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As A Gnomon Student, and a Tour of Blizzard

February 14, 2010

I just completed week 5 of my first semester as a student at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects and it has blown my mind. Everything from classes and learning new things every day to having to contain my inner screaming fan-girl as we run around to studios and meet famous people in the industry. My classmates like to tease me a little bit about my inner fan-girl and my awkwardness, but I think I’ve done a good job about beating back my shyness and actually going up to people and talking to them.

I do a good job at hiding the fact that I want to run away and hide. I am not very good at being out-going, and it is something I am slowly working on. In our Overview of Visual FX and Gaming, our professor (I really shouldn’t call him that, he’s a little too cool for the title ‘professor’) wants us all to be outgoing, make contacts, talk to people–and our class is so quiet. I said I would talk just for te sake of talking now, but that I would probably end up saying some really stupid things. He said instant A. Very well then!

Blizzard. Did I mention we went to Blizzard on friday? I can’t tell you anything about it because I signed my soul away with an NDA agreement, but Fausto de Martini gave us the tour of the studio. It is very relaxed, very casual and just looks like a fun place to work. Blizzard is still on my list of top three studios that I do want to work for. If you look in my portfolio, I am sure that isn’t very obvious at all. I got to see all the Blizzard statues in person–the one of Kerrigan is amazing! I had seen Steve Wang’s myspace photos of the process, which in itself was impressive, but seeing it in person is incredible.

Oh? You don’t believe me that I went to Blizzard? Hmm.

The Blizzard Orc

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What? An update?

December 25, 2009

You got it. After MONTHS of feeling stagnant, I’ve finally got some work up! Lots of sketches and quick paintings, but, it’s new art and I am quite proud of my latest image. I think I banged that out is ~8 hours, which, is pretty quick for me. I suppose I shouldn’t admit that huh? Oh well, the way I figure it, I could only get better and faster as I get more comfortable with my technique abilities with Painter.

I am considering doing commissions on a small basis. I recently completed a piece of work for a friend (it was a gift, really) and she said that I should take a closer look at deviantart again and do commissions. I know, I know, deviantart-blegh. That’s how I feel about the site, but, it’s a good way to get some exposure at least. I haven’t done much with deviantart since I was in college, if that gives you any indication of how dead my account is.

Other BIG news. I will be attending the Gnomon School of Visual Effects for their one year entertainment design course! This is a HUGE change for me. Not only am I going back to school, but I will be moving across the country from Maine to LA! Phew. Guess I should start packing, huh? Hmm.

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And now for something completely different!

July 20, 2009

It’s no secret I am addicted to play MMOs. I asked Jonathan what he would like me to draw for him, as I wanted to draw him… something! He said, well, take our two characters, have your character pull my character’s tail. I mulled over the idea a little while, complete with really off-the-wall story in my head (yellow pokadot bikini), had a little giggle, then doodled in Painter. After about 10 bajillion different color comps, I couldn’t decide on one I liked, so, I decided to do something I almost never do–use the pen tool in illustrator. I needed more pratice with it.

I just realized I admitted to not having as much experience in Illustrator as I do Photoshop or Painter. Oops. I still love the program and I think I will do more work in Illustrator in the future. My brother suggested I do a whole series of similiarly styled illustrations, but of literary monsters. That idea tickles me too.

Oh, you wanted to see the image?

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Sarah’s TO-DO List

May 25, 2009
  1. Finishing uploading portfolio
    • Add graphic design
  2. Finish contact form/page
    • god damn that thing is a mess
  3. Scout/create out some icons
    • some pages need some shiny
    • really need a PDF icon, email icon
    • footer/ancillary needs cog icon. already have that somewhere. damn css.
  4. Think up something for that footer area already!
    • do i need to resort to adding in twitter? i really dont want to
    • links? nah.
    • i really did have an idea at one point.
  5. Re-write painter process
    • oh sure, the current one is nice and all, but, its only about the tools, not actually what to do.
    • maybe i should just leave it at that. let the rest of you suckers figure it out on your own
    • no, that would be mean
  6. Squash bugs
    • that one widget plugin is bugging the hell out of me. why wont it work on THIS page?
  7. Post footers
    • pretty up comments area
    • go into functions/extras in theme and see if i cant rid myself of a bunch of crap i dont want
  8. Eugh. Re-write the front page.
    • Seriously? Is that the best I can do?
  9. ?
  10. Profit.
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Development Blog. The First Post.

May 2, 2009

First, a few changes about the site.

The most obvious being a new design. I felt like playing around in illustrator and working out a new logo or header image. I love grunge, but, it felt sloppy to me. And I hate sloppy.

Secondly, I decided I didn’t like that anyone had to click on ‘enter here’ to get to the bulk of my site. What is that? So… 1999?

Thirdly, I also decided to split up my site into the main content area, when you first visit the site. Has basic information on it, it’s static, doesn’t change. In addition, I wanted to keep my updates available so anyone who visited the my site could see what I was working on, my thought process, and, whatever interests me–if they care. Unlikely? Probably.This has lead me to use this space as my ‘development blog.’ News, updates, new art, walkthroughs, gaming shenanigans, it’s all here.

Oh. I spelled shenanigans right the first time. Impressive.

This part of the site will have a sidebar. It will list categories, post dates, tags, whatever, to make it all that must easier.

As a side note, I’m horrified I’m considering registering to twitter. Like anyone cares what I had for breakfast.

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