Perpetual Downtrodden Portrayal

Where do I start. I seem to be like a lost alien, wandering a strange world. A world where all of the stories told, are of the downtrodden and the collective pain that everyone experiences. Far too often when I see a title of a book or a poster for a movie, I see the reiteration of the hardships that African Americans have experienced for over 400 years.

I express this bewilderment because of the upcoming release of "For Colored Girls". This film, which is based on the play " For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf" by Ntozake Shange deals with love, abandonment, rape, and abortion. I personally wonder where the empowerment lies within a piece such as this. What about the sense of simple uplift and pride? I'm sure for some whom have read or even seen the play, there is something that may have responded to or connected with you. But for me, I'm tired of constantly seeing us go through pain and punishment. Why can't we be seen as just OK, without any torment or anguish?


I struggle everyday to understand how we, as African Americans truly view ourselves. To constantly see books, plays, films, and music created by us, that perpetually focuses on poverty, abuse, violence, and low esteem. It seems like we don't want to support, as a collective, works that show us as powerful, genius, insightful, creative, loving, and most of all, happy. We will support "American Gangsta" but not "The Great Debaters". Or buy a book like "Thug Lovin" by Wahida Clark, but not "My Soul To Keep" by Tananarive Due.


What's wrong with being engrossed by our history, mythology, or just stories of contentment. Sadly, as African Americans, we connect all too easily to the collective suffering that we have all experienced within our lives. The racism and the sense of being held back weigh heavily upon us as soon as we get out of bed. But we need to not be afraid to write about the sunshine. Our cryptonite should not be stories that show good, strong relationships between African American men and women. Having a good time among friends, also should not be a prerequisite for a fight scene.


I want to feel good about being African American. I want to feel good about being an African American man. I want African American women to feel good being who they are. So why don't we create and support more stories that make us feel good about being who we are?

Crazy House Dancin Blue Dude

Pratt Institute CCPS Student Demo Reel 2007-2008

UAT Student demo reel Spring 2010

Wonderful work by Michel Gagne

This is a very creative piece of artistic animation, that I hope more people will be inspired by.

Bone Deformer and Blend Shapes

Examples of connecting polygon character parts

Connecting NURBS character components

Deformers, Influence Objects, and Character Sets

Polygon Head

NURBS Head

Polygon Foot

NURBS Foot

Hand Controller

Final Rig

Polygon Pelvis and Legs

NURBS Pelvis and Legs

Rig Controllers

If you are in Philadelphia this weekend

Please take time to check out Our film, Monkkey Episode 2 at the Urban Suburban Film Festival.

Synopsis: http://www.urbansuburbanfilmfestival.com/films04.htm
Screening Schedule: http://www.urbansuburbanfilmfestival.com/screening_times.htm

Reverse Foot and Controller

Smooth Binding and IK

Skeleton Building Tutorial

Polygon torso tutorial

NURBS Torso Tutorial

Polygon Hand Tutorial

NURBS Hand Tutorial (Curve and Primitive)

Flexor Tutorial

EXpedition Status Report 9: Humor Clause

Over the last week I came across Illtown215 A series of ill-gotten, ill-affected and ill-mannered comedic sketches that's from the mind of one of the Whaaaaaassup Guys Philly native Fred Thomas Jr. These sketches are satirical so they aren't just the senseless random type of comedic jib jab that pollutes the internet. The other piece that I appreciate is that Mr. Thomas is writing, producing, and directing these shorts himself!

Check it out!

Keep Sharp
A.M. Frasier

Illtown215: Using Your Resources - watch more funny videos

Polygon Arm Modeling

NURBS Arm Modeling

Poster for MonKKey

There Will Be Blood.

EXpedition Status Report 8: Some new ARTifacts

We haven't used it in awhile around here but the term ARTifacts (TM) is what we here on the EXpeditions (TM) call new artistic finds. Creation from artist big and small, old and new.



MonKKey is steadily growing in popularity. I'll be submitting episode two to film festivals this week. By the end of this week you'll see some cool art work from MonKKey up as well. And always remember "the MONKKEY tale !!!"


Meanwhile...
Checkout the latest additions to the Worm Hole. Links to some very talented artists...

MiddletonEmpire.blogspot.com - Brother Middleton will be helping me with the production of MonKKey chapter 3. He's a fellow comrade from the Animation Academy.

Tyree-dillihay.blogspot.com - Another very inspiring artist. Brother Dillihay is always busy doing something in the field check out his work. In fact the link to this video I got from his blog. It was so interesting I decided to put it on mine;)




Keep Sharp

Brocasso

About two weeks ago, April 14th to be exact, I came across something that made me forget at the time why I originally walked into the comic store. The comic shop was Earth 2 and I originally entered the premises to peruse the many artist sketch books they keep on hand. However before I could turn the corner around the rack of manga and down the aisle there he was Todd Harris aka Brocasso sitting behind a table with a small stack of a comics called "Prodigal" , a laptop, and a Wacom tablet. There was another gentlemen there as well talking to Mr. Harris about the pros of using a Wacom. There discussion gave me time to look up close at the small stack of comics that I had been eyeing since I walked into the store. YES!!! The artwork was that good that I forgot why I came into the store. Someone may call it an ADD moment but I'm not ADD in fact my ability to stay focused is impeccable which is why I focused in on this comic.

There will be no spoilers here so when you go to pickup the book you'll have full satisfaction but here's the gist of it....

"Prodigal Egg of First Light" follows the exploits of a female genius Malaysian ex-criminal named Jacinto and a brawler named Lennox who could whoop Batman and Captain America's butt as a warm up on the way to the main fight (that would be both The Bats and Cap at the same time). If you've lost something or someone there is nobody in the world better at getting it back than J & L. They have one simple motto you want it, we get it, no question. A group of monks hire the duo to return the Egg of First Light and of course it's not that simple. Let just say by the end of book one you'll see why Lennox hates ninjas and you'll begin to see why he hates magic. The action is good and steady with witty dialogue to match. This is book one of two. It's a refreshing piece of work from an artist whose work is inspiring.

Todd will be at Earth 2 this Saturday signing books one and two for Free Comic Day. Todd Harris's website is http://www.brocasso.com/ go CHECK him OUT!!!

Slide_Edge_Bevel_ETC

Ramp Tutorial

Layered Texture

Extrude/Edgeloop Tutorial

Character Interaction

Projected Fabric Textures

Poly Modeling/Append and Combine 3

Poly Modeling/Append and Combine 2

Poly Modeling/Append and Combine 1

Lip Sync 3

Lip Sync 2

Lip Sync 1

Normal Mapped Fabric Texture 2

Normal Mapped Fabric Texture 1

Monkkey, Episode 2 is now ready

Indeed it has been a long time since the last chapter. However it isworth the wait. Many obstacles bring fourth well inspired material.Thanks to all of those who enjoyed the last chapter and checked inwith me from time to time to see when the next chapter was coming out.Thanks to those w......ho simply enjoyed the last episode!This chapter is in stereo. So plug in your headphones or speakers and subwoofers so you don't miss the little nuances. The Monk's tale continues. Enjoy

Please take time to view it at http://www.monkkey.com/

A.M. Frasier

Animating Emotion

Poly Apple Modeling Tutorial

Creating Glass textured materials

Grab Animation Tutorial