Hugo Cabret and my soon-to-be break

I don't really have any of my own artwork to post this time around as I came here for a different reason. Yes, I realize this is "The Art of Jasmine Hope" blog... perhaps along the way I'll dig up some old art and post it here and perhaps not. Right now I have a bit of time to post a blog and felt the whim to do so. Since these moments are so sparatic it's probably good to do it when I actually feel the move to.

The real reason I came here is to share that in 2 weeks time the show that I am currently working on, Hugo, will be ending. The hope was that there would be work coming in after this and that I would be able to transition into a 3D modeling position, as I am currently a Render Wrangler for Pixomondo. Unfortunately, they're moving into a slow season and there is no new work to transition into. So that means come November 4th I get to take a forced break. As much as the thought of being unemployed freaks me out, I am pretty at peace with this. I am really looking forward to spending time in Zbrush and strengthening my skills in that awesome software.

I've been told by so many people here, that have been in the industry for a while, to check out Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Looking right now on their website, I can see that there are definitely a few classes I want to take. I hear it's a great place to update one's skills and to learn new skills. It's nice to know there is a place in LA like that. The goal is to get a good handle on the software so that I can use that to my advantage in my demo reel. As with any artist, one needs to keep updating one's skills to keep progressing and advancing.

Ok now that, that is out there for the world, lets go ahead and move onto something I find so much more interesting. Something related to art! This last Wednesday the author and illustrator of the book "Welcome To The Invention of Hugo Cabret", Brian Selznick, came to Pixomondo to tour the place and to take a look at the film "Hugo", directed by Martin Scorsese, that we are working on. We're doing over 700 shots for the film if I remember correctly. Well my boss ever-so-kindly ran down to Barns & Nobel to purchase some books for a few of us to get signed!

At first my intention was just focused on getting the book sign... then I opened the book. What a beautiful book! It's absolutely gorgeous. I had no idea. I'm really looking forward to delving into the book and loosing myself into the world of Hugo Cabret in 2 weeks. I strongly suggest you check out the website for the book. I wanted to share some images of the book as they are so thoughtfully and carefully cross hatched. What an amazing, patient artist.

Taken from here

Taken from here

Taken from here

Taken from here

Taken from here

This site has a ton of pictures out of the book for your enjoyment and I'm sure if you Google it you can find many, many more of his art.

Pipe head and learning Zbrush

In 12 days I will have been at Pixomondo for six months; which means it's been six months since my last post. Looking at my previous post I realize I haven't touched that digital painting since then. Now I want to run off and go work on it. There always seems to be something to take me in a different direction though. I often find myself skipping from project to project so quickly I never actually finish anything. While this can be very frustrating, the more I talk to other artists, the more I realize that a lot of us operate the same way. But it is nice to have something finished, otherwise I feel like I'm spinning my wheels really fast and going no where.

However, reflecting back on the last six months I realize that I haven't accomplished nothing. I have in fact accomplished a lot. Most of my hours are spent at Pixomondo as I work a minimum 50 hour work week. Who knew 50 hours a week would suck so much of my time up! I'm also very involved in church activities which take up a lot of my time. After that, I get a few hours here and there to create. And just think, I want a husband and kids someday. That will suck up any remote chance of free time.

I have ended up spending a lot of my extra time working on making jewelry for my Etsy shop. I've started a new steampunk series that I have spent a lot of my stolen free time on. It's been a blast and I've had a grand time running around Los Angeles looking for bits and pieces to use. I've ended up spending a lot of money and time on this little venture and hope to actually start making money back at some point. I bought my first feature spot on Etsy for next Thursday October 6th and a week later bought another for October 12th. I'm really hoping this drives some business to my shop. Otherwise I'm going to go broke on this little hobby! You can visit my blogspot dedicated to my shop or you can Like my shop's facebook page.


I've ended up having to pull back a bit because I found myself spending way too much of my time on it. Now why in the would should it matter if I spend my free time doing something I absolutely love? Well that is because I need to learn a certain software called Zbrush that I didn't have the opportunity to learn in college. Because I'm pursuing a career as a 3D modeler, knowing this software is an absolute must.

I, however, am really good at procrastinating with my free time and for some reason haven't been spending as much time learning this software as I know I should. I have come to the conclusion that because I spend 10+ hours a day in a dark room staring at duel monitors, the last thing I want to do is go home into an even smaller dark room and stare at duel monitors. Thus I end up spending my time on jewelry making instead of software learning. Well last week I came to a header with myself. It's a do or die situation. My current job here at Pixomondo will be ending at the end of the month. The goal is to move me into a modeling position. However I'll be extremely ill prepared if I don't learn this software ASAP. So I've started cracking down on myself.

Right now I'm going through an awesome free tutorial that I found online. I'll come back in later and post the link in here, I don't have it on the computer I am currently writing this one. I will post some pictures of my progress. I haven't spent much time on it yet, but for the little hours I have spent, I think it's progressing nicely. As you scroll down you'll see my progression.









I have to say I am absolutely loving this software. It is the coolest thing since sliced bread in my world! So why in the world do I procrastinate when it comes to sitting down in front of it? Once I actually get started it takes everything to pull me off of it.

As you notice the there is a progression of proportions on his head. At first the top of his head was too short, fixed that. Then someone else pointed out in the second group of images that it looks like the back of his head is too far in. That's actually an illusion created by the pipes on his head. I should post a picture without them for perspective. And yes those are actually going to be pipes eventually, not horns. Something with this type of feel (mainly I like the connection points on these - NOT the coloring):



I have a feeling this model is heading in a steampunk direction but I have no idea really and probably shouldn't even put that out there in case it heads in a whole different direction. Oh well, it's already out there. We'll see where this goes. I'll keep you posted.