So here was my response.

It’s the biggest open source 3D software and Ton (the founder) is a good guy with an honorable vision. It can model, rig, texture, animate, FX, composite and even has a video game engine built in.

The project that is currently in-progress is going to be live action. Google even donated some of its employees to create a 3D camera solving component to help with create high-end visual effects.

Here are some open-source movies that they created using this FREE software.

And Big Buck Bunny certainly displays a high level of quality with it’s fur.

What’s this on my arm? Aw nothin. Just a scratch. *cough* *cough* Really, I’m fine.

Modeling a brain sounds like a pain.
Pulling points in the wrinkles is driving me insane.

So I’m trying to puff it up with some baking.

Step 1. Rebuild this from scratch. The gyrus need to be smaller and the sulcus (wrinkles) need to be more frequent.

Step 2. Use this popping accident to my advantage.

*UPDATE*

Ok, this looks more like a brain.

On top of that, he mentions a major performance issue in Houdini 11 when dealing with instanced shaders. Specifically, it’s an issue with the displacement being calculated, even when it’s not needed. And he posted a link to a fix in the SideFX forums.

And on top of that… through his Vimeo profile, I found this slick MRI plugin for Lightwave.

I also have the opportunity of getting my own brain scanned.  How creepy is that?

Below is a video that I recorded from Siggraph 2004 in Los Angeles. I finally put it online.

Tickets acquired and RSVPed for parties.

This calendar should give you an idea of all the parties I plan on attending. That’s right, I have my priorities in order.

After Siggraph, I’ll be attempting to get things organized in Vancouver before heading off to Burning Man.

Seems I was smart to purchase my ticket far in advance, because they are currently sold out.

Just doing a little playing with a SSS shader in Houdini.

But I digress…

This drawing is significant for many reasons, but one reason specially. It’s one of the few times in the last few times where I was totally lost in the process of drawing with a pen. I spent hours drawing this silly little drawing. That’s right.. HOURS. I think I doodled this, with a blue ball point sketch over the period of 3 hours, while watching various films on the plane… to Sweden… while watching the movie mentioned above… remember? Yes, I find it calming… even now. Even after all this time, I still stumble across it in my “art” folder and it calms me. It makes me wonder when I will again spend 3+ hours working on a simple doodle. Something not created for money. Not created to give it to someone else… but created for myself (though I think I eventually gave it away).

That’s all I wanted to say. I will continue with my cg work now… but I wanted to note the significance of this image, as it has just relaxed my eyes and posture, to the point of near bliss. Take it, steel it.  Use it as your logo. Tattoo it on your inner thigh.  Just mention it’s the product of CJ.

You should go over and checkout the latest image he’s uploaded to his new site.  For now, here’s a little bit of fan art for my bud.

I cannot look back and cannot image even trying. Sorry.