I learned how to make animated gifs a little over a week ago. I realize, through my Graphic Design education that I should know how to make them; I just never before had the need. That is, until my older sister called requesting that I redo some website graphics for a localization project for a grad school. One of the graphics was an animated .gif. So I poked around online, watched a YouTube video and read a few tutorials and several frustrating hours later (in which, due to lack of sleep, I foolishly ignored the message that was telling me something I needed to know about the way the file would be saved) I managed to make my first gif.

It’s ridiculously fun and slightly addictive. I won’t say that it’s easy but it’s definitely not difficult if you know what you’re doing and have the appropriate software for converting video files. I purchased Wondershare Pro, and—though it has a tendency to hang up if I try to do some other process before the file finishes converting—I’m pretty satisfied with the variety of video formats it allows me to convert video files into.

After saving the video as .mov files, I would import them to iMovie HD for further editing and to add fade in/out effects at the beginning and end of the clips. Then I save it as another .mov file.

I’ve had Adobe CS2 for about 5 years, and I never before had a need to use ImageReady. That program is a like a .gif factory and I never even realized.

One of my favorite TV shows is Leverage, and I’m working on a fandom project where illustrative gifs would be quite appropriate.

Hardison: Where’re you going?
Parker: Let’s see how hard you look.

Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull – May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.

A beautiful disaster

Decided to buckle down and sketch out my original characters for the first time in a few months.

E’lari has a regal and aloof air that I think comes across nicely. She has a piercing in her left nostril. I’ve added the scarf that she uses to cover her head.

Seiahn’s look has been really hard to pin down, but I think I will stick with this version of his features. His hair used to be just wavy, but now it’s a curlier texture.

Tara pretty much looks the same. I’ve given her a thinner frame, much like Zoe Saldana.

I started coloring this about 2 months ago, and I’m posting it now as a way to sort of shame myself into finally finishing it.

Original character . Natalie Nouveau . Photoshop CS2

I’d like to do 2 more pieces to complement this.

I’m woefully behind updating this place.

Here’s another piece of fan art I did specifically for a header contest:

The Big Bang Theory . Penny, Sheldon Cooper . pencil