Game Sim!

I've been applying to jobs like crazy, and came across an opportunity for a mobile game start up. I applied and got a very quick response saying they liked my resume and wanted me to do a game sim for them! The hypothetical game idea is for a simple 2d mobile game intended for women ages 25 - 45 where she is running from something, picking up currency, and jumping over platforms. Below is what I came up with. Had a lot of fun coming up with some of these slightly cheeky ideas!

 EHarmony Ellen has to escape her horrible first date by jumping over restaurant tables. Along the way she picks up different food items that she can throw at him.

Princess saves a Prince in distress from a dragon, while picking up arrows along the way to aid her in her quest.

 Crazy cat lady Cathy must grab all the kitties in the store while leaping over cat trees and avoiding the pet store owner!

 Work out Wendy must leap across exercise balls while picking up healthy food for points and avoiding unhealthy food that would result in negative points.

 Mall Rat Mandi must escape the security guard while grabbing as many shoplifted items as she can.

 Business Betty must jump over cubicles while running away from her boss and picking up paychecks  to get to her TGIF margarita at the end of the game.

 Wino Wilda must leap over grapevines and pick up as many grapes as she can to make her perfect glass of wine, while running away from a giant calendar that says MONDAY!

Bridezilla Barbara must leap across tiered wedding cakes and pick up as many items as she can that will make her perfect wedding, all while running from her overzealous in-laws. 

Self Portrait Process Reel

What with graduating, vacationing, moving, and job hunting I've been off my artistic game the past two weeks.  I decided to jump back into it with a good old fashioned self-portrait. It's been a REALLY long time since I've done anything fine art-sy, and I forgot how much I love portrait painting! I decided to make a step-by-step, in case anyone is interested in my process. Also, big thank you to Tobin Keller for providing the awesome pro photo skillz that I used as reference. This is only the second digital portrait I've ever done, and I must say, it's soooo much easier than oils. This took about 5 hours as opposed to the 12+ hours we used to do in class. And such easy clean up! :)

 Ah the sketch phase, or I as I like to call it, the zombie eye stage. The biggest issue for me here getting my likeness down, along with the correct proportions. This stage took about an hour.

 Here I started blocking in the shadow shapes. It helped me adjust the proportions a little more accurately, but still not quite there. I'm looking both old-ladyish, and mannish. No bueno.

In this stage I began adding local color and rendering a bit. Still wasn't happy with the likeness though, after bajillions of adjustments. As artists do, I begin to despair, and briefly consider scrapping the whole thing, before soldiering on bravely to the finals stages (cue the triumphant trumpets).

More tweaking, more rendering, more fine detail, and voila! Me. Not perfect, but at least it looks like me, right? 

Things I learned from this painting.

1. Step AWAY from the computer screen, and no portrait gets hurt. 

2. I need to do something about those bags under my eyes irl.

3. The air brush is not my friend.

4. NO ZOOMING UNTIL THE VERY FINAL DETAILS. I need to hire someone to slap me every time I hit Command +.  

That's all folks! Enjoy.

©Tracie Timmer 2013, All Rights Reserved. 

Spring Show and Graduation!

Well, I did it! I officially have a Master's of Fine Art degree. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who helped me along the way, I couldn't have done it without these wonderful people: My parent's who pushed me to take a huge risk and never doubted me for a second, my wonderful boyfriend Broc who always encourages me to push myself further than I think I'm capable and not give up on my dream, my awesome teacher and mentor Angela Dominguez who was always a great source of inspiration, motivation, and knowledge, and my friends who commiserated with me over many all-nighters, offered me super helpful and much-needed critiques, and inspired me with their amazing art. I'm lookin' at you Nicole Album, Joie Brown, Young Kim, LaryYu, Pinar Ekinci, Logan Pearsall, Alex Lee, Alice Chang, and many many more!

Another big event that happened this past week was Spring Show! I was lucky enough to snag a spot in the show among the masses of ridiculously amazing work. I'm utterly astounded at some of the work my classmates have produced, and am so grateful to be able to have a place among them! Sadly I had to miss Opening Night (not too sadly, I was in freakin' DISNEYLAND) but got to go over the weekend and snagged a few pictures. 

Getting to see my piece on display in the Palace of Fine Arts was mind-boggling to say the least. Congrats to everyone who made it in, you all are rockstars!