matthew j. phelan

His name is Hugo..

2012-01-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

His name is Jobe...

2012-01-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

One more for 2011...

2011-12-31T04:53:00.000-08:00

That is all.

Week...end.

2011-12-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hello,

That is the end of 2011, what a year! I've had a great year doing lots of fun stuff including teaching more animation skills and really getting my head around the best way to teach the art form and I'll post this years student work up in July/August 2012.

I acted in some plays for a local society which was great fun and one of which made me want to pursue directing theatre and i have been asked to direct my own play next year starting with a play reading with a look to direct a full production. Sweet! Also met a great community of people who'd I love being around..

Right now I'd like to look back at the beginning of this year and see if i set any goals...

"OK, so here is my new years resolution... I plan on drawing around 3 things a week for this blog and animate a little something. The other day i realized that if i retire at 67 then i have 42 working years left. It hit me why i keep this silly online journal. I want to be able to look back an see my journey 25 year old fresh teacher of animation and games to whatever i will become. Hopefully it'll be just as cool!"

OK so that was me in Jan 2011,

3 things a week would mean I'd have around 150 pics on here, which i didn't do. But damn i gave it a shot!

This is what i did when touching pen to paper/tablet. Turns out i did a few self portraits in there through out the year, 10 points if you can find them all!

One of the main things I'm proud of this year is my students work, showing them how to do this thing and get good at it, mainly giving people the education i would have killed for, being a teacher that cares about the subject.

There is a lot of stuff i wish i did do, like learn to play the guitar better by having actual lessons, be more creative generally but with a full time job and life I'm pretty pleased with my creative side this year. So, should i set some unrealistic goals? Did that help? Maybe it didn't but I'll do it anyway!

I've come to realize that when i was a teenager i wanted to be a famous artist on the Internet, constantly pumping out new pieces of work every week with people going "wow, he's like SO super awesome and cool". I'm over that now, teaching has definitely grounded me and all i really want to do now is be able to draw cartoons and be happy. So this year i would like to stop doing small things a line test here a doodle of some superhero there. I want to actually make something that is, in my mind, cool. I have 4 projects already on the go so we'll wait and see what happens with them. Clues...

Magicians
Bunny suit
Ears dripping
Creature

These are the 4 main things i want to do next year. I wish me luck and hope 2012 is as cool and lucky as 2011 was.

p.s. i will definitely do lots of doodles and superhero's, they're like crack to me!

A good year i'm happy with.

2011-12-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

That is all 2011.

4 weeks left of 2011

2011-11-30T16:36:00.001-08:00

This year has been really good for me, lot's of growth, learning, experimenting, just a great year all round. I know in January i will do the annual reflections of last year and plans for the new year but i am truly happy about how things are right now.

But the year isn't over yet, oh no! i have a good 20-30 seconds of animation left in me for December, below is a ball bounce, i'm constantly getting students to do it, so i just wanted to show them even teachers practice the basic stuff, as it is very important!

December will be about the 11 seconds club, lift and moving a box of the ground and maybe some sort of rowing...

I will leave the reflection and planning for January but safe to say, each year this blog has kept me creative, i have no intention of ever stopping posting here until i'm six feet under.

Will post my 11 second club November 2011 entry next week some time, after the voting is over.

That is all.

November 11SecondClub

2011-11-28T00:45:00.001-08:00

I've entered this months 11 Second Club with a look at see how well i can do before my students enter it next year for their project work in 3D. I also plan on entering next month, possibly in 2D. I will post the final 11 seconds when i find out where I placed.

Other news, my superhero idea now has character and a small plot, that will be 2D.

Everything is going well!

Me...

That is pretty much all.

Week 46

2011-11-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

That is all.

11 Second Club November 2011 113 frames

2011-11-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

That is all.

Bar drawings

2011-10-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Week 43!

2011-10-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Been a while, i was in another play, it went very well! Back to animation.

That is all.

Week 38

2011-09-24T03:49:00.001-07:00

That is all.

Week 37

2011-09-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you might get this. If not, you might not, made me laugh. Got comissioned to do a comic strip for a drama company, they loved it. Am now their monthly strip artist. hehe, strip.

That is all.

Lovely sign at my station.

2011-09-09T01:21:00.000-07:00

Self portrait 2011

2011-09-09T01:19:00.002-07:00

Deadpool

2011-09-09T01:19:00.001-07:00

Lick?

2011-09-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

Double rainbow!

2011-09-09T01:18:00.000-07:00

Met Peter Lord!

2011-09-09T01:17:00.000-07:00

He was lovely!

Who needs real eyes?

2011-08-31T04:09:00.002-07:00

Howdy

2011-08-31T04:09:00.001-07:00

Self portrait 2011

2011-08-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

Lollipop?

2011-08-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

Kara Zor-El

2011-08-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

That is all.

Smoke em if ya got em!

2011-08-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

New beginnings - week 34

2011-08-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

Start of a new academic year! On the cusp of landing a rather big project, toes crossed! More about that as and when. This is the year i go big with animation teaching, i've planned various things to get their little minds buzzing!

I'm growing a big beard!

Tis a funny thing being a teacher, we constantly start from scratch, it's a really refreshing thing as you get to experiment with various strategies and techniques. Last year was my year of getting the ropes of a new college, now i'm focusing on student work and the learning process behind animation, which has basically been an obsession for some time.

Not much else, life is good.

That is all.

My flatmate doesn't like my box puzzle!

2011-08-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

Week 33 of 2011 - still doing this!

2011-08-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so creative pursuits have basically ground to a halt, the summer came and i put the pencil down, turned flash and maya off and went away. Back now!

The new academic year is about to kick off, it's bloody exciting! I have video assignments forming shape, new assignments which i think are sharper, i'm really quite pleased with how this whole career thing is going. At first i was very nervous about being animator or being teacher. Now i think there is no difference, i keep this blog to remind me that i like being creative and it is a great place to share that side of me with the world, whoever you are.

I still am working on a superhero based comic strip. Although probably not animated. I intend on entering Septembers 11 Second Club, in fact every month i think i'll have a stab at it.

No pics or vids, just words. Hope you're summer has been as fun as mine, much love.

That is all

2011-08-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

2011-08-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

11SecondClub

2011-07-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Just playing around with 2D Animation.

This is on 1's at 24fps

This is on 2's at 24 fps

That is all.

11 Second Club July 2011 line test 1

2011-07-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

Students work

2011-07-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

We now have an official Youtube page HERE

Here is a quick glimpse of one of the great pieces made this year:

Some great stuff this year!

That is all.

Who are you test

2011-07-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hulk!

2011-07-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

Love this guy!

That is all.

Tumbling again

2011-07-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

You can see me tumbling again here THATMEANWHELP i also did these

Week 28

2011-07-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

The play was a great success!

Was working on some poster design for a play happening some time this year.

The first idea was this, however i then read the full play and realised this was not appropriate:

Next i went for a brighter idea:

Still not there, so i went in a completely different direction:

Been a great week and a tremendous way to start my summer holidays!

That is all.

Week 27

2011-07-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Right, the play is going amazingly well, people are turning up and clapping and saying just lubbly things! Shakespeare in the Park is an great experience and such an adrenaline rush! Just doodles and photo's this week, as i left the tube to work i was confronted by a cage with a sea of people behind it, photo's below. I imagined that is what it would be like if zombies were all over london and i was using the tube tunnels to navigate nodnol. Scary but i couldn't resist taking a photo.

I have always wanted to draw comics for a living, alas never the drive to sit down for the amount of time it would take to get to a high quality like Marvel, instead i've spent years doodling. So i intend to start a web cominc about my doodle super heroes. I have no idea if i can legally do that as i won't be getting any money for it, or if i should just make new superheroes that are ridiculously similar to the original. The incredible Bulk for example!

Anywho, that's my world at the moment, some things are working out nicely for September and i will soon upload all the students end of year work when i get a chance to have it all together.

That is all.

Mini heroes

2011-07-10T13:42:00.001-07:00

As I left the underground!

2011-07-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

2011-07-10T13:41:00.004-07:00

2011-07-10T13:41:00.003-07:00

Rhino!

2011-07-10T13:41:00.002-07:00

2011-07-10T13:41:00.001-07:00

Week 26

2011-06-30T16:00:00.001-07:00

So i'm in a play! Been using all my free time for that, acting is a great way to think about character animation. Really throwing myself into the character and trying to lose myself as him, it's great fun and really gets the adrenaline pumping!

The college year has almost finish 10-11 has been a great learning curve regarding teaching and i'm almost ready to upload all the students great work, i think it's been the best year i've seen (hopefully i'll say that every year!).

No animation or art recently, simply rehearsing.

That is all.

2011-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sketch

2011-06-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Week 23

2011-06-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Very close to the half way point of the year and i've been trying to animate more. Teaching is coming to an end this term. Lots of student movies will be on our college youtube channel, which i will link to when they're all up and the channel is 100%.

Looking forward to getting to the summer so i can have more of my own time. I've been rehearsing for a play i'm in with the Royal Shakespeare Company next month so most of my free time has gone to that. Very exciting times all round!

Below is some animation i've been doing when i have a spare hour or two.

That is all.

3D Batswing Breakdown

2011-06-19T15:11:00.001-07:00

3D Batswing Blocking

2011-06-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

I think this is week 22!

2011-06-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am constantly umm and arring about Animation Mentor. I teach animation and would love to take this course to see how Pixar and Dreamworks Professionals teach it.

Until that happens, i animate a fair bit in my spare time and at work, will try to upload more of that on here.

All my students are almost 100% done for the year! Exciting, exciting, their work will be on my class youtube www.youtube.com/animinions check that out, i will upload a few or all of them here when they're done. Very proud teacher!

That is all!

Anime Expo (like week 22ish?)

2011-05-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Just spent the weekend at the MCM Expo or the Anime Expo as the locals call it. 50,000 people turn up with 1 in 2 people dressed up as a variety of characters!

Pics here: http://uk.gamespot.com/special_feature/mcm-expo-2011-photos/gallery/index.html?image=1

Blog has been a bit quiet, pics i doodled at the expo this weekend below.

Wanna get some more 3D done, have 6 weeks of my own coming up, so intend to make that a creative one. Would like to have a short film by the end of the year. Am currently following the Animation Mentor system without paying the 18k to do it, which is nice!

Eyes open, wide awake!

That is all.

2011-05-30T12:59:00.003-07:00

2011-05-30T12:59:00.002-07:00

2011-05-30T12:59:00.001-07:00

2011-05-30T12:58:00.001-07:00

2011-05-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Tough'n

2011-05-24T03:33:00.001-07:00

Drawn with a mouse.

That is all.

Doodles from the weekend!

2011-05-23T07:20:00.001-07:00

2011-05-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

www.mrdoob.com/125/Multiuser_Sketchpad - Have a go!

2011-05-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

That is all.

2011-04-25T12:33:00.001-07:00

All my floating heads seem to have a raised eyebrow... fuck off.

That is all.

2011-04-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Week 16

2011-04-23T04:07:00.000-07:00

Had two weeks off, lots of marking done. No excuses, played more than anything else. Pobodies Nerfect.

That is all.

MCM Expo!

2011-04-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I have organised my college to attend the yearly MCM Expo in May this year, we will be showcasing our students animation and games work and talking to people about what we do. I am very excited!

I went to the Expo last year and really loved meeting some great people with really cool art and stuff at the show as well as all the people who dressed up. My plan is to take a picture with as many costume loving folk as possible!

So if you, or anyone you know is going to the expo in May come over and say hello. We are very friendly and know lots about games and animation!

That is all.

14.2

2011-04-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

I animated the fall without any reference and wanted to go for a laugh without any. Didn't go so well.

Animated a Vanilla walk cycle in class to demonstrate something. Here it is.

That is all.

Week 14 (10/4/11)

2011-04-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

A failed laugh.

I just couldn't get the timing right on this one. I am fallible.

Now trying this one, maybe i should move away from laughs, but i've always found them difficult so even if i mess this up, i'll be happy i tried.

Blocking on the next attempt.

After this i have a few double takes i'm planning.

That is all.

Week 13 cont.

2011-04-03T16:18:00.001-07:00

I am working on a short animation for a cabaret show next month. Will show after the event.This week I will be updating some students work. I am a proud teacher, I wish I could go back a be on these courses, they're great fun to teach!I'm drawing less this month and focusing on animation. I want to enter the 11 second club competition over the summer so need to brush up on my Maya.That is all.

Week 13

2011-04-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

Animation of a land, like a superhero, i started out think the famous batman land but wanted to give it more attitude.

Blocking.

Spline

Mental Ray.

That is all.

Week 12.5

2011-03-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Just a wave test in Maya using a new rig from11 second club.

Plans include: Dog wagging tail, laughing character and some double takes, using this character. Love how it looks so much like the animation mentor rig! But free!

That is all.

Week 12

2011-03-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

2 commissions for some people on Deviantart.

Lists lists lists. Not much to report.

Quite an ill week.

That is all.

Week 11

2011-03-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

So, turns out I rock at Assassins Creed - Brotherhood and I have postponed all drawing and animation until I complete this game! It's awesome.
In other news, my student’s Showreels are getting them into their chosen universities, very happy and proud about that!

I reckon more drawing etc should happen this week, but that game is addictive and now my students are getting really good I want a little break from work in my free time too. We shall see.

Test in class.

That is all.

Week 8.5

2011-03-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Hey,

So i didn't post much in the last few weeks, so here we go, i'm making a catch up post.

Oh, by the way, i suggest you watch 'Inside Job' we're all fucked.

I'm 3 weeks behind, by my new year quota, i was thinking 3 a week, so i need to upload 9, that's math kids!

Now i could have just uploaded 8 more of head shots like this, but i don't like to fuck around here, so here's 8 pages of sketches to catch up. Will try not to fall behind again and if i do i'll make sure i overcompensate when i return like this....

I am planning a animation for 24 hours toons site. Basically make a film in 1 day, i dunno what the key word will be but i have a sort of idea already. Animated a spiderman swing at work for some students i need to upload and i'm working on a lady walk for an event coming up in may. The animators out there will spot where i've gotten it from, frankly, i care not.

That is all.

Week 8

2011-02-27T10:57:00.000-08:00

So it's hit the end of a half term and my creative side gets put to one side to focus on marking work and getting students to the goal posts. I then have a week off, which mainly goes to marking work etc.

I have commisions from Deviantart i'm working on at the moment and so i'm doing them right now.

Week 6 and 7 will be posted when i can sit down on the right computer. My current computer is dying, this saddens me.

Anywho, more when it comes!

That is all.

Week 5

2011-02-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

My comp has blue screened 3 times. Fuck it all! Thankfully i have 3 of these things now, winner!

A few head shots of people i know. He really does have a fro that size, i promise!

A wip i'm still working on, some things i can't do in 1 week, i'm sure they could be done in a week but i'm lazy. Sorry me.

You can watch me draw some shit live! Or kinda live!

thatmeanwhelp on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

That is all

Week 4

2011-01-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I haven't done lots of drawing but have been animating, which can be watched here:

Watch live streaming video from thatmeanwhelp at livestream.com

Just some basics of Flash and a little hero landing, had some students stop by while i was doing it so sometimes i reply to them.

Also here is a piece i've spent a bit of time on and is very popular on Deviantart

A little self portrait for 2011:

5 minute Superman sketch

That is all.

RIP Johnny Storm

2011-01-27T11:02:00.001-08:00

That is all.

Week 3

2011-01-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Bit more cartoony this week. Been trying to practice different styles. Animated a little spiderman character in class for some students, will post later on if i can remember. Thinking about starting commissions on Deviantart. See what the reactione are. Going to start animating a little something this week.

Anyway, pics!

That is all.

Week 2

2011-01-15T05:52:00.000-08:00

I am still try to draw girls a lot more, views on my dev account have risen quite a lot since i started. http://matthewphelan.deviantart.com/ Check it out, there is my art etc, but in one handy place. I have been working with a Burlesque show and am in the process of designing pin-ups for their merchandise, which keeps me in good pencil shape.

Added goal: New car by the end of June!

Anyway, check out some hot babes!

That is all.

Hello 2011 - Week 1

2011-01-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Greetings,

Ok, so here is my new years resolution... I plan on drawing around 3 things a week for this blog and animate a little something. The other day i realized that if i retire at 67 then i have 42 working years left. It hit me why i keep this silly online journel. I want to be able to look back an see my journey 25 year old fresh teacher of animation and games to whatever i will become. Hopefully it'll be just as cool!

Enough of this talking stuff, where's the drawings? O.k!

Right, This is my first post of 2011 the next post will be of a little animation.
That is all.

Touch

2010-12-19T05:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas.

That is all.

End of the decade.

2010-12-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

2010, a remembrance...

I made a list of all the stuff i wanted to do this year. 50% got done which i think is pretty good going. "Make plans and the devil smiles" is something that always jumps to mind when i think about all the stuff i plan to do and the things i end up doing.

In all i've had a very good year, went to the Edinburgh festival, which is awesome! Watched friends get married in Ireland and other cool things i won't go into more detail here. I made a zombie movie which i wasn't planning for, people seem to laugh in the right bits.

Animating and drawing always comes second to teaching which is a shame as i'd like to do more of my own stuff. Started a new job in a college in north london and if you're reading this and i teach you, you're awesome! Apart from that one student, you know who i mean, yeah, them!

Encouraging students to get online and have their own blogs and what not, those that do will be listed to the right, it's early days and so far i have 1. BOOM! Started saying Boom at the end of sentences this year, not sure why... Boom!

Small plan for next year is just do more creative stuff, i teach very creative subjects and my blog is a little bare.

That is all.

Cricket Bat

2010-11-06T05:36:00.001-07:00

That is all.

Survivor

2010-11-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

Made this over the weekend.

That is all.

first doodle on my motion computer.

2010-10-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

all done by drawin on the screen in bed!
that is all.

11 Second Club October 2010 - Blocking

2010-10-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

Got Keith Burns to draw me 'The Frenchman' from 'The Boys'. Learned Song Bird on the guitar.

That is all.

Dead days.

2010-10-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

So i felt a bit creative this weekend, so myself and some chums dressed up for World Zombie Day on saturday and with 500 other zombies unleashed havoc in london for the day, was awesome!

Also i follow 24 Hour Toons and there current theme is 'Ghost', some years ago i animated a little ghost talking, i liked it, but lost it, so i animated it again. Took 1.5 hours, if i used the suggested 24 i could have had him dance or something.

The website is still a work in progress and i just ordered a LS800...

When this comes expect a bucket load more drawings and animation. I loved the idea of drawing straight to the screen.

I am currently reading the back catalogue of Tank Girl so don't be surprised if you see me try and copy Jamie hewletts style in any future drawings, he's awesome!

That is all.

Hello me.

2010-10-03T04:29:00.000-07:00

Dear online diary,

I took a group of students to the EuroGamer in Earls Court, was awesome! I played a racing game with my eyes and head, jumped on the Xbox 360 Kinect to play remote-less table tennis. Lots of the xmas big games like Gears 3 etc. Shmoozed with plenty of industry people to link with our college etc. Was lots a fun!

Hopefully taking students to go to the Anime expo at the end of the month. Am currently designing a website for the college Games and Animation Department.

Thinking about using a cork board with polaroids of different things, About us, Courses, News, Gallery, Class year, Contact. The class year would then have a list of students and a selection of their work, images and their showreel.

I think will be a great way to advertise our courses, college and our students work! Animation and games our 2 fast growing industries, courses in these areas are on the up and up so we need to capitalize on that! I love teaching animation and games design, my students seem to be having a great first term, lets hope it stays that way!

Duchess Divine Present BBW Burlesque

2010-08-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

I made a poster for a Burlesque event in Lodon. Everything in the poster was made by me.

Been doing a lot of female anatomy in this style, will upload more when i have them digitially.

If you wanna see some lovely ladies perform BBW Burlesque, check out this show, with some crazy chick off a talent show! www.wegottickets.com Woop!

Hand drawn dot images.

2010-08-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

All the images above are A3 and hand dotted. Most took 12 hours plus.

Vector Images

2010-08-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Zombies...

2010-05-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

I've been playing a lot of zombie games and reading a lot of zombie comics and it hits me, what would i do if I were a zombie.

With that in mind i made this:

"If I turn into a Zombie, YOUR fucked!"

Buy a zombietastic T here: Zombie Tshirt from Zazzle.co.uk

That is all... BRAINS!!!!!

Crater Face

2010-05-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

This just has to be shared!

That is all.

Skyler Page’s Crater Face

I am the son of Odin!

2010-05-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

Loving the whole super hero thing hollywood is doing now, Iron man, Thor (pic above) soon, the Avengers (which i am a big fan of!).

Anywho i posted this a while ago but now they have picked an actor and Captain Americ is on its way i am reposting this doodle i did of the leader of 'The Avengers'!

Here is a little test i did in Illustrator, i haven't used it in a long time so am a touch rusty.

I am currently doing a few pin up girls for a tattoo design someone wants me to do so when i have a few to post i will, i've got a few i like but need to ink them and maybe play with them digilogically.

That is all.

Hellboy

2010-04-18T14:02:00.001-07:00

That is all.

You know what the suns all about when the lights go out.

2010-01-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Hello.

Plan on doing a small skip in Maya at the weekend so keep on coming back for that bit of action!

Here is a little something i forgot to upload but did some time ago.

Illustrator - Adriana:
That is all.

"The moment you stop learning, you start dying."

2010-01-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

Starting back, the weather was very bleak and keeping warm became my main concern.

Getting back into the swing of the year, i drew one or two things but have been focusing on getting students back into the swing on things and making sure everyone is on track.

I have been learning the new tricks of Flash CS4 so not much to show in the way of animation this week.

That is all.

Jump and Kick

2009-12-13T03:56:00.001-08:00

Jump and kick it's all in the mind!

That is all.

Pose to pose.

2009-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

I animate Pose to pose, should i put my blocking stages on the blog, please leave your thoughts, who ever it is that is reading. This had about 4 golden poses and 2 inbetweens. Anywho.

That is all.

SATAN SAID DRAW!

2009-05-11T17:58:00.001-07:00

I can taste the end of my teaching course, as a result, i seem to be drawing more. This, as well as other things is making me a rather happy chap!