The Art n' Stuff

These are the characters of my imaginary cartoon show. I rather like how they're refining over time. Still thesis'ing.

Also, I got a freelance job animating! I'm so grateful! Thank you for all your support, and wish me luck!

Ashley

After a bit of a dark period, things are looking up.

I had the amazing privilege of speaking with Todd Redner the other day, an animator at Adult Swim, and he blew me away - he was so gracious and humble, sharing little behind-the-scenes snippets, joking with the podcast crew and I, and answering all our [as] questions while putting up with Trish and my endless fangirlisms. I think I must've said 'cool, cool' at least 20 times - I was so overwhelmed and honored! He even commented on my 'Hired' tribute, which pretty much made my month.

Summer approaches, and I'm slaving to get myself into an internship ASAP. I'm pretty much willing to go anywhere in the continental US - the idea of animating anywhere is amazing to me. I'm applying to Radical Axis (thanks for reminding me, Todd!) and World Leaders and Augenblick.. crossing my fingers on those.

Anywho, here's my demo reel for this summer. Enjoy!



Also visit my DevArt site - I have several cartoons up along with other illustrations; most of my work there centers around a theoretical cartoon show (cough [as] show cough cough) I've built up in my head over the years and which I'm animating a 'pilot' for for my senior thesis, which I've already started. Also I seem to be addicted to making comics - flexing my story-writing muscle as it were.

http://AshleyLange.deviantart.com

Thanks everyone who's been cheering me up through these sadistic classes!

Wish me luck!

So last year, Thom Foolery asked me for an art trade - with a catch. I had to give him an original painting, of something of my own creation. I whipped up a painting in record time of several random characters that I sketched in my notebooks that week. Well they grew on me, and over the past year I've developed them up to the point where I can make shorts for a *drumroll* internship. I'm hoping to get one in NYC this summer - and I really want one from an animation house.

Anywho in the magical fantasy world where I had my own [as] show, this would be the cast.



In 12 oz mouse tradition, their inner personalities are reflected completely in their outward appearances, without limit of species, color size or plausibility.

Also it has a linear sequential plot, which will probably never come to fruition. Well I'm losing my hair staying up late working on this stuff. I hope I get something to show for it.

I still haven't got Thom's painting - no I haven't forgotten - but if these guys can get me the Williams Street internship it's all good. I want to ask Ted or Thom myself what they'd look for in an internship applicant but I hate bugging them.. they probably get bogged down with me's all over the place asking for advice or just being fan'd to death or who knows what.

I'll put the shorts on Youtube soon.

It's good to dream, huh.

Riggomorto from Stiff. I love this dog. Just a doodle, no real effort; an excuse to color.

Yuck.

Aren't obsessions supposed to die out? This 12 oz thing has been with me for two years - the show's over, DVD's done, but I can't stop! It's a disease!

Did I mention I hate sleep? It's so boring. Last night I laid down looked up at the ceiling and thought, "this is a waste of time." and got up and started on this for class. It's due next Tuesday, so watch for it then.

I'm easily amused. I should be animating, updating the you-know-what, but instead, I'm making poop joke comics.. though Nice Teeth has its share of poop jokes too.



Once you stop guffawing, check out my Sunshine City.. way too happy. The teach told us to put in lots of short, jarring camera moves - but I overinterpreted that and put in way too many. Oh well. This thing took forever to render. Of course I thought of modeling Mouse city, but I think I'm going to incorperate a scene of Nice Teeth into this.. someday. Yell at me and I'll do it.

So awhile ago, I saw Shaun Healey's online gallery which blew me away, especially some decorative reference sheets for characters from his comics. So, of course I had to copy him; most of the details here never show up in Nice Teeth.. but it's never to late to add on.






These are also parts of entries for some comic strip contests - I'd post the comics themselves, but.. well, maybe later.

For this, I pulled two all-nighters in a row. In. A. Row. My head felt like a rock. I stood up and fell over and didn't realize it. This is dedication, folks. Then, after done, it took about 5 hours to find the right format to get the audio to work. GAH!

..Now that that's over, enjoy.

These guys rule. If I ever finish the cartoon, (due end of the year, but do I work on it ever? Not enough) I'm submitting an internship application to World Leaders - I could walk the same floors as my idols - WOAH - but that's far in the future. For now, fanarts ahoy.

Here's my assignment for week5; I promised my teacher something to do with violent squirrels, but then this was more fun.. does Skillet count as a violent squirrel? Probably.

Dang I love AfterEffects. Here's last week's assignment; I'm working my way up towards demo-reel material. This is not demo-real material. But, I learned.

I either have way too much time on my hands, or not enough. I've never worked so much on a for-fun type deal. But hopefully, 'twill be worth it. Looking to finish it at least by next Wednesday; we'll see. Here's a taste:

I'm fairly new to AfterEffects. Can you tell? This POS took 10+ hours of work! AGH!

Here he is, in his glory - inspired by pieces by Shaun Healey (http://endling.deviantart.com/) - an awesome guy who actually interacts with his fans and gives them opportunities to participate in his ideas. That's hot.



P.S.: If any P222 alum are watching this, you're probably going WTF!? Turns out this guy existed in my head long before P222, along with some of the other invented characters. Raines just fit the role so well. Here he is in his natural state.

I also heard very disturbing news which I intend to discuss with Thom at once, when I stop wailing and banging my head on things. I wonder he's disappointed too..

No more summers of houseboat cleaning and McDonald's cleaning or any type of cleaning - at least I hope. I'm going for the big internship next summer, which off course means I need to start up the 'reel now. Thanks to my lovely friends and mother, I've recorded the voice track for my very own cartoon! Woo! Production's slow since I hated my character designs again and again, so here's the latest version of the top four; going for the new age Foster HFIF's feel, smooth, fluid shapes and solid, bricky colors, though I'm hoping the backgrounds will have a more painterly feel. I must avoid Squigglevision, no matter how much I like Home Movies. And no 12 oz Final Cut Pro look.. no Don Herdzfelt even. It would be too awesome, but.. I'm not famous enough to get away with it.

I really like this look. I think I'll keep it. Now, the weirdest part is animating to familiar voices - my friends' and mine. I voice the two male characters (Stan and Nubs) and was supposed to voice a female but it didn't turn out really. There's irony in that somewhere. My friend Lizzy does Candy and my mom, weirdly enough, does Tina. Looks like a mom, doesn't she?

Back in NYC again; now that I can't lay around and do nothing I should start up the arts again. Firstly, a tribute to Cheese - and Bloo because I wanted to draw him shiny - from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. The episodes without Cheese are.. kinda slow, but as soon as Cheese shows up - magic.

"Now we're brother-ladies!"

Actually I don't know if they can.