Grayscale Markers

I got some grayscale markers from my brother-in-law for Christmas....



....and they are FUN. (Thanks, Dave!)

Rupert is ALIVE!!!!

Here is my final for Barry Zundel's Character Creation class. This is the culmination of dozens of hours of work all semester-- designing, modeling, texturing, rigging, and, finally, animating. Hope you enjoy it!

Rupert Discovers His Tail... from Aaron Ludwig on Vimeo.

More Animation

Here is the final for the aforementioned class taught by Cynthia. It may not show, but I've learned a TON!!!
(Sorry-- it's a bit small, still rough, has weird aspect ratio issues and is a bit light! But other than that....)

Storyboarding Final

Click for a larger image.

Proof

I do animate sometimes.

This was our first assignment this semester for Cynthia (Overman) Hogan's class. There are a few things I'd like to finish, but, alas, I'll never have time.

Rats!

Some quick sketches of different rats for a storyboarding project.

Mag

Character concept for storyboarding final.

Clueless Discovery Won 2nd Place!

I've already posted this video before, but just wanted to announce that it won second place at the BYU MindMashup SPARKY Video contest (what a mouthful).

I've also submitted it for the international contest, which is being held sometime early next year. Hopefully it keeps on almost-winning!

Thanks again to everyone who helped (or just watched it and laughed).

Clueless Discovery from Aaron Ludwig on Vimeo.

F-F-F-Figure!

I have figure drawing again this semester with Chad Barksdale. Wanna know a secret? I'm actually enjoying it!

Rupert has Texture

More progress on Rupert. I've learned so much about UV mapping and texturing, it's not even funny (really, it's not). I'm not sure everything looks perfect, but due dates force you to abandon stuff sometimes.

Multipanel Assignment

Luau

(click for a larger image)

Beauty and Beast

A rough comic for the Y Not Art Blog's Disney/Marvel Mash-up topic.

(click the thumbnail for a legible image)

While You Work

A little animation test in Flash I whipped up today at work. Hope-a you likey.



Can you tell I'm a fan of this guy?

More Stuff (told ya)

So I am in the most awesome class imaginable-- it's a Maya class taught by Barry Zundel where we work on one character the whole semester-- modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, the works. I feel like I'm in a bit over my head (because everyone else in the class is a junior or senior), but I'm learning an incredible amount. That's a good thing, right?

Here is the layout for my character: Rupert, a cuddly stegosaurus.



I just finished the model (and I hope I did okay-- I'm not really sure how everything should be done at this stage so that everything that follows will work well).







But I'll definitely keep y'all posted on how Rupert comes to life over the course of the semester!

Welcome to the Program

Yeah, I haven't posted in forever because I've been more busy than I thought possible. The Animation Program is a blast! I've got some awesome classes from some incredible teachers. I'll post more in the next few days, but here is my character design for Kelly's Intro to Storyboarding class.



His name is Sheldon. He's a reindeer that can't fly.... and he likes to make toys (thus making him an outcast of sorts among reindeer).

Summer is Almost Over....

Clueless Discovery

Here is a video I spent all summer working on. It's for a contest on campus. (Sorry it's a little small here...)

Clueless Discovery by Aaron Ludwig is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

Thanks to Mary, Mark, and Matthew (and everyone else whose name starts with "M") for all your help.

TopBot

Tired of holding your monocle with your off-hand (or your exhausted facial muscles)? Ever wish you could have a cup of tea on demand? Want to sport the latest in technology while still flaunting the fashions of yesteryear? This is the hat for you!
Introducing the TopBot-- the most stylish top hat you've ever seen! Featuring a rotatable array of monocles (small, large, and night vision), state-of-the-art steam powered tea pot and cup (complete with doily), full mustache groomery kit (with brush, clippers, and curling iron), and birdcage for the finest of your feathered friends*. You can even pledge your allegiance to her majesty all the time by proudly waving the Union Jack from the top of your top hat (not ideal billowing weather? No problem! Just activate the attached fan!).

What are you dilly-dallying for? Purchase the TopBot today! It's the top top hat around!
*bird not included

Hawaiian Painting #1

This piece was a blast to do. It's-a for the Y Not Art Blog (as everything is these days). I'm hoping to do some more of these!

My Father is a Triceratops....

My favorite artist right now is probably none other than the great Anthony Holden (that "probably" really took the umph out of that glowing intro...). While I don't claim to possess one iota of the talent that Anthony does (I don't even claim to know what an iota is...), I do love his style, and tried to emulate it with this piece.
(This also doubles as a piece for the Y Not Art Blog! Two stones with one bird!)

Environmentality

I haven't ever really done this layout/conceptualizing/environment stuff. But I toyed around and this is what I came up with. It was kinda fun, in a frustrating way (or was it kinda frustrating, in a fun way?).
Another piece for the Y Not Art Blog.

Me at 15

This is me 10 years ago. It was hairdos like this that made God decide to revoke my folicle privileges. Another piece for the Y Not Art Blog.

Baby Came!!!!!

Our baby girl arrived last night! She's soooo beautiful (where'd she get the hair?)! She and mom are doing great!

Disney's Low Point

Our topic for the Y Not Art Blog was "Disney's Low Point", and I have to say that all those direct-to-video sequels were not quite their finest hour. So I just whipped out a few from the collection and snapped a photo (click for a larger image).


My question for you is this: did you actually enjoy any of the Disney sequels? What's your favorite?

I remember when "Return of Jafar" first came out... and I was so excited, but once I watched it, I was scratching my 10-year-old head wondering "why wasn't that as good as the first one? It looked kind of.... cheap..." I then came to fully adore "Aladdin and the King of Thieves," mostly because Robin Williams resumed his role as Genie.... but I haven't seen it since I was wee....

Other than that.... can't say I've enjoyed too many of them...

Learning Flash

This is a test from my first run through of character animation in Adobe Flash. It's an incredibly intimidating program, but now that I'm learning it (a tiny tiny bit), it's been a blast.


I'm hoping to turn this into a minute-or-so-long "commercial". (there will be more than walking involved. Promise!)

UP!!!

We saw Pixar's latest, Up, today. It was amazing! I absolutely loved it, from start to finish. For me, it's right up there in my favorite films of all-time (along with Ratatouille and Toy Story). I highly recommend it!

Oh, one last thing. We saw it in 3D, which wasn't too bad. I think the whole 3D thing in general is still a wee bit gimmicky, but these guys did a good job not beating the audience over the head with it.

Oh, and the 3D glasses made everyone look like they dressed up like Carl Fredricksen for the movie.

Nicely done, Pete Docter and Pixar!

Friday Open Drawing

So I learned two things about myself today during the Open Drawing Session.... 1) I draw a million times better when I'm relaxed (duh!), and 2) I am a million times more relaxed during drawing sessions when I listen to music and don't worry about the people around me. So I tried applying these two epiphanies today, and I must say they worked! My drawings may not be the best in the world, but I actually came out of there happy with my work instead of frustrated!

Here's what I got (some didn't photograph so well-- sorry):

Baby Time!

Mary's gonna be induced in about two weeks.... and life will be turned upside down (and backwards). We're excited!



Another piece for the Y Not Art Blog.

Only the Good Sketchbooks Die Young

Time for a sketch dump.

This is my wife and the cute little guy she babysits.


Quick anatomy study (on my own. Really!).



The legendary Uncle Bruce (and some cousins).


Wiffle Ball home-run derby


The fam.



And lastly, some character designs for an upcoming project o' mine.