animation

Cello Arch Reading

I’m shaping the arch on my cello. As with drawing, I have a little problem where I have my face is right up against the workpiece. It’s always good to step back and get a macro reading of the shadows to judge where to scrape next. On cello this is harder to do at your desk unless you have extendable arms (which I unfortunately do not).

violin arching review

Fortunately there is a very bright light (the sun) and a mirror (our front door) outside. Everyone passing by on Oakton at 5:30pm today would have seen me holding my cello plate up to the school, Simba-style.

chicago school of violin making cello plate

I love the hard shadows from the sun.

cello maple plate arch shadow animation

Keep the centerline of the plate at the same angle of the sun for a very unforgiving reading of arch symmetry (looks like I still have a little work to do):

chicago school of violin making, looking at cello plate arch on oakton

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Album Artwork for Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples

My brother-in-law is releasing a double LP called Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples, with his 3.5.7 Ensemble. It’s a richly textured portrait of the city of Chicago, and he’s given me the great honor of providing the cover art!

So here’s a little preview of one of the tracks, called Wandering, set to a little timelapse of the creation of the front cover:

If you’re in the great city of Chicago next Saturday (12/13/2014), come to the album release party in Logan Square!

More info on Facebook and on their website.

the 3.5.7 Ensemble - Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples album cover art

the 3.5.7 Ensemble - Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples album cover art

the 3.5.7 Ensemble - Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples album cover art

the 3.5.7 Ensemble - Amongst the Smokestacks and Steeples album cover art

Even if you don’t have a record player, you should get the LPs so you can own giant prints of my awesome artwork 🙂 🙂 🙂

First Taste (guest feature!)

My sister’s first 3D animation is just wonderful in so many ways.

first taste from mkwan4 on Vimeo.

This is a one minute short story about discovery and clumsiness!

This is also my first taste in 3d computer animating

Produced at the New York Film Academy’s 4 week 3d animation workshop (2014)

The music is by me, recorded one year ago, but actually credit should go to my mom for all the lyrics. If you want to learn Cantonese and/or sing along, here are the words and a rough translation:

malachi m-m-m-
malachi m-m-m-
malachi m-mala
kai kai doi! ( = naughty child)

malachi kai kai kai
malachi kai kai kai
malachi kai kai kai
kai kai doi!

yi hoi pang nga siu mat yeh? (what’s that big grin for?)
ong hei ge meen seung dim yeung? (why are you scrunching up your face?)
ho chi seung gong ye dan (seems like you want to say something)
jau dak ah ah seung (but all that comes out is “ah ah” sounds)
mak dai ga hau dak ga long (open your mouth wide, it’s just a big hole)

mak dai ga hau dak ga long!
mak dai ga hau dak ga long!
ho chi seung gong ye dan
jau hiu mm mm seung
mak dai ga hau dak ga long!

malachi kai kai kai
malachi kai kai kai
malachi kai kai kai
kai kai doi!

 

First Taste, by Mimi Kwan