Looking Back in High School

I am currently making an art history presentation that must include past works of my own so I decided to go down memory lane and into the drawings of high school (which to me, was not that long ago by the way) and I have realized how much I MISS sketchbook work. I am so caught up in the computer now a days that I have stopped using my hands to draw. As I was looking back at these drawings, I noticed how loose, how free, and how spontaneous I was and in turn, I've realized how much more afraid I am to draw presently! How ridiculous is that? Ridiculous enough to make me promise myself I will get out there and draw more!

In the meanwhile, here are some of the drawings. Please forgive the quality for I took these with a blackberry I no longer posses and the overhead bedroom lights as the lighting source.

At first I drew cartoons: (Freshmen year- Mid Sophomore)

 Not that there is anything wrong with cartoons but that was all I knew. I was afraid of exploring other grounds since I knew the first drawings would not come out as good as I though my cartoons were. But then I started to become serious. I wanted to go to Ringling for schooling so naturally I asked the question: What did Ringling want? Then I began to expand my horizons by drawing faces from observation. I have to give credit to many of my Stoney Creek peers for inspiring me and challenging me. These pictures I referenced are from Google images. I was not interacting with my real world yet. But I was indeed surprised as I saw potential in me (notice these were not my first attempts erhem...we can romanticize the reality on this blog can't we?)

 Then...a caricature of my honors pre-calculus teacher. Still to this day, I can't tell if he appreciated this. But I definitely knew the physics teacher wanted one but I never got around to drawing him.

 I began "people drawing"

The BMX thing are from pictures I took from an event at my church

Ringling's Precollege was an extreme blessing to me. This is when I let out my artist skills loose!
I was not afraid of making errors, I just wanted to get better! (This is a small sample, by the way. I couldn't find that many pictures of observational drawings of people)

After Precollege, I got back home transformed. Thirsty to draw more! I let other people's sketchbook ideas inspire me. I drew similar things to challenge myself into becoming a better artist by exploring what they had explored.

A day in a metro park near where I live. My parents and I went there for the primary purpose  of sketching. Then of course, we stick barbecue lunch as another reason to go to it.

Ringling wanted hands? I gave them hands

Ringling wanted movement in drawings? I gave them movement in drawings. (Maybe a little too literal?)

My own take on a Ringling's exemplary Portfolio Piece. This was very fun to draw.

But I was still drawing fun cartoons along the way. How can a tree deny its roots? That means death to the tree! (feeling slightly metaphorical today)

After Senior year rolled around, I was no longer pursuing liberal arts, though I still had an interest for them. But we were talking about my future here and I didn't want to compromise quality for the sake of solving numbers. Speaking of numbers...scholarships! Too much was at stake to not get any scholarships!

I enrolled in a college class done by our beloved art teacher. She trained our eyes superbly!

"Cameron" got a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. 

And so did Igor

I also enrolled in a class  downtown thanks to Cameron and Audrey!


 

We submitted our AP Portfolio Pieces in the beginning of Spring (These are some, not all) :

Remember: Art is a big part of my life, but it isn't all that it is. I should've drawn more since day one and I am still falling short of my drawing habit expectations. Don't think this art trip was all roses and rainbows but instead, a lot of procrastination (in high school I regretfully procrastinated big time) and stressful deadlines filled with many artistic regrets between the big plot-driving moments.

Now that this trip to memory lane is coming to an end, I just realized I've been writing this blog post than actually writing my Art History Report! 

But besides that....

As for my portfolio that got me to Ringling? I am currently without possession of it so whenever I get my hands on the portfolio, I will update this page.

In conclusion. I have come a long way to be where I am now at Ringling College and the path was way too long to stagnate in drawing! I feel rejuvenated physically and in spirit by God and incredibly inspired by this brief retrospective I've done of myself. I would highly encourage all art students in doing their own retrospective for inspiration and fresh ideas!

That's enough talking for now...Onward!!

Biped Character Animation Exercises

Second semester is here and here is some animation!
bye!




Finger Point/ Biped Walk Exercises from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

All Artie Exercises are done.


turntakevimeo from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

Traditional Animation Dance *With Music

Individualdance from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

Concept

Final animatic


lalaniz situation final from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

Final CA I Simple Polygon

Modeled a simple character with basic legs to learn the basics of a walk, jump, and turn. Remember, it's all about the weight!

I avoid writing on my blog to keep it less cheesy as possible (even though it's probably cheesy already) but I figured I should share things I've learned to my blog viewers for educational growth and/or personal if applicable so here it goes: This jump was a funny one. I  learned along the way in animation that tweening and counter animating was a big no-no (and me being me equals going for the rules no matter what). So the first draft of this jump consisted of the feet offsetting when pushing up from the ground (a way to break tweening) by having one foot lead the other as the body lifted up and, if I remember correctly, had no lid animation as of yet because counter animation was wrong so there must have been something wrong with the way the lid was parented and I was going to address the problem to the professor. Once I showed the play-blast in class, however, guess what my notes were? Tween the feet on the jump and yes, counter animate the lid because of the rig set up. I was blown away how these golden rules were so easily thrown out the window! So with this simple jump excersice, I have realized that animation rules are but guide lines and though the 12 rules should be kept close to the heart, they should not dictate what animation can or cannot do. So in conclusion, I can't wait to go back to Ringling next semester to bring characters to life and to surprise myself with the intentional and necessary "outlaws" I will have to commit for the sake of better and better animation! God help me with my endeavors. May it not become my pride but bring glory to your Holy name, Amen.


lalaniz jump from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.
lalaniz walk from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.
lalaniz turn2 from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

Lipsync

Lipsyncfinal from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.

Raven Animatic

lalaniz ravenresubmit from Luiza Alaniz on Vimeo.