I wanted to make sure she looks uncomfortable in her own skin, but not super self aware yet. The oversized sweatshirt and unkempt hair is at least what I default to, so.....

The newly named Spaz: she's unpredictable and bipolar. She represents the fear of loosing sanity, but on the flip side represents the appreciation of rationality. She is the most fun thing to draw in the world. (And those socks - I mean come on!)

Stubs' design was the one thing the Thesis Committee thought I needed to work on, so I'll be figuring out how to make his silhouette more interesting. But regardless: he's sardonic and lazy, representing the fear of sickness, as well as the appreciation of one's health.

This week is my break between Spring and Summer semesters, so I'm not working on anything school related, mainly for my sanity to build back up. Next week starts 3 classes I'm pretty stoked about: Hard and Organic surface modeling (the class I dropped this semester, and a very important and useful CG class for these characters, especially Spaz), Digital Sculpting in ZBrush (also helpful for lil'Stubs), and Animal Anatomy (which will be perfect to make sure the anatomy on these guys are spot on). Taking three classes during the summer will definitely keep me busy, but it also means I'll have one fewer class for each semester next year, and that's a good thing.

This time next year I'll be (hopefully) employed, or looking for employment. 12 more months until I start truly living the dream (and not paying to live the dream)... so here we goooo!!!!