Making the magic: Nike Football Set

Once again I've teamed up with the amazing photographer Chris Razoyk for this set. His unfaltering attention to detail and well trained eye made for a really successful collaboration!

In this set Chris and I decided to go for the gold and really push the visuals. It was a lot of fun and hard work  developing this concept. We wanted it to be moody but still have that fantastical super-athlete feel to it. The most rewarding part of this process is knowing that what you are making is not only  a lot of fun, but it also sparks the imagination  and pushes the medium.

Making Of:


Nike Football Cosmic Fire from David Van Allen on Vimeo.

Nike Football At the posts from David Van Allen on Vimeo.

Check out Chris's blog for more details about his work.

Creating: A simple complication

  What I think about when I create

  When creating a piece, personal or professional I have found that there are skills and tools far more important than the software, a wacom tablet or a paint brush. If i'm fortunate the piece becomes art, but this is not always the case in the commercial world. My soul is rooted in process, craft and storytelling, all principals of fine art that apply to every medium. As a result of these virtues I hold dear, coupled with the fast paced, cut-throat, winner take all field I work in, it can be difficult to remember this very important lesson. A lesson taught to me by an amazing professor and a life changing foundation education.

   Nothing is precious, nothing is sacred and everything has purpose. Say something.  Know when to stop and when to start over. Walk away, take a deep breath and for God sake lighten up! Also, your work is shit try harder. Maybe smear some coffee on it.

Damn, I miss Fran and what I learned at Munson. I carry those lessons with me every day.

THIS IS WATER

This is water...Woah, A must watch... This may be the very first "first world problems" anthem and sound advice on how be not just exist.  :) This is a man right after my own heart.


This speech by David Foster Wallace is an inspiration with sound grounding and a wonderfully simple and potent message.

The proof is in the pudding

There is an unseen divide in the motion graphics industry... well not really a divide so much as a clash of ideals. There are many forms of art and design but the water has muddied as to which is which. I say they are all part of the same ecosystem. Real "motion graphics" also known to the more seasoned as animation requires years of expertise. It also employs varied artistic ability and a true collaboration of styles. The proof is in the pudding. Here is pre-viz art from one of the most successful animated films of all time.

Original Link:
http://imgur.com/a/7aBtV#0