3D Landscape with Suspension Bridge (circa 2004)

Just to remind folks --- I like showing people how to do animation. I've taught almost 2,000 people how to draw animation, and how to use 2D and 3D animation Software. My brother and I started drawing when we were in diapers. Eventually that got us to where we could make some $$$ at it. I'm not saying it's easy. But it's a way to make a living, if you hustle. •••••••••••••

This demo was meant to show that you don't always have to use the most expensive and sophisticated application to build models. Created in Infini-D software, which even in 2000 allowed texture mapping and hierarchical joints!  Fun stuff.

Here I would just mention to people starting out, that sometimes you may feel you are stalled in one position at a company. You can gain some positive attention by asking how you can study further to improve your skills and understanding ... and Follow Through on that if your lead animator or supervisor actually steers you toward an information source, video series, class, seminar, book... And certainly, if they take time to show you themselves. It's your decision how long you stay at a job. It's worth learning to tolerate and maybe even appreciate personalities you would not, for instance, choose as friends for camping or socializing. 

If, after sincerely seeking advice and guidance for ways to show you want more responsibilities -- to become more valuable to the company --- no help or training or coaching is forthcoming, it's up to YOU to decide when you need to look elsewhere for a company that wants you to grow and advance. Yes, there is the possibility of gaps between paychecks as you look for a different job. Just give it more than a few weeks at a new job. Prospective employers WILL wonder if you have the patience and determination needed for actual productive work, if you switch employers every six weeks.

It's not unusual to change employers from time to time. The result of that is you will learn a number of different solutions to normal production challenges as you work with various companies, learning their tool sets. It seems that many companies, having worked out a set of technologies and application versions that "DO THE JOB," the company will stabilize the workflow for several years by Sticking With THAT arrangement. This means they might not upgrade to new versions of their software for a couple of years.

So they won't have the latest Go-Faster Stripes, but they will have a system that has been learned and optimized by their artists and coders and technicians. 

Sometimes, you can Screw yourself into the ground by insisting on always Upgrading to the Newest release of the software you have.

Because the Newest Release version ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, has un-discovered BUGS.