The ORB Character was created by me for my students to use within my animation class.

CONCEPT: You are a new recruit at a military test facility.  You have been charged to complete several training exercises that will prepare you for successfully completing a test firing of the ORB.

TRAINING MODULES

1: Ball Bounce — Timing, Graph Editor Familiarization.
2: Orb Bounce & Roll — Natural Timing, Settle In
3: Orb Jump — Anticipation / Arcs / Inertia (Forces)
4: Orb Fly — Overlap, Over Shoot, Settle in, Banking, Ease In Ease Out

MAIN PROJECT: Orb Test Firing

1. Beginning — Character must start on the ground.
2. Middle — Character must move through air.
3. Ending — Character must return to the ground.

Additional Requirements: Must work with 3 separate cameras w/ 2 camera cuts

GOALS:

1. Chance to explore the principles of animation.
2. To gain a greater understanding of working in motion passes.
3. Working within a proper curve order.
4. Working within a hierarchy of controls.
5. Gain a better understanding of the Graph Editor and Dope Sheet.
6. Explore camera composition and flow of action.
7. Gain a understanding of directing the viewers eye.

MODEL:

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ORB RIG & CTRL DEMO:

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TEXTURE Example:

ANIMATION PASSES:

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Pass 2 — Linear

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pass 4 — A this point I open student projects to edit and critique.  Finished animation to come!

Pass 5 — Clean-up — Demo Podcast to come!

VFX:

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Future development:
1. Smoke
2. Heat Trail
3. Sparks

3D Models (Works in Progress)

This post contains several models that are works in progress.  Once my new class is finalized I will be continuing to develop these characters further.  Mudbox or Z-Brush will be used to add fine details. Texturing and shader development will then begin.  After rigging them I will proceed to animate and then it’s on to lighting.  Check back for developments!

I acquired my first guitar from a college roommate. Thank you Todd Fortner for selling me that guitar.  Since those days I have owned several guitars both acoustic and electric.  I love those instruments and the music that I have made with them.  However, making my own guitar has been a long time dream of mine.  I have a long way to go the creating any instrument of quality but I surely had to start somewhere.

So, I created this Shiny Red Guitar in Autodesk’s 3D Animation software (Maya 2008).  I spent 2 days modeling and 2 days shading and lighting it.  This 3D prototype will serve as the blue print for the creation of the real guitar that I fully expect will take much longer to craft.  Until then I will enjoy a healthy daydream of  the day that wonderful music will be created through it.

Music is obviously an art that moves us from within.  It connects people in ways that can be quite profound.   When I pick that first note I am sure that the feelings created will reflect the hard work and passion that I have for both visual art and music.

Craig Bowman