Category: Kinara’s Children Today
Movin’ on up: KinarasChildren.com
KinarasChildren.com is LIVE Great news everyone. Kinara’s Children are movin’ on up. To a deluxe website in the cloud. It was way overdue but now Umoja, Nia, Ujima, Kuumba and the crew have new digs on their own site: KinarasChildren.com. For those who may be new here check this brief summary of what this project is all about: The Kinara’s Children project is a website Read More …
Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Winter hasn’t officially started but Umoja’s already thinking of spring. She’s looking forward to tending her garden and raising her flowers…in the sunshine. This one actually comes with a soundtrack. Here are some variations on a theme. If you didn’t know that Umoja was an avid gardener, you’ll soon find out. The fruits and veggies are cool, but her sunflowers are her pride and Read More …
Umoja: Kickin’ Back on the Couch
Here’s a bit of a throwback. Umoja’s Kickin’ Back on the Couch. I made this back in July but never posted it because it’s really just a sketch. I’ve been learning to rig and pose 3D figures in Blender so I can later render them out as coloring book images. Once a figure is rigged, you have to test it out to be sure the Read More …
Ujamaa’s Hero: Mansa Musa, the Wealthiest Person in History
When we suggested Ujamaa make himself up as an African Hero for Halloween we should have known he’d go all out. So it’s no surprise that Ujamaa, the Entrepreneur, decided to dress up this year as Mansa Musa, the 14th Century West African ruler who is said to be the richest man of all time. Not only was he rich, he was also generous. Read More …
Kinara’s Children Coloring Book: Ujima and Ujamaa
Here’s another batch of images potentially destined for my upcoming coloring book. I haven’t forgotten about this project but have been patiently creating a workflow that would allow me to “easily” render these out of my 3D software, Blender, with crisp outlines for coloring. As I worked on it I really liked the comic book effect I was getting with the color behind the line Read More …
Stay Safe–Stay Strong
Hi Folks. I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe, and those cooped up at home are not going stir crazy just yet. The Children feel your pain and this is what passes for a house party right about now. Kuumba and Nia are providing the music and Ujamaa has drinks (for a limited time low price, natch). No food right now just to Read More …
2020 Goals: Clothing and Texturing
Clothing and Texturing Another goal for the year is to create African themed clothing for all seven Kinara’s Children characters. In order to make new clothing, I use a combination of modeling new meshes (3D shapes) or downloading clothing meshes from various sources. Once sized and fitted to the figures, the meshes can be combined and retextured into brand new KC African style fashions. Read More …