Mr. Gilbert

Another guy with a tray.  I dunno...

Waiter vs. Spider

Trying to stay loose and strengthen my drawings.  It's a challenge to know when to stop fussing over the drawing, and let the storytelling shine through.  This is just one of a bunch I did before bed.  I felt like this one is somewhat successful.

A little witch

It's almost Halloween!

Squiggle - Biff

Chic

Just trying some things.

B is for Bear

Trying to think of a theme for a series of drawings.  The alphabet is always a good place to start right?

Can't sleep

When you watch freaky stuff right before bed.

Squiggle Pig

And another...

Squiggle warmup

I used to play the squiggle game all the time.  I need to do this more.  It is such a healthy exercise.  I want to force myself to post more on my blog, and a friend suggested I adopt some posting rituals.  Maybe Saturday Squiggle?  Would also love to do Fanart Friday.  Anywho...

I think this guy might be a vampire or something.

Sorceress

Super quick Superman sketch

I just got a new Cintiq!  I use one at work, but it's the older model.  I'm still getting used to this thing.  It's an incredible piece of hardware.  I thought I'd get some practice with Sketchbook Pro again, and ended up drawing good old Superman.  Line and color in SBP, with final touches in Photoshop.  I still haven't seen the new movie.  This was just out of my head.  That's all.

Trumpet and Cat

This is a painting I donated to Kitt Crusaders Inc., a non-profit animal rescue organization.  Their Cinco de Mayo (Cinco de Gato) Fundraiser is this Sunday.  

http://kittcrusaders.eventbrite.com/

Here's a bad scan and a bad photo...but you get the idea.

Pixel Corgi

pixel corgi from Michael Herrera on Vimeo.
Just playing in photoshop. This is totally why I bought CS6.

Headaches

Fire

Sprinkles

I'm planning on getting back to regular posts soon, as I'm in the middle of building a proper home studio. Life has been very busy lately but also very exciting. Stay tuned.

Sundown Drive

Had a great weekend at the CTN Expo.  Today wrapped up with a beautiful sunset.  Here's a quick sketch before bed.

New Chapter

News!

I'm excited to share that as of last month I am hereby a Story Trainee at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

This is most sincerely a dream come true.  I can still hardly believe it.

It's been just amazing so far.  The other trainees are incredibly talented and inspiring and every day is just as exciting as the last.  

So begins a BIG new chapter in my life.  

Scooby Doodles

Here's a couple of doodles from this month.  I've never tried drawing the Scooby gang before. 

Hansel and Gretel - Witch

This is old, but I picked it up again recently and added some finishing touches.

This is the witch from my Hansel and Gretel project I did for Lisa Keene's visual development class at Cal Arts.  She is disguised as a wealthy widow in an extravagant mansion made of gold, rather than a house of candy.  I set the story in the 1930's during the dustbowl.  Hansel and Gretel are poor farm kids that dream of the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle they've seen in films and advertising.  I imagine the witch descending the staircase to be captivating- a perfect embodiment of the glitz and glamour the children dream of.  I tried to make the entryway glisten with gold yet feel hot like the inside of an oven.  Foreshadowing.

The witch is represented by the color green, representing money and agriculture- two things the children don't have.  With all of the crops dying, there is very little green to be seen.

Zoo sketches

Under Pressure

dog

goatman

Star Girl

Spelling Bee

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of my favorite musicals.

I love the characters in this show.  Child characters rarely feel like real kid personalities.  I think this show does a great job at making believable characters with real kid problems and concerns.  The characters aren't perfect and pretty.  They are awkward, tight wound, extremely unsure, or overly confident.  They try to fit a role, but don't always look it, which makes them wonderfully contrasting and interesting people.  I tried playing with some of the kids:  Marcy Park, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, and William Barfee, 

Forbidden love

Doughnut thief

Someone stole some of our office doughnuts.

Dig. Fig.

Figure study in photoshop.

Peekipikapukapuoo - God of sea shells

Mr. Porter

Coin Collect

It's officially summer for me!  I spent the day digging through old files.  This is one of my early explorations composing in Garage Band, using Magic 8 Bit plugin.
Just something inspired by the games I grew up with.  I'll animate something to go with this some day.

Producers Show Intro

The Producers Show is an anual screening of select films from the Character Animation program.  Many industry professionals are invited and it's quite a big reception.  This years show was at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  

Traditionally, the senior class is entrusted with creating the intro for the show.  I've looked forward to helping out with this since I was a freshman.

These are some suggestions I did for the intro this year.  

A lot of the fourth and third year students contributed time and animation to get this done in just a few days.  Great job everybody!  Big thanks for Trevor Jones for doing all of the final compositing and making it all come together.  I got to design the characters and Trevor turned them into puppets in After Effects.  I also animated the story pitch shot!

Here's the final intro in all of its glory.