Character Maquette Building For Animation and Video Games Part 2: with Steve Millard

Starts November 15, 2008

This is a continuation from Part 1. A maquette is a three-dimensional sculpture made from a drawn character design. In this course students will learn how to build a character maquette based on their own original designs.

Steve Millard worked in the animation industry both for Disney and Nelvana, where he was a character designer. Most recently he has been teaching Life Drawing, Anatomy, Character and Background Design while focusing on his painting which has been recently exhibited in Toronto and Oakville.

Date: November 15, 22, 29, 2008
Time: Class Size: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Limited to 15
Cost: $300 + G.S.T. (3 Saturdays)

Contact: Carla Drmay, Max The Mutt Animation School 952 Queen Street West, Suite 300 Toronto, M6J 1G8Tel: (416) 703-6877 / Toll Free 877-486-MUTT Fax: (416) 703-3930

Email: cdrmay@maxthemutt.com

I’m amazed that it’s time for the new academic year to begin! Everyone has been working hard to get the school ready. Special thanks to all the students who’ve been giving us a hand ! When you graduate, it will be easy to answer questions about you from recruiters- they always seem to ask about generosity and team spirit.

Niall Dowdell, besides being a 3rd year animation student, is sharing his wealth of computer knowledge with us and has helped us to set up the new fourth year room. He is now part time staff.

Besides the computer desks, the fourth year animation room includes a meeting and lounging area, classical animation desks, lockers, and a microwave. No coffee maker or kettle yet!

Tina and Niall have also moved and redesigned the classical animation room. You will be surprised! The line testing lab and the computer lab have also had an overhaul.

Which reminds me: OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO EVERYONE AT TOON BOOM! Their technology is making it possible for everyone - including students - to produce first rate work more efficiently. It amazes me that they aren’t better known to the general public since shows like The Simpsons use their software, and all the major companies (Disney, Pixar, Warner Brothers) are using their software. The beautiful part is that you can animate classically with Toon Boom…or any other way…or combine elements of classical, 2D computer and 3D! This has to revolutionize animation. We are now introducing their line testing program, so that classical work can be easily imported straight into 3rd year films using Toon Boom software. I imagine that some students will design backgrounds with the computer, but animate classically. I can hardly wait to see the ‘09 film projects!

We are also excited about running the second year of Concept Art for the first time!

We have amazing new faculty joining us, including Don Gauthier who was an environment designer for Nelvana, and has now joined a new 3D animation company as Art Director (head of concept art). He’s teaching Intro to Concept Art, and will also help 4th year animation students with the concept designs for their group film.

(I know the web site needs an update: we need to add new faculty to the faculty page, and add the ‘08 gallery pages. We are working as fast we can and have had to prioritize. We should get it all done within the next few weeks and thank you for your patience.)

I’ve been having a great time preparing slide shows for Concept Art students! So far I’ve completed one on Velasquez and two on Degas , one on Cezanne, and I’m in the middle of putting something together as an intro to direct and indirect painting methods.

Several important announcements :

Congratulations to Raechel Dickey who is a finalist for the Teletoon scholarship!

We also want to thank Richard Pace, Van Olson , and Bev Maguire for everything they contributed to Max the Mutt.

Richard helped to organize both the Illustration and Concept Art Diploma Programs, and is now very busy with his own work in comics.

Van helped set-up many wonderful aspects of our recruiting and admissions procedures, including real support for out of town and international students (including the tour of Toronto and picnic on the Toronto Islands), and the BBQ, which all of us are looking forward to!

Bev Maguire has returned to working as a Production Manager.

We wish them all the best luck as they pursue other goals.

Incoming and returning students and faculty, the excitement is building and we really look forward to this academic year!

To those of you who are visiting the Blog, please don’t hesitate to visit us in person ! We are happy to give tours. just give us a call and book a time.

 The following note was attached to a basket of treats left at reception for the staff! Thanks, Glo-Dawn.

“Max the Mutt Staff: Just a little treat to say thank you so much for a wonderful two weeks.  I have learned so much and am inspired to have a lot of fun “playing” with Flash in the following months.  The care, compassion and kindness you exhibit is phenomenal.  Your full time students are so lucky to be able to attend Max the Mutt for the high calibre of instruction and attention to their every need!”

Glo-Dawn Warkentin-Coulter, Faculty, Richmond Hill High School

Hi Carla,
The maquette class was really fun, I think everyone got a lot out of it ! Steve Millard was a great teacher for the class, I hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. I’ll keep my eyes open for more fun sounding classes !
Have a great summer and best of luck with things at Max the Mutt !
Many thanks,
Tammy

The below testimonial was written by a student enrolled in our Character Maquette workshop this summer with Steve Millard.

“I’ve written, deleted, and rewritten this post a couple times and am still a bit at a loss for words to describe how much I like this place.

So, instead of a huge wall of text, I’ll just say that if you guys are interested in the school, after you talk to the people there, or meet them, you certainly wont want to go anywhere else ”
Visit www.conceptart.org to view comment. This post is #372.
Fernando.

Concept Art Site

NORTH AMERICA’S DESIGN EDUCATION FAIR FOR YOUTH
METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE
NORTH BUILDING, 255 FRONT ST WEST, Toronto, ON

Mark your calendars! On October 1st and 2nd, senior high school students will discover the educational options available to them in graphic design, interior and fashion design, and design for video and film.“Explore Design ‘08” will feature 75 interactive exhibits from leading educational institutions, all designed specifically for students. There’ll be more than 30 seminars, workshops and presentations given by leaders and celebrities in the design industries, including Paul Rowan, Co-founder of UMBRA, HGTV’s Designer Guys, and Allen Kemp, founder of Silver Jeans.

Examples of topics will include skateboard design, video game design, and logo design. The schedule and program details will be available in May 2008. For more information, contact info@exploredesign.ca.

Max the Mutt is pleased to help promote this outstanding event. Visit our booth #38.

Explore Design 2008

ed-poster-2008.pdf

September 17 - 21, 2008

The Ottawa International Animation Festival is held every year in the fall. It’s a great meeting place for top animators and companies from all over North America and the world. Max the Mutt has attended every year since the school was founded, and we’ll be back again in 2008.

Ottawa Animation Fesitival

This year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival poster was designed by Ottawa artist Howie Tsui.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brad Johnston was a sensitive, talented young artist whose life ended too soon. He was a graduate of Max the Mutt and his family and friends established the scholarship foundation as a memorial. As a registered charity, donations are tax deductible. So far, the foundation has raised enough money to provide one full scholarship a year. The school itself grants two three year scholarships every year and simply doesn’t receive revenue for these students! Since our mandate is to keep tuition as affordable as possible without compromising the quality of our programs, this is difficult for us to maintain.

Max the Mutt also helps students who are working hard, have run into financial difficulties and don’t qualify for student loans from the bank. We provide them with tuition loans which are interest free until six months after they graduate or leave the program, and are then paid back to us at the lowest possible interest rate (bank prime until this year, and now prime).

These policies reflect our commitment to our students. However, we really could use some assistance! The scholarship fund is a totally independent non-profit registered charity for which donor companies or individuals can claim tax deductions and will get public recognition.

Checks made out to The Bradley Mark Johnston Educational Foundation can be sent to us at Max the Mutt and we will forward them to Mr. Stewart Johnston. Scholarships may also be established in your company’s name, and will be listed on our website. Every endowed scholarship will have a plaque at the school with the name of the endowing individual or company, and a brass nameplate for each recipient.

All donations, no matter how small, are welcome and will make a difference in a talented young artist’s life. If you share our commitment to passing on traditional skills, please consider helping our community.

The foundation is in its infancy and we need your help to build it. We are also interested in any ideas you may have for fund raising.

For more information, please check the website and/or feel free to contact us at 416-703-6877 (1-877-486-MUTT) or info@maxthmutt.com. You may also leave a message on this blog.

Thank you all.

Life Drawing Part 1:

This life-drawing course introduces students to drawing the human figure. It focuses on basic exercises in gesture, contour, weight and modeled drawing. Students are encouraged to work in a sketchbook daily. Materials used include pencil, ink, charcoal, and conte crayon. Major animation studios recommend this course of study such as Disney and Warner Bros.

Date: July 6 - 17, 2009 (July 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Class Size: Limited to 15
Cost: $400.00 + G.S.T. (10 weekday mornings)

Principles of Drawing:

This course will teach students how to express 3-dimensional form using shape, line and tonal pattern. Emphasis will be on composition, proportion, 3-D solidity, construction and weight. Students will learn how to create the illusion of 3-dimensional form on a 2-dimensional surface.

Date: July 6 - 17, 2009 (July 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Class Size: Limited to 15
Cost: $400.00 + G.S.T. (10 weekday afternoons)

Life Drawing Part 2:

This life drawing course is Part 2 and further introduces students to drawing the human figure. It focuses on basic exercises in gesture, contour, weight and modeled drawing. Students are encouraged to work in a sketchbook daily. Materials used include pencil, ink, charcoal , and conte crayon. This course of study is recommended by major animtaion studios such as Disney and Warner Bros.
Date: July 20 - 31, 2009 (July 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Class Size: Limited to 15
Cost: $400.00 + G.S.T. (10 weekday mornings)

Perspective and Structural Drawing:

This course helps students develop skills in the basic mechanics of linear perspective. Students will learn one and two point perspective, how to construct a plan view, how to draw incline planes and ellipses. They will also apply their knowledge to drawing both still life objects and imaginary environments.
Date: July 20 - 31, 2009 (July 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Class Size: Limited to 15
Cost: $400.00 + G.S.T. (10 weekday afternoons)

Contact: Carla Drmay,

Max The Mutt Animation School

952 Queen Street West, Suite 300 Toronto, M6J 1G8

Tel: (416) 703-6877 / Toll Free 877-486-MUTT Fax: (416) 703-3930

Email: cdrmay@maxthemutt.com

What’s been happening lately? Oh, so much! Tina’s (Tina Seemann, Animation Director) returned from vacation in Vancouver and is raring to go, setting up new equipment and getting ready for September. The “Learn to Draw” summer workshops have completed their first week . Dave Ross has developed a new first year illustration course on drawing figures from your imagination, and, with Ty’s assistance, several new enthusiastic and talented instructors will be joining the Illustration for Sequential Arts program.

In fact we have many new instructors joining us in all the programs and I’m personally excited about them. Sometime soon, in addition to our faculty listings, we’ll try to introduce them all to you in greater depth.

We’ve been working very hard on all those things I never knew took so much time. Besides looking for instructors who are right for our programs, we’ve been trying to get all the scheduling done. A faculty composed of working professionals makes the school exciting and I wouldn’t have it any other way…but you can imagine what it means to schedule them all!

By the way, we plan to update the student galleries as soon as we can get to it. This year’s work is outstanding. Most of it is still on display, so if you live near by please come and take a look.

I’m hoping to get all my work done by the end of July so I can have a real break in August. I will take my own advice and get into my studio without any distractions and get re-energized before September. I’m full of painting ideas.

By the way, we will continue to accept applications for ‘08. Last year we had a sudden rush of applications in July, and at least 8 of them were people we really wanted with us. We finally decided to open a new section, and were glad we did since many of those students turned out to be great additions to the community. Based on that experience, we’re doing the same thing this year.

I hope more of you will start to leave comments. Please feel free to let me know if there are subjects you’d like me to speak about. If I don’t have the answers, I’ll find someone who does.

I hope you are all having fun, painting and drawing, spending time looking at nature, getting some exercise, and enjoying some night life too! This season seems to go so quickly….