Location location written Whilst Flying

So right now I'm flying over the ocean to trondheim, Norway. The company Norwegian.no are awesome, inflight wifi, sooooooo useful and even better they have flight entertainment, like prank shows on the tvs. Anyway back to the main reason why Im writing this on an areoplane, the evaluation of my Location location project, which was created in 5 solid days of working. The reason why I had such little time creating this project is due to a backlog of the other projects because of flooding, anyway I had only been able to sketch and play around and practice a little volumetric lighting. Anyway when last week I was able to begin working solely on this environment piece, I'm actually really glad I only had five days to work on it, as it really pushed my limits. There was no time to make stupid mistakes, I really planned everything out, looking a the structures, and problem solving in a way I didn't know I could. This project completely smashed all my previously thought limitations. Im actually really happy with how all the modelling came out, the textures really make it. I'm also really glad I chose to model the inside of the Witchs house from Hansel and Gretel, I think it's not something that's really been done before, so I didn't have the issue of thinking I was perhaps going to be copying someone else. Everything was from my own research and thought process, which really shows in my sketches. Everything was planned down to the very last detail like the clay pottery on the table, and only a wooden spoon, as in that era the rural community didn't use knives and forks. I thought about the materials the witch would actually have considering she lived in the thick of the Black Forest, even to the type of oak and rock available to her. It was really important to me to keep it as natural and rustic as possible, I wanted to steer clear of the americanised version of the candy covered cottage that was colourful all over, and stick with how the Brothers Grimm probably envisioned it. The Walls made up of Bread and sugar windows, it being a rustic little cottage in the middle of the forest. I also took into consideration the Witchs character, she is described to be centuries old, so she'd be behind the current times of the 18th century when it was set. Plus she is almost completely blind, she uses her smell mostly, smelling the children before they even find the house. My great auntie is in a similar position and she rarely has any lights on, living in a small compact home, so everything she'd need is close by. So I put this knowledge into practice with my little old witch's house, keeping it dark and mysterious in, giving u a sense of how she sees the world. I find it always a little spooky when it's complete darkness in the corners and shadows everywhere. I also made a point of having the cages up high letting the coloured sugar window cast the bar like shadows across she walls. I also wanted to keep the cages hidden till you entered the house, like the children of the story, it didnt seem sinister till it was too late and they were trapped inside. Although in my 60 second walk through I don't think I did my oven place justice, its another important element to the story and I spent quite a bit of time modelling and texturing the organic clay oven. It's also hidden behind the table and cauldron, so I might go back to it later and create an image that makes it the primary focus. Along with all the modelling, I'm really happy with how the coloured foggy light from the window shines down onto the floor and cauldron, it to me helps hint to the outside that's covered in sweets and goodies that lure little children in. It was important to make the window the main source of light, it is the only symbol and suggestion of what the outside looks like. I have a few candles around just to help brighten it up a little and fool the children into they thing is a cosy little home. I think I've made it a little too dark but that's how I wanted it portrayed, if I had a little more time I may have added maybe a few more in, but it is not a must for me. Overall I'm really really happy with how it turned out, and especially as I did it in 5 days it's really amazing to see what one can accomplish in such a short amount of time. Well I must finish up here seems the plane is starting its descent.

Location, Location Complete

Welcome into the dark and eerie cottage of the witch, now you know what it looks like on the inside of the sweetie cake covered house from Hansel and Gretel.



In Just a few days we have This

So this just shows how my Location, Location project is coming along. I've taken the roof off so its possible to see the layout more cleary inside. I'm hopefully going to have finished the modelling by tonight, so tomorrow can be based on lighting. Hopefully Roma will be around to help a little. Then render the finished thing on wednesday and had it in, well maybe leave it to render over tuesday night so I can just hand it in sooner or sort out any problems that may occur. Really really wish I had more time, just to develop the models more and have a bit more of a play around, not quite sure why all the deadlines are sooo close together especially as we have a month left with only a small side project to do, but oh well, it is just the way it is. I havent done too bad considering I've only seriously begun modelling and building for a few days now.

La Update

Taa daaa, getting there bit by bit, not as far a head as I like though.

Quick test Renders

Just some quick renders I thought I'd share with, just showing my progress, I'm planning to change the wooden beams to a darker wood, and the table should be finished by tomorrow morning, along with the chairs and then onto the fireplace. The fire place is going to be the hardest thing, might have to rethink that one, make it more oven like rather then so natural.

Update... Witch Hagatha and the New iPad

So my Silent Comedy story has had some radical changes due to time, body limitations, need for a better animation, and me being ill (Hence the reason for not updating sooner). Anyway I just wanted to share with you what I've created so far, I am literally now finishing up on the last scene, so I might hang on a little while before I actually show that, no point in showing half finished work when I'm sooo close to being done.
The story has been changed about 5 times now, I have three written up and two different storyboards, so you can see I've actually tried to work on some of them in my actual animation and decided no its not working. To be honest had I not changed it I might be finished by now, I've had a sneak preview of a few others and they havent concentrated on the story as much as me, its just about the animation, which is really good as that's all really Andy wants. I just can't be satisfied with that, I have to do every tiny bit, in fact there is a scene right at the beginning of my animation that I'm not quite happy with, and already thinking about re doing it all. Its very frustrating, but I havent got the time to dally, the longer I spend animating the more Roma's project, the Hansel and Gretel one, suffers.There is such a battle going on in my head, but I think I've made a decision because next teh area I'm choosing to do an in depth study in is Animation, its really important for me to get as much under my belt now.
Unfornately my poor little laptop couldnt take anymore, the powerful programs I'd been using like Mudbox, 3ds Max and Photoshop finally took its toll. So My grandparents and other family relatives have helped me invest in a new 32gb iPad 3 (birthday coming up), I know its not a great subsitute for a new laptop, but I am saving up to be able to build my own computer, so I'll be able to update it when ever needed, meaning that it'll never go out of date and will be a lasting thing. I feel there is definitely no point in buying a new laptop as after a few years they just can't cope. Which brings me to the reason why I have become an Apple Slave.
I can not afford a fancy flash imortal desktop computer just yet, but I do really need something for the summer while the Univesity computers are closed. It's ridiculous to not be able to do anything digitally creative for for 5 months. So after a good few months researching, and plenty of in depth conversations with my fiancee and family, I gave in. I'll use the iPad as a portable sketchbook, using "Apps" like Sketchbook Pro and Brushes, Autodesk 123d Sculpt, Moodboard Pro or Adobe Ideas,  Animation Desk and of course probably GarageBand or some kind of music creating app for my animations. I've aslo invested in the same stylus pen as David Hockney the Alupen, plus a hard case (don't want to damage something that costs more then my Bills). I hope this does help and change the way I work, which is very slow due to the process of transferring a rough sketch into a piece of digital Art work. I'll be able to create on the move which is the ideal thing, I understand there is a lack of pressure sensitivity but looking back I've struggled with that in my normal graphics tablet anyway.
Anyway I get it tomorrow, and hopefully I can hook it up to blogger and show some doodles or something, will also create some music for my animation. By the end of this week, we'll find out if it was a good investment or will it end up on ebay as part of a packaged with pen and case.

Test Renders of Hagatha

So here is a scene render, finally got all the props and the broom character, I don't know wether or not to add a a cat rig to the broom, so I might do that tomorrow. Anyway I can finally start really animating the story out tomorrow. Although it will be the altered shortened version. Anyway below is her walk cycle just a little longer:

I love shes sooo bouncy

Hagatha's Walk

So here is a short clip of her walking: