Runs VI

　Now I’m study the bone system. First, I have to creative the bones, that including limbs, tails, spines, neck and head. Then adjusting its axis all the bones have to be the same aspect. If not, the bones will go the wrong way. Almost all the bones have to manage one by one. In 3D studio MAX, it has a character system. The system will creative a bone system for user, you don’t have to creative all the bones. So the steps are getting difficult now. Last week, we learned how to creative controls for your character. Tomorrow, we are going to study the rigging system. I hope I can with teacher very well, and don’t be sleepy, bless me.

　By the way, my English class is getting tough. It almost takes me 90% time every week. I study hard, but it’s still not easy to get an “A”. I hope I can pass this class this semester, so that I can focus on my major. Bless me again….

Runs V

　Something about the texture....

　Our teacher loves my character, and he asked me to "shrink" and "sew up" his mouth. Yes, that’s how it happens. The textures took me lots time, especially his face. There are color, bump and specular texture. Because of limited time, I didn't do my best on it. Even, I haven't make his eyebrows yet. Yes, You can also see how time consuming it was from this picture. However, although it was really a laborious task, the texture looks not bad.

　By the way, my mouse is not very comfortable when I was using it. So I decide to use the lab’s tablet in the future.

　The teacher told us that we have to make a 5 seconds animation artwork in the end of this term and the skeleton, IK, rigging are not easy as I thought. So I have lots task to do later. Bless me.

Having a hair cut in the U.S.

　13^th OCT. is my first time having a hair cut in the U.S.. After that my English teacher, Laura said ‘that’s a nice hair cut’, but I think it was just ok. Well, we all know it is expensive that having a hair cut in the U.S., and also I don’t like the ‘tip culture’ here. So I worried about the hair cut, when my hair was getting long.

One day, a senior told me that one of his roommates can do it and he might help me, but the senior forget after that day, so I had to go to a hair salon still. Next afternoon, I went to China town and found a cheapest hair salon in an alley, then went in. The hair salon looked old fashion and a little bit shabby. Although I tried to talk to her and made the air easier, the barber barely said anything. So I just sit and the barber just cut. That’s how it happens. It took me seven U.S. dollars, including 1 dollar tip. I think the price is reasonable, because most of the prices are ten dollars in the main street in China town. This experience is not bad, maybe I’ll go to the same hair salon next time.

Runs IV

　Today is the 7th week of this semester. Also, this week is our Midterm. Yes, a very busy week. And my Runs is almost finish, I put a color texture on it. All the texture worked on the Photoshop and I used nothing but mouse. His UV warp and color texture took me almost two weeks, so that I didn’t have time to draw the bump and specular maps. Today, we have to drop off this character, and this image is the final shot of him.

　As you can see, finally I decided to make a realistic texture, because I think the difficulty is higher than cartoon-like style. Although it took lots time, I fully enjoy it.

　This image is Runs' back. I like his realistic spine. The bumpy spine looks awesome. Further, those back spots are also great. Because they are supposed to be irregular and natural, I managed the spots one by one. Again, although it's truly a time consuming task, I fully enjoy it.

　The last image is Runs' original texture picture. The model was separated at lest 30 parts. Therefore, the final task was to seam them and made all of them being looked seamless. That’s totally a nightmare. Because some seams’ length are not the same, I had to match them one by one, especial his arms and belly. Even, sometimes I had to adjust them one pixel by one pixel.

　I confident that I had already done my best on this project and I wish Runs can bring a good luck for me. This afternoon, our new lesson was creating joints. I am so excited that animating Runs can be excepted soon. Bless me!

Related links:

• 　Runs I
• 　Runs II
• 　Runs III

Presentation day

　Tomorrow morning is my first oral presentation. My object is ‘green ship’, a public art in Fan Francisco. My partner and I are the last team on the list tomorrow. Yes, I know it's not good, but we didn't have any choice.

　Although I’ve prepared this oral presentation for two more weeks and practice it for over six times, I still nervous now. I think my speaking is still not fluent enough, further, I always lost something when I practice. Is my practice not enough or I am over nervous? I don’t know. The only one thing I know is that I just want to do my best in all my classes, even it’s tough. So, pray for me and wish I have a good luck tomorrow morning.

Public Art

　What kind of artwork is free and can be seen, be touched, even be photographed everyday? That is public art. However, although people can enjoy it in our daily life easily, it is sometimes difficult to discuss people’s views of public art, because this is such a multifaceted topic. Some people think that the public art is a bridge between artists and viewers, some people think that public art is only a beautiful decoration somewhere. However, it is very important that public art can educate its viewers about multiple topics, such as contemporary issues, artist’s personal experience and reviewing our history.

　Public art has a potential power to influence viewers. Public environment and no charge enable public art to deliver the contemporary issues faster. A classic example is Keith Haring. Subway billboards, street walls and freeway advertisements, his artworks could be seen from diverse public areas. The simple and semiotic painting makes his concepts accessible to the viewers. Moreover, the ideas, such as birth, death, love, war and drugs were also easy to understand. People can see them and think about those social issues almost everyday. Therefore, through contemporary issues, public art educates people about what we should care about or consider more in our environment.

　Artist’s personal experience could present different idea to viewers. In the United States, people come from many countries. The artist’s different background and culture certainly provide varied resources to public art. Do Ho Suh, a Korea artist, is a case in point. His “Public Figures” (1998-1999) is a good example. Every young boys have to serve in military in Korea. He did too. So he showed his personal experience from the military in “Public Figures”. The artwork told us that a hero’s achievement needs to be supported by a lot of people, everyone is very important for their country. However, military service in the United States is voluntary, so young boys do not need to serve in military. They might never care about their personal value even what they can do for their country. Do Ho Suh’s “Public Figures” indeed gives a different idea to the people in the United States.

　Besides contemporary artworks, historical monuments also are playing an important role in public art. As we know statues and plaques are common in public area, but why they were built there? It must be because of a memorable person or an unforgettable achievement. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a prime example. When people see the great monument, it not only tells the president’s glory stories, but also teaches people never forget their devotions. Generation by generation, people keep their history and appreciate those leaders. Therefore, it is clear that the public art educate people about its topic.

　The function of public art is versatile. It goes without saying that public art can beautify environment or be a communicator, but I think the most important function of public art is educating people. Of course, there might be an argument to be made for another position. However, for the reasons that I have presented above, I feel that my opinion is the most valid.