Fur Ball at the Skirball '09

Alrighty... so this is that other piece of artwork that I had been talking about here on the blog. This year I was asked to design the invitations for the annual fundraiser for Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles. The design sort of ended up on everything for the event, which was weird and cool at the same time. I've never done anything like that, so it was a little nerve wracking knowing this was going to be seen by so many people. Anyhoo... I'll try to be briefer than I was last yet in my summary!

WARNING: extreme dorkness follows

Me and Kevin got to the Skirball Center at 6 when it started and went to look at all of the auction goodness... And goodness there was! Unfortunately, all of the Office stuff was grouped together in one auction (2 signed photos, signed Pam and Angela bobble

heads, signed season 3 dvd set, a coffee tumbler and probably something else I'm forgetting). There was another Office fan there who really really wanted it all, so I wasn't going to bid against her and ruin her night. Plus what I really wanted... was the necklace that Jenna wore in the wedding episode of The Office this year. That was saved for the live auction later that night and in the end... it was too ri

ch for my blood.

Getting married in the next couple years folks... gotta budget!! We did score a sweet score from ET signed by John Williams and I swooned over an amazing square blue sapphire diamond necklace that I didn't end up bidding on.

Okay so we kept going and finally came across the piece that I was auctioning off. A personalized digital portrait of whoever you wanted... and if you can believe it... someone bid on it!!! For an example to set out, I sent in a framed version of my 'Dwight' Office painting that I did a little while

ago. Then we went outside and got some drinks, it was freezing outside so we weren't out there very long before coming in and just taking a breather at the table. We sat at Jenna Fischer's table this year so we didn't have to scout out and reserve seats like last year. Here is where I met the other Office fan Kristina from last year.

We walked the auction again when Jenna Fischer and her fiance Lee got there and they not only saw, but complimented my Dwight painting... COMPLIMENTED!! Then me and Kevin went and sat back down because we were exhausted from moving Kevin and his roommates to their various new apartments, plus a little bit of tiredness from Toy Story 3 OT and flying in the night before. Eventually everyone sat at the table and the show began... I sat next to Jenna's fiance Lee who was really nice and I wish I had gotten to chat with him more, but I didn't want to be rude during the event. He asked if I did the "Office" paintings for a living... which was very sweet :). Jenna was a great host and super funny, awards were given, videos were shown, food was devoured (kudos on the salad and desert... sooo good!), and then they did the live auction of Jenna's dress she was wearing, the wedding necklace and a vacation package. There was probably more, but I forget... Afterwards Jenna came over and we chatted for a little while and I asked if she would mind taking a picture. (Big thanks to Lee for taking it!)

If you find yourself in the giving spirit this year and are looking for an organization to donate to, please consider Kitten Rescue. When no one else would, they thought that a sick, 8 year old, black and white cat and a feral kitten who had been hit by a car and had a shattered leg were worth saving and I'm forever in debt to them for that.

Jack + Squeaker

(And yes they have more than one bed... they just prefer this)

3.5 Months isn't that long...

...right? Okay... so it is. (mah bad Garcia)

Toy Story has been an amazing experience, but takes up most of my creative energy and time. I'm also moving on Friday back down to Foster City and bidding E-ville farewell. I have been doing some art here and there, but nothing really worthy of showing. Until tonight I guess. I had been working on this off and on and tonight I decided that I'd finish it no matter how long it took.

Here ya go: Creed Bratton. I was going to try to think up something witty to say, but he says some of the craziest crap on that show and I'm feeling self conscious and inferior. So just the painting for now!

I'll try to make the next post sooner than later. I have something else to show, but I'll wait until December for that one!

I hate so much about the things that you choose to be.

Well this is coming unexpectedly soon... I really hadn't planned on it to be done for a few weeks, but all it really took was Ghostbusters 1 and 2 plus The Toy, and there he is. Its not perfect, in fact while I'm sitting here uploading I can see things I want to change, but I'll do that later.

Poor Toby... that's pretty much what I say during most episodes, except that one where he almost got Jim fired. So here you are folks, the most hated HR representative in North Eastern Pennsylvania Midsized Paper Company history. Toby Flenderson.

"Toby's in HR, which technically means he works for corporate. So he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family." - Michael Scott

Alive...

Yes, its me again. It's been a while, but whatcha gonna do....

Aside from animating on Toy Story 3, I've been doing some designing and stuff that I will post later once its released and stuff, but for now a simple Office painting will have to do!

I present Mr. Kevin Malone.

On the Up and UP!

"Up" is out!  

And its been #1 for two weeks in a row! I hope those of you who have seen it are loving it! OR at least pretending to love it for my sake.

And now... onto...

TOY STORY 3!!!!

I just started this past week... well sort of started... I'm halfsies on it and halfsies on another project. BUT still... I'm moving THOSE CHARACTERS!!!

Wrapped UP.

So this Saturday was the Up wrap party... a night in which the entire studio gets to see the new movie, the new short and trailer for the next film and then party their buns off afterwards.

This year the screening was at the Paramount Theater and the party was held at the newly renovated Fox Theater both in Oakland. Very convenient for me. Less than 10 minutes away! Me and Kevin got dressed to the nines and headed to the Paramount.

I'll keep this brief, because I really just don't feel like typing tonight haha. So we went in... picked up our various candies and headed to find some seats. We scored front row balcony in the center! Eventually after people speak and such they play the Toy Story 3 teaser!! You all are in for a treat! Then they played Partly Cloudy! ADORABLE and funny! Then... they played Up! It was sooo good! I had seen most of the animation in dailies, but its nothing like seeing it all together lit and with the score. Simply incredible and beautiful. We laughed, we cried, and we made a damn fine movie!

After the movie, we all walked to the Fox Theater, which was only a couple blocks away. The homeless people were really thrown off. Police presence and lots of balloons kept us all safe in our journey! We finally get there and wow this place is swank. And... lets just say... Pixar knows how to throw a party! Great night!

Unlikely Heroes

Up Exclusive Featurette

Cute promo clip for UP! I animated the shot at 2:11 where Russell says "I found SAAAAND"! The wrap party is this weekend and I can't wait to see it all done and glorious!

I have a diary to keep secrets from my computer.

SO a week ago today I had the honor of attending a Reno 911 charity event at the Largo in L.A.. And who was also in attendance? None other than Rainn Wilson himself. So... I decided I had to at least say hi. I mean me and Rainn don't hang out often... or ever... so this was perhaps my only chance. So I did it... much to my boyfriend's dismay I went over and introduced myself and then called Kevin over to meet Rainn too. Boyfriend claims it was an embarrassing conversation, but I thought it was totally cool!!

Anyways... great show... great cause.

http://www.plantingpeace.org/

.end backstory.

SO I was inspired to paint the legend himself. Dwight Kurt Schrute. This one's a little different than the others... I couldn't justify giving him big eyes. He has small eyes.

I used the word So a lot in this post... SO WHAT!?!?

5 Things I'm still scared of...

Do you remember any of the things you were afraid of when you were 5? Are you still afraid of any of them? I am. Here is a few of those things that I still have an irrational fear of...


1. When Ursula gets really big at the end of The Little Mermaid.


I will still skip this part on the dvd. She is scary and gross and her voice is gross. No thanks, I'll just skip to the wedding and the rainbow please.

2. Storm drains and clowns.


I saw this movie at a really young age. Actually... I saw a lot of horror films at a really young age. This movie... ruined me. I still wont walk over a grate of any kind. I'm also creeped out by any and all clowns. Thanks Pennywise.

3. Escalators


I was a morbid child who liked to watch shows and hear stories about people getting hurt. Which lead to my fascination with a show called Rescue 911. Nothing is scarier than falling down an escalator... oh... except getting your clothes caught in one. I still take extra time when escalating... and always hold the hand rail no matter how gross. But really... the jagged edges on the escalators look like they'd hurt so bad.

4. Pink Elephants on Parade


I don't know if its the creepy music... or the black eyes that creep me out the most.

5. Chuckie
and for that fact... dolls in general.


So this movie terrified me beyond belief. I literally could not watch more than 5 minutes of it. It took until this past January for me to force myself to actually sit down and watch the entire thing. And of course these dolls had a crazy resemblance to:



...which I had. And never played with because it freaked me out.

The end.

I don't talk trash I talk smack...

So... In an effort not to spend money today (other than the Starbucks and bagel that I had) I decided to paint away my day.  And after much deliberation I decided to redo the painting I did of Mindy Kaling aka Kelly Kapoor!  I know I know... you are crying foul because she already got a painting.  But... I mean for reals it looked nothing like her.  This one at least has some resemblance.  Some.  :)

Me and Squeaker sat down on the couch... put Dreamgirls on and lounged while I painted.  Now I'm going to have to decide who to do next again.  *sigh*  Like most of the paintings I'll probably go back in a couple of days and retouch it here and there, but for now... here she is!

Are you outta your DAMN mind...

So... a while back I put a request out as to who from The Office I should paint next... the result is over there on the left.  

Stanley Hudson.  

This painting might not be as refined or smooth as some of my other paintings, but I liked the texture to it so I stopped before I made it a mess.  In the end... who really cares if they look like they all go together.  Only me...

But anyhoo...  now I need another character to paint.  

New Trailer!!

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=53531

AND ITS AWESOME!!

In other news... here's an interesting quick painting I did of a guy I work with. There's a lot of back story that I wont get into... Just enjoy it for what it is.

TZ and the bear.

Just a ho-hum day at work...

So... yeah I didn't work on it. In fact the movie I did work on was nominated and didn't win.

BUT... I'M SO HAPPY FOR ANDREW AND ALL THE WALL.E CREW! Congratulations to you all!

UPisode 1

No longer a stranger from the outside...

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been super busy with work since getting back from vacation. I haven't had much time if any to do any sort of art outside of work.

BUT... the hard work has paid off.

I'm now officially a full time employee! Yay for not having to move this year! Yay for not having to put together a demo reel! Yay for yay's sake.

There's 3.5 weeks left in production on Up and probably at least 3.5 weeks until another update here! Sorries. To make it up to you... here's the new poster that you'll start seeing in theaters this week.

Sneak...

Another little look into what I'm workin' on these days.

now that that whole christmas shennanigans is over...

I painted this for my sister for Christmas this year.  She has a thing for Jon Stewart... and there is a lack of posters of him available to the public for purchase... so I made this for her.  It went over well.

And now that I'm back after 2 weeks of vacation its time to hit the '09 ground running and make some new art!