Sunday, November 13, 2011

Latest project, the stone throne

Ok, nature boy at heart, although this year's leaf gathering was less than desired with all the rain making for very heavy leaves.  Here is the original stone throne sketch



and the first gestural images of adding color. This is far from done and is more just to keep my mind in the game. Media Director leaves very little time for actual creativity except in planning strategy and designs of other work.


Ok, after playing with the stone more, I liked the stone but when put in context with the rest...not so much.


Going to play around a little more, but at this point, this concept will be a redo. Maybe I can salvage this as an exercise...dunno


Friday, November 11, 2011

Funny how the excitement quiets down...

I'm still very excited and wait in anticipation for the results of the ad campaign for the book. 3rd quarter we left off at just under 700 hits, and now although not as exciting - since we are only 1/2way through this next quarter, we've added an additional 1184 hits!  So, 1884 total.

Getting back into doing a bit of sketching using photoshop this week. I should have something to show by Sunday.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

The plan is working

Thank goodness!  So, I was pulled in to help bring some numbers this summer for the new job.  We pretty much hacked away the old plan and redesigned our social media and advertising campaigns.  It took some time to clean some things up, but we got it done and moved forward with the new structures in mid June.  The results started to come in about a month later with the YouTube and Facebook pages. So far, we've seen about a 400% increase in fanbase, an average of 20% increase on YouTube, and the website is gaining in more hits as well (about a 15% increase monthly).

Now, with a reworking of keyword phrases and such on the advertising campaign, in the last week or so we've jumped from 16 hits to 114 in a matter of three days.  It is amazing to me how MUCH tinkering you have to do with social media to get the right buzzwords and keyphrasing involved for the audience you want.

Knock on wood, as things seem to be speeding up and the increases continue for the third month now, let's see how we handle this.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Catching up again!

Goodness! Who knew ten little lines of coding would prove to be such a hurdle!  Very glad to conquered it though this morning. Now I can begin the animated ad campaigns for the book at work!  Exciting!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Finally! some results

Odd...went in and having never truly used After Effects to animate, was able to create a really fun piece. Unfortunately, the file size was too large so back to the drawing board. Working in Flash this past week in the spare time has really taught me more patience. Finally had some results last night in creating an animated ad. Certainly not my best, but at least I know there is room for improvement, AND that I CAN actually do it. Hopefully soon the link to the add can be posted for comments.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Feeling competent once more

I have to give a shout out to CartoonSmart and their very impressive tutorials. After combing books and videos for several months, I've learned some tidbits here and there; however there always seems to be a certain 'step' that is missing. My hat is off to the creators of CartoonSmart for producing very intuitive instructional videos on using Adobe Flash.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Getting back to Flash

Have to admit after using After Effects, I'm spoiled. But in attempting to finish up an animated ad, I just can't get the file size down to where it needs to be...so, back to Flash I guess. Time to switch gears from Opacity to Alpha, from smooth and easy to clunky and arggh. ha ha ha...That's ok though, it's good to get back into the swing of Flash.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Settling in

So, supervising is a different world indeed. Good and bad. Good for the people I work with, bad because there is no real time to be creative on your own. Interesting what you give up some times to get something else.

Looking to create an animated ad this week myself, which is a nice change from static advertising and mucho mas text writing and reports. It's been a pretty big challenge so far but things appear to be coming along. The old website is cleaned up, the new website is well underway (mostly in part to a phenomenal php programming intern!), the training for the social media person is also going better than expected. I've got a great team.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Tinkering around

Ok, so usually I create the layers for the animation and Dan does the animating. This weekend, with a little extra time to relax, I decided to give it a try.  I've not used AfterEffects for a long time and I see I've a long way to go. It's also obvious why someone else does the animating normally. ha ha ha.




So this is just a simple video of a fellow shaking a piggy bank. Nothing too fabulous, but it is a start. Also, having set up a YouTube channel apparently in 2006, it finally has a video uploaded (this one)! OH my. Better late than never I guess. Here is the channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ditchdigger3?feature=mhum

Friday, June 24, 2011

Video editing

One of the new duties has been that of video editing for Online videos. Because I've wanted to showcase more the speaker and keep a somewhat mature tone, I've been editing the last few weeks' videos with more subtle tricks: brief fade to blacks instead of cross dissolves, slow zoom ins, fading in banners for information, etc.

Here is a link to the latest video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FinancialStraightTal#p/u/6/Da_2RN2yLuQ

I would appreciate any constructive feedback so that I may improve.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Artist Cross Promotion

So, this week I am happy to put up here a cross promotional piece. The original piece: Duff MacTaggart, is copywrite of Mr. Herb Moore who contacted me recently to see if I would be interested in creating his character in my style. But of course! What fun! Here are the original and the other.

Duffy MacTaggart by Herb Moore, Walt Disney Studios and owner of AnimationSoup.net - Enjoy a quick visit to his site.

Duffy MacTaggart as visualized by R. A. Hapke. 6-18-2011.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Cross promoting artists

Recently with the Art Director gig in full swing, there has been a lot to do. With trying to pull everything in to be much more streamlined, there is little time to do actual art. So, it was a pleasure to see another animator/artist write to see about cross promoting our work. He has asked me to do one of his characters in my style and I have asked for him to animate in Flash one of my line art illustrations.  Should be fun! I will post progress as things develop.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Video Editing and Advertising

Well, it certainly has been a busy bit of time this past few weeks. Going from working full time at the nursery and part time at the new job, and now switching over to full time at the new job and part time at the nursery. Makes for a very tired Red. But, that being said, I'm happy with the progress made thus far.

Edited my first three videos from start to finish on my own yesterday, as the training session several weeks ago proved to be not as helpful as originally thought, and it felt good [the accomplishment yesterday that is, ha ha]. Feeling much more confident about my abilities in Adobe Premier now, and today it will be a jump into Adobe Soundbooth to create several soundbytes. Nothing like trial by fire to make one learn very quickly!

Perhaps the biggest challenge so far has been the advertising campaigns already in place using well, I'm not sure, but a program that feels 'off' somehow. Able to pull demographics and everything finally from it, but I am finding that within it, and within the program used for the present website, it is a bit difficult to find certain pages. As a result, the 100+ page manuals have now been printed out and there is much to read. Hoping to have a much greater handle on it by this week. That is, after the new ad campaigns have been designed, after the screen captures have been done, after working with the interns, after working on designing the website annnnd any other small tidbit projects - then I can read them. Whewwww boy!  busy busy busy.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Art Direction!

Well, with two weeks notice given at the landscape nursery, I shall soon embark on my position as a creative art director for Financial Straight Talk.  Yes, it will be quite a bit different than lead sales at the plant nursery - however I think it will be a good change. It will be a chance to do something creative once more - which is closer to one of my degrees. ha ha ha

It's been a little difficult leaving the nursery [which will be extended because after two weeks, I will be working a couple more weekends] - there have been numerous congratulations by customers and several tears as well to see me go. But things change no matter what, and change can be a good thing. I helped bring about many changes at the nursery, and the nursery helped me realize more of who I am and my value as a person. I wish nothing but happiness for the folks at Clarks, and wish they have the same wishes for me as I embark on this endeavor. They will always be in my heart. and now...WEEEEEE!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Calibration issues

So, although the Mountain Druid piece was finished - thank you Halcyon for mentioning the illustration was too dark to view. I am still attempting to work out some calibration issues on my PC. Here is a slightly lightened version.


If anyone else viewing this could give some input, it would be greatly appreciated!  Hopefully this corrected the problem.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sketch for latest piece

Stone throne. Decided to create character [hopefully] where there are no main characters, just a stone throne.


If a throne per se was made in nature, in the woods, how would it be adorned? Would the moss and lichen glisten? Would it be the bark of the trees that provided the intricate 'carving'. Nature as the craftsman, luck as the designer...this should prove to be fun!

Working with Habitat!

I am looking forward to working with the Habitat for Humanity and LaPorte Co. Master Gardeners Association this year. We have so much space at the landscape nursery - and because we arrange our perennials, shrubs and trees in the retail space like we would for landscaping, it just seemed like an easy tool for the groups to use for helping those with their first yards. I attended a Habitat for Humanity "First Yard" seminar this spring and was very impressed at how organized and helpful the group was/is. Earning a reputation as the nursery guy who says "No" has brought back many clients and propagated new ones, so my hope is to be able to assist the groups when they bring the new home owners in to understand why certain plants go in certain spots.

Should be a fun year!

Friday, April 22, 2011

A few older pieces...

Just to have a few more pieces up on the new blog, or anyone can visit some of the old artwork at creakinfrog.deviantart.com. These are also on the deviantArt site, but I promise to enter in some new work this weekend!


Quickly becoming a favorite of mine, Olaf the Magnificent!  Spawned from the character I created for the Gaming Geeks poster, it has been a tremendous joy and source of character pose inspiration drawing this fellow over and over. I suppose I need to move on soon, but he's just too much derned fun.

Ok, a REALLY quick sketch for a Master Gardener's seminar at which I presented. Part of a powerpoint presentation, this scene was a typical reaction to planning a landscape when faced with such an overwhelming task. Many of those attending were part of the Habitat for Humanity effort in the area as well. I was very honored to have given the speech. A lot of fun.


Just playing around with perspective. Everyone does buildings, town and such and all entering 'into' the perspective. Here I was playing around with expanding the perspective towards the viewer instead of away.  This later became a piece used for a test animation: "Thundery Afternoon" http://creakinfrog.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d31l125 - a collaboration piece with Dan Wolters of Gothenberg, Sweden.



Did not realize...

So, I created this some time ago this past winter, but did not realize the reaction it would get. Personally, I just saw it as a fun piece paying homage to a former pastime [playing AD&D]. It's fine but for two words...anyone want to guess which two words had people very unhappy with me?




Upcoming concepts

After having thoroughly enjoyed the mountain druid piece, I think the next few posts will be sketchwork and quick WIPs just for concept and playing around with the opacity. With perennials emerging, and the shrubs and trees breaking bud - now is an excellent opportunity for reference photos and quick practices!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Mountain Druid Finished

Yes!  This piece is done in numerous layers which apparently goes against the flow; however, much like some earlier work "On the road again" http://creakinfrog.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2k5of0 - which was later turned into "Thundery afternoon" http://creakinfrog.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d31l125 - the layers in this piece will have some play to them in a simple style animation and perhaps some flute tones and wind.  Looking forward to creating the update on that one.


Below is the druid satyr, crafted like the sheep, in a separate file. It seems easier to create the characters in their own files and them place them into the scene. In the past, this has allowed me and another artist to create a type of animation with subtle movements.  Not sure how others do it, but willing to learn.


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Road to Retirement

Some of the inside illustrations for the book FST's Road to Retirement 

From Chapter 1: Retirement - Concept: pretty self explanatory, the character feels that he is on a slowly sinking ship or only partially afloat. One of the concepts the author explains in the book how to avoid. 


From Chapter 3: Time Horizon - Concept: Again pretty self explanatory, the early you start saving or investing, the better off you may be down the road. The illustration also notes that although the pile may be smaller, it is never too late to start saving!

FST' "Road to Retirement"

Book cover and illustrations. Dee Mosier's Financial Straight Talk - Road to Retirement. Published August, 2010. A fun challenge to interpret ideas concerning investment and putting them into illustration form.


Great resource for those who have never invested and excellent primer for exploring investing possibilities. Review: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/non-fiction/dee-mosier/dee-mosiers-financial-straight-talk/

Available for order here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Straight-Talk-Road-Retirement/dp/1452056765/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303303473&sr=1-1

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Mountain Druid

Annnd done...ish!  Ok, I cheated by doing the satyr and sheep in their own layers, however I may want to do some simple playing around with puppet tools in After Effects. This seemed the best route, and they may be applicable elsewhere.

 

Now the druid was not feelin' it, so he moved down to a comfy rock below. Much more a part of the festivities!


This piece, "Mountain Druid" was influenced I'm guessing by two sources: one, the birth of a daughter by a friend, and two: the re-reading of "Leaf by Niggle" by J.R.R. Tolkien. The actual size is 11x14 portrait, done in Photoshop with a brief pencil sketch (linked in previous post). In the valley, seemingly hidden away in the mist is the small village. Candles adorn the windows, and the dwellers listen calmly to the mountain top - where the mountain druid and flocks of sheep play and dance in the moonlight.

Adding sheep

After a week of computer problems, I'm finally getting to putting in the sheep! The original sketch is here on deviantArt - http://creakinfrog.deviantart.com/gallery/24591764#/d3dakka


Almost done. Looks a little dark, however my work tends to photo print really well. I've gotten used to the tones and such in here, so please let me know if the colors seem off. Greatly appreciated!.

Latest Work - Mountain Druid

"Whistling at night, unsure of the sound - a small village awakes in the valley to hear the bleating of sheep. They should not fear, for the sheep are just playing in the moonlight with the druid of the mountain."

Here is the little fellow now, on the Pan pipes:



And here is the latest stage in the illustration "Mountain Druid" - http://creakinfrog.deviantart.com/#/d3e33c1 - Some set backs on the computer have slowed things down a bit, but this week seems to be picking up steam once more.

Setting up the page

Ok, after setting up FB and LinkedIn, I thought it would be prudent to get a blog site up as more of a portfolio. DeviantArt has been great to post on this past year, but there are so many people - needed to create 'mah' own space.  So welcome! I hope to have a lot of artwork up here soon.

Looking forward to seeing and interacting on here.