Every once in a while, when I find myself with a desire to draw and no paper handy, I'll pull out the phone and open up the Procreate app. I love this app! Right now I only have the default brushes, but they are certainly enough to do some really interesting things. I did this sketch while on the plane over Christmas. I had forgotten to bring along my stylus, so I had to do this one with my fingers! It was a good way to keep myself busy for a  little while. 

One of the cool things about the app is that it also records the screen as you're painting, so you can keep the timelapse video of it. People seem to enjoy watching a painting come together from a blank canvas, so sometimes I'll post these videos to Instagram (@liz_hume). 

I definitely need to work on learning how to create details with the app, because right now I still don't have a ton of control. But like with anything, practice makes perfect! 

I've been taking a matte painting class for the past six weeks with Heather Abels through CG Masters Academy. Just two weeks left in the class, and I have learned so much! 

We started the class with a project to turn an aerial photo into moving footage. Then we jumped right into working with footage for the rest of the course. I learned how to do some keying in Nuke for a sky replacement, building geometry from camera trackers, and creating a set extension from footage and simple geometry, I'm also learning more about good camera projection set ups, and how to sculpt the geometry for organic modeling so the elements don't look "cardy."

Here's a peek at my last project for the class. This is my initial geometry setup. I have a lot more sculpting to do, and need to break up some of the elements more. But this was a good start for checking the parallax and coverage for each of the elements. 

Recently I discovered the Virtual Plein Air group on Facebook. The concept is to find a location with an online map (like Google maps or Mapcrunch), go to the streetview and move the camera around til you find a nice spot, then start painting! This one is in Manu'a, American Samoa. It's not quite like real plein air painting, where the lighting is always changing and the clouds are moving and changing shape, but it's still fun to "explore" new places!

I first went to Florence in 2005 to study drawing & painting at Angel Academy of Art. Ten years later, I finally went back! It was great to return to this city I love so much, and while I was there this time around I made sure to sit and sketch a while. Here are a couple of sketches I did around town.

The first is on the steps at Piazzale Michelangelo. The sky was pretty stormy looking, but thankfully the rain held off. I got there late afternoon and stayed until sunset. I got some great cloud photos (which I'm sure will end up in future matte paintings!). 

The second sketch is from Sant' Ambrogio market. It's not far from where I used to live when I was in Florence in '05. It's a really cool little place to find all kinds of odds & ends. It wasn't open yet when I was there that morning, so I found a nearby spot to sit & sketch for a little while. 

Florence is a such a great city for urban sketching.  Not only is there tons of interesting architecture, there are also plenty of places to grab a table and have some cappuccino while you're drawing. I'm already feeling the need to go back soon! Definitely don't want to wait 10 years til next time! 

Just a few days ago I enrolled in the MP4FM (Matte Painting for Film) Camera Projection Boot Camp by Garrett Fry. I'm excited about getting more in depth info on creating complex camera projections for my matte paintings. I've been using camera projections in Maya for a while, and more recently started doing them in Nuke. I've  learned some really cool stuff so far, like how to make a nested projection, and setting up multiple projection cameras for a complex shot. I already have some ideas for future matte paintings to try out these techniques! 

If you're interested in learning more or signing up for the course, check out the video below or go to:
https://www.mp4fm.com/courses/camera-projection-boot-camp-overview?atid=18

In January of 2015, I joined a local group of Urban Sketchers. We meet once a month in downtown Raleigh and pick a spot to draw for a couple of hours, then head out to a local bar to share a drink and some good conversation.

One of the things I really enjoy about urban sketching is the challenge of getting down your observations quickly. There is so much to take in in an urban setting, so you have to decide what you're going to focus your limited time on. It's also good practice for roughing in perspective and lighting. 

So, if you find yourself in the Raleigh area any 2nd Saturday of the month, come join us at CAM from 2-4! 

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