Logo

here is a logo I created for Techi Teens

http://techiteens.com/

BFA Exit Show

Artist Statement

NEAL SCHWARTZ

Since I was young, video games and animation have always intrigued me. This is especially the case when it involves one of my three favorite genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics. Companies like Blizzard entertainment, Relic, DC Comics and Marvel as well as series like Warhammer, Dune, and the Lord of the Rings are my inspiration. I love the idea of creating something that’s not of this world or not quite human. For me it is simple to just make a human being, we see them all the time, everyday. But to make a Monster or and alien requires creativity in order to make something new and unique.

My training in sculpture, drawing and painting has allowed me to see the various opportunities that Maya, the 3D modeling and animating software, can present. I’ve learned how to form proportionate models through sculpture, being able to tell how wide things are or how tall they have to be. Drawing has helped me understand measurements of images as well as the different values of shadows in order to make a character or object look realistic. Finally with Painting I’ve learned the various uses of colors and how to properly apply them. With this knowledge, Maya has become an integrator for the various art forms I have learned. For me, Maya is the ultimate way for those who have trouble with drawing or painting to express their creativity. Where as when a drawer or a painter make a line mistake or a paint stain they don’t want it some times means that they have to start from the beginning again. Maya, however, allows the user to correct any mistakes you any make you might make, whether it allows you to correct lines, mold the model to be the way you like, or change the colors until you find the one you want.

My animation, titled Crying Monster, was created over a period of eight months. The reasons for this was first, it was my first attempt at producing a humanoid figure from scratch. Second, it was the first time I used visual effects like fire, forcing me to learn from scratch how to apply it to the animation. This piece first shows my desire to make Sci-Fi creatures by having it like a scene from a monster movie, where the monster walks through a destroyed city roaring triumphantly. The second part where the person off-screen yells ” You still suck,” and the monster breaks down has deeper meanings. The first has to do with the bullying teenager suffer through in high school. The second has to do with the concept of the tough guy really having a soft side to them, as most people who bully other people tend to have problems of their own. Finally, it was to show some humor, since I myself am not always a serious person and have a good sense of humor. My second piece, Demon Dog, also shows my love of creating something out of the ordinary. For me, creating an animal-like character is much easier than a humanoid as the shape of most animals are simpler. To make the dog look out of the ordinary, I used Maya’s Bump map texture tool to add the effects of scales to the model, rather than the traditional look of fur that most people expect from a dog. The spiked tentacles were used to add an alien effect to the dog, to make it appear otherworldly.

CV

Neal Schwartz

401 W. Kennedy Blvd, Box 100 http://neals-artblog.blogspot.com

Tampa, FL 33606 nds0888@gmail.com

Objective

I have learned the tools, now I want to become a Character Modeler in Video Game Design.

Skills

Maya: modeling, animation, skin weighting, lighting, texturing

Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash CS3

Final Cut Pro: Intermediate level

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts May 2011

The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

Major: Digital Arts

GPA 3.6

High School Diploma May 2007

American Heritage High School, Plantation, FL

GPA 3.4

Work Experience

JuiceBlendz Weston, FL May 2009 - August 2009

General employee responsible of the maintenance of the restaurant and the food production

Grandpa’s Bakery & Restaurant Dania Beach, FL Summer 2008

My Time at Grandpa’s was served as a bus boy.

American Heritage Volunteer Spring 2006-2007

Key Club Community Service Group, volunteered for the cancer walk, autism groups.

Musiker Tours Volunteer Summer 2006

Community Service Group, working with a Retirement Home, a community beach and a dog kennel.

Senior Show Final

Crying Monster Final

Here is the final version of my animation. Background added and model cleaned up. This was my first attempt at creating a humanoid model from scratch.