Description
A brand-new Creature Art Teacher Studio Sessions assignment is now OPEN!
For this assignment, Aaron is challenging members to study and animate FOUR-LEGGED MOVEMENT by creating three separate animation cycles:
🐾 A WALK cycle
🐾 A TROT cycle
🐾 A RUN cycle
Your animal can be real OR imaginary... but it must move on four legs.
The goal isn't simply to move the legs. Aaron wants you to study the differences in mechanics, timing, rhythm, weight, and body movement between each gait.
Pay close attention to:
• How the body rises and falls
• Weight shifts through the shoulders and hips
• Head and neck movement
• Footfall patterns and timing
• Overlap and secondary action
• Tails, ears, and other loose parts that help bring the animal to life
Your animation does NOT need to be animated on ones. Work on twos, threes, or vary your timing wherever it best serves the movement.
The goal is convincing movement, believable weight, and a clear distinction between the WALK, TROT, and RUN.
We also strongly encourage members to take advantage of the Creature Art Teacher Locomotion Reference Library while working on the assignment. Study the reference, understand what the animal is doing, and then apply those principles to your own animation.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Submit 3 separate video links:
• 1 Walk Cycle
• 1 Trot Cycle
• 1 Run Cycle
Links may be hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, or another accessible video service.
📅 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, November 27, 2026
🎥 PRIVATE CRITIQUE SESSION: Thursday, December 10, 2026
WHAT ARE STUDIO SESSIONS?
Studio Sessions are an ongoing educational feature for Creature Art Teacher members. Aaron gives the community a focused assignment, members have several weeks to complete and submit their work, and then Aaron hosts a private critique session where he reviews selected submissions and discusses the work.
Studio Sessions are included as a FREE PERK with every Creature Art Teacher membership tier.
👉 BECOME A MEMBER:
https://CreatureArtTeacher.com/MEMBER
Already a member? Visit the Studio Sessions page for the complete assignment and submission information:
https://creatureartteacher.com/my-account/studio-sessions/
We’re looking forward to seeing what you create!
*** Subscribe to My Channel for More Art & Animation Videos: ***
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AaronBlaiseArt
============================
Like my work? Follow me for More:
============================
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AaronBlaiseArt
Instagram: http://instagram.com/AaronBlaiseArt
Facebook: http://facebook.com/TheArtofAaronBlaise
*** Find More Art Lessons and Tutorials at my Website: ***
https://CreatureArtTeacher.com/?src=yt
Watch MORE episodes:
Painting Rajah from "Aladdin" in Photoshop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuaMG0_-xWw
Creating Textures with Photoshop Texture Brushes:
http://goo.gl/WPGVO3
Time Lapse Painting “Nubian Warriors”:
http://goo.gl/JrVhp6
============================
About Aaron Blaise:
============================
Aaron Blaise is an animation feature film director and wildlife artist.
For 21 years Aaron worked with Disney helping to create some of the greatest animated films ever made. During that time he worked as an animator or supervising animator on "The Rescuers Down Under", "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", "The Lion King", "Pocahontas", "Mulan" and more.
In 2003 he was co-director of "Brother Bear" for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.
After "Brother Bear" he helped to develop several projects but ultimately left Disney to pursue an opportunity back home in Florida. Aaron recently served as 2D Animation Supervisor and Character Designer for the "The Bear and the Hare" an advertisement loved by millions around the world. (https://vimeo.com/78740926)
Aaron currently is working on his mission to bring affordable art education and animation training to the world through his website: https://CreatureArtTeacher.com/?src=yt