BA, University of California. Davis. MFA, Rhode Island School of Design. Hittmeier is an interdisciplinary artist and curator, whose work integrates computer-assisted design and rendering with physical media such as painting and drawing. He has exhibited nationally and internationally at Nancy Margollis Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Ontario College of Art and Design, SPRING/BREAK, Arlington Arts Center, Transfer Gallery, Coherent Gallery, High Noon Gallery, and the Austrian Cultural Forum, among others. He is a founding member of Below Grand Gallery (formerly Super Dutchess Gallery) in New York City. Hittmeier teaches at Lehman College and Pratt Institute, as well as at Sarah Lawrence College. SLC, 2023–
Undergraduate Courses 2023-2024
Filmmaking and Moving Image Arts
Digital 3D Animation: Character and Environment Building
Open, Seminar—Year
At a time when digital, three-dimensional space has saturated our visual vocabulary in everything from design and entertainment to gaming, now more than ever it is important to explore the interface of this space and find methods for unlocking its potential. This is an introductory course for Maya, the industry-standard 3D modeling and animation software. Over two semesters, we will learn the fundamental approaches to environment building, 3D modeling, character creation, character rigging, and keyframe animation. This course will also provide a comprehensive understanding of the important process of rendering, using texturing, lighting, and staging. We will explore how all of these processes may culminate in narrative-based animations, alongside how 3D constructions can be exported into everything from film projects to physical media. Great emphasis will be placed on experimentation in navigating between digital and physical processes. Exercises and assignments will be contextualized through lectures and with readings of both historical and contemporary creators in the field.
Faculty
Previous Courses
Filmmaking and Moving Image Arts
3D Digital Animation: Character and Environment Design
Open, Small seminar—Year
At a time when digital, three-dimensional space has saturated our visual vocabulary in everything from design and entertainment to gaming, now more than ever it is important to explore the interface of this space and find methods for unlocking its potential. This is an introductory course for Maya (and, in the spring semester, Zbrush and Substance Painter), which are industry-standard software for 3D modeling and animation. Over two semesters, we will learn the fundamental approaches to environment building, 3D modeling, character creation, character rigging, and keyframe animation. This course will also provide a comprehensive understanding of the important process of rendering, using texturing, lighting, and staging. We will explore how all of these processes may culminate in narrative-based animations, alongside how 3D constructions can be exported into everything from film projects to physical media. Great emphasis will be placed on experimentation in navigating between digital and physical processes. Exercises and assignments will be contextualized through lectures and with readings of both historical and contemporary creators in the field.