Siggraph, Recap!

Did that just happen?! Now thats its been a few weeks its starting to sink in. I actually met my animation idol Eric Goldberg, I actually spoke in front of 600+.

I remember walking those halls at the L.A. Convention Center back in the nineties when I attended Siggraph. A bag full of demo reels and resumes, hoping to get the call that i've been dreaming of. Lost in a sea of like minded people who had the same lofty goals as me.

It was so surreal being back. After working so hard for these last 14 years, I felt like I could take a moment and exhale. Just enjoy it and take it all in.

To be honest with you, I keep trying write something to describe those 2 days more - but im really at a loss for words. So rather, i'm just going to attach some pics below. Hopefully a few pics is worth a thousand words.

The Daily Post-it turns 1

One year ago today I did a doodle on a post-it note and sent it out for the world to see.

I created a website purely as a excuse to draw more. As early as I can remember I always had a pencil in my hand, even in preschool I always viewed myself as a artist.

But as the years go by I found myself drawing less and less. Although I have a highly creative job as a animator, I do it all solely on the computer. Pushing pencils turned into pushing pixels.

I needed to find a reason to draw everyday. Knowing I wouldn't have time to draw big, detail masterpieces everyday - I looked at a stack of post-its sitting on my desk and thought 'Why not?!' Still though, I know me! I start off with good intentions but life can get in the way. So I needed to be held accountable for my actions. Thats when the idea of a website popped into my head. If you announce to the world that you will be creating a doodle a day, - then you can't back down. People will be expecting that new drawing everyday.

How do I announce this promise to the public, by calling it --------- The Daily Post-it

Its been a great year with alot of great memories.

Heres just a few:

- My daughter and I walking the streets, putting up post-its all over San Fran advertising the website.

- Being asked to participate in a couple of Art Fundraisers for worthy causes. (someone actually bought a post-it note for $60 dollars!)

- Over 1000 followers on Twitter

- Handing out some post-its at Comic Con this year and actually having artists that I admire say 'Your the Post-it Guy?! I follow you!!'

- A fan who works for 3M, makers of Post-it, sent me a huge box of post-its

I'm looking forward to what the new year brings. I still have a couple of goals and you guessed it - I feel if I mention them here then you all will hold me accountable.

1) Publish a Daily Post-it book

2) Draw more news related items (i've gotten lazy lately and done mostly random doodles)

3) Less drawings of faces, be more creative! (This last one is for you Austin! Thanks for keeping me honest)

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate the support!

Lastly, thank you to my daughter Autumn Ruth for taking such a beautiful pic above. Click on her name to see some of her amazing photographs

San Diego Comic-Con

Went to SDCC this past Friday. There is a few rules to follow for a successful day of Nerdom.

1) Get in and get out - woke up at 5, landed at 8, beers at 12, dinner at 7 and flight out at 10

2) Go in w a plan - chart out who and what you want to see and stick to it

3) No panels! - now this is a hard one cause there is alot of good talks, but that means at least 2 hours in line before the presentation, 2 hours you can't afford to lose.

4) Stick to a amount - go to a ATM and take out some cash. When the money runs out - thats it. No going back to a ATM...... unless you have a credit card ;)

While at Comic-Con, left a trail of post-its behind me wherever I went. My cheap advertising for my other site, The Daily Post-it

Two nerds on the 6:45am flight down to San Diego. Make sure to go check out my bud Ev's site

Met up w Buzz and the gang while I was there

Fellow Pixar Animator Angus Maclane signing his lego creation, CubeDudes. Had to pull some serious strings to be able to get my hands on one of those boxes!

TS3 toys spotted

The Walking Dead. By far, the thing i'm looking forward to the most this year! More then any movie, book, or album coming out.

Come back in a few days and i'll be doing a post on my Siggraph visit.

Ellie from Up starring Jackson Rock

My 3 yr old son loves the film UP so much, that he can recite the whole beginning.

Luckily for me, I play the part of young Carl - which has no speaking lines

Siggraph, here I come!

I will be taking part in a panel called Animation Blockbuster Breakdown hosted by Animation Mentor at Siggraph 2010 this year. 4 animators will go over 2 of their shots, showing how each shot was animated from start to finish.

Its been almost 11 years since I've been back to Siggraph! Back in the nineties I would spend all nighters getting my demo reels together to be able to pass out to any and every animation company attending. Lots of VHS tapes, interviews, handshakes, and waiting for a phone call.

Its kinda surreal that I'm now going back but in a completely different way.

click above for details

I'm more nervous that i'll be meeting my all-time favorite animator, Eric Goldberg, then speaking in front of 500+. His Fantasia 2000 short, Rhapsody in Blue (above), blows me away. Phil from Hercules, the Genie!! Ok, my hands are starting to shake now.

Hope to see you all down there. And please, feel free to come up and say hi!

Mr-BLANK-Head

Just finished my interview over at SKETCHOHOLIC.

Was great to see my old friend Bobby again.

During the talk there was a fun drawing assignment, draw Mr-BLANK-Head.

Below are a few of the stand-outs that made me laugh. Enjoy!

Thanks Bobby and Kei for a great nite!

If you missed the talk, click HERE for the replay.

Interview at Sketchoholic.com

This Thursday nite, July 1st, i'm being interviewed at Bobby Chiu's Sketchoholic.com

The cool part is during the interview there is a contest. Since I animated Mr. Tortilla-head in Toy Story 3, thought it might be fun for people to draw their own version of Mr. BLANK head. Take out the 'Potato' and put in whatever you want - Mr. Tire Head, Mr. Donut Head, you get the idea.

The most clever drawing, wins a sketch of Mr. TortillaHead by yours truly. And if your saying right now 'im not a artist, I can't submit' No worries, the most clever idea wins!

-------------- click on the pic for more details ---------------

Hope to see you all Thursday nite!