"Strawberries!" Senior Thesis Film
3D Integration
I have about three years of Blender experience, which I used to help with film work! In this scene, the motion of the falling tools was a physics simulation in Blender that I rotoscoped. The final positions of everything was shifted around, but it really sped up this complicated scene!
All models were made by me. Florence's model was not directly used in any shots, but it was great to have as refrence for upshots / more extreme perspective.
(For example, the scene on the right)
Concept Art
Alternate outfit ideas to better convey the time passing during the montage
The first official Florence design! The original idea for the film was set in a world full of giant sized plants. Seeing how much detail I could add without overworking myself was the goal. I was able to keep most of it, but I did reduce the number of hair strands.
Eye detail tests! Top has the final close up eye design, but the extra hair detail is still present.
Toon Boom Harmony Animation Process
I knew I wanted shadows and extra details, but I wanted to make sure that was doable within the time I had. I learned a lot about the Toon Boom Harmony node system. Use of deformers and cutters allowed me to finish the whole film according to my original vision. (For example, I had a system that automatically colored my shadows using the correct palette.)
While the film is mostly traditionally animated, the bee character B-Dawg is often a simple puppet. Each part of her body is separated and animated with deformers and pegs. Her face is animated frame by frame. Because of this, scenes featuring B-Dawg were often finished ahead of schedule!
Animation Tests
I have just finished "Strawberries!", my senior thesis film! I'm very proud of how this came out. Harmonious colors and detailed character animation was a big priority. Please enjoy it!
General Animation Reel
Effects Animation Reel
(For mobile, turn device horizontal for easier viewing!)
The storyboard for my thesis film at SVA. (Currently in progress!)
Short comics
(Both of these were originally published in SVA's INK magazine!)
General Illustration
Book Illustration
I have illustrated three published children's books! You can find more about each project below:
"Bowl of A's"
A sweet story following an American woman who has just moved to Italy to teach English.
The original concept drawings! From the beginning creating a watercolor / textured feel was important.
Sometimes we ran through sketches very fast to get different ideas out (drawing on the left went through many many revisions), and sometimes the idea comes out almost fully formed!
Example of a page from start to finish! Since the author wanted specific Roman buildings featured, sometimes photobashing was used in the sketch phase. The Roman parliment building is what is featured in the final piece! Sketched in Clip Studio Paint, finished in Photoshop.
"Sean's Best Week at Camp Luna Peak"
First concepts! "Follow Me Cancer Free"'s protagonist was based off of the author, so the design came pretty easy. Sean had a few more variations. To match Melody from Cancer Free, we wanted to give him a plush as well.
Thumbnails for majority of the pages in the book. I start even smaller in a sketchbook to get ideas out quickly, and then refine them slightly so that the authors can understand the general idea. Then I take that and make one more rough sketch, lineart and color!
"Follow Me, Cancer Free!"
Illustration process! I started from rough storyboards that the author drew for me. After a sketch is first approved, the lineart is made. Then once that is approved, we move on to final edits and color! This piece is one of my favorites from the book.
Gracie Eastridge is an artist from California, currently studying animation in New York.She is well versed in both traditional 2D animation, as well as rigging / puppet animation techniques. She has also been working with Blender to add 3D elements to her work.She loves her bird, her two dogs, and the color orange!
For work related inquires, please contact her at:
Resume available HERE