Not sure why?

Its been a while since I've uploaded anything onto here, its been a bit hectic for me. Anyway I have been doing work, and I have been able to do it all on my nice big fancy computer <-- Which has been made by me!

Farmer Model

Right I let stress and deadlines take over, and have let it for a few weeks now. So I am behind but it is my own fault, I was trying to rush things and basically just forgot my own process. The process that has worked so well for me these past few years. Anyway I am shaking it off and Ive started from kinda scratch, getting myself back on track. This is soooo much better than my last model and, I have taken the time to sketch it out properly, like this one below...

There is a clear direction for the farmer. Going to texture him and get on with the wolf.

The Horrifying Rant!

So I know i said I'd write a blog about my internal project yesterday, but I actually was very productive in another project, my Research Project.
After spending a good time reading what is expected of me in the 3000-4000 words research paper, and what is necessary in such a paper, I've come to realise that there are not enough words for what I want to talk about. I thought it would be a in depth discussion, but apparently not the case. The extra section like 'background to research', 'research methodology' and 'description of proposed practice' can surely be merged into other areas. Why waste entire sections for this headings when it is a creative course, I'd understand more if it were a soical/science dissitations, as then it is obviously advantageous. But by giving entire sections away means having to write more than just a few sentences and writing something more substantial to justify having it as a section, right?
I don't know, maybe my lack of experience is showing, but there is not much logic behind it, yet others have done it in the past. Although with this is mind, after reading the example given to us as reference from someone last year, their discusson section was mostly pictures?!! They too didn't have enough to space to write. Maybe I'm being too optimistic in what I intend to write and will be glad to have so few words.
Anyway least I have a structure in place and a topic that interestes me. In fact I went to see 'Hotel Transylvania' yesterday. Good film, not great, but definitely would watch and enjoy it again.

In terms of animation I actually expected more extreme poses, it was great what they accomplished don't get me wrong, but it didnt have the wild takes I was expecting after reading some of the articles that Genndy Tartakovsky wanted it to be like the wild Warner Bros. and Tex Avery Cartoons.

They've done an awesome job at finally a new way to animate, rather then try and copy the kingpins Pixar. Its very much like Tex's work in the grand era of Walt Disney. Animation needs a fresh perspective, I know the picture above shows some extraggeration, but it wasnt like that all the way through the film, in fact some of the extreme emotions didnt really show till towards the end , which i dont understand as dracula had plenty bursts of rage since the beginning of the film. I would love to have seen it pushed more.

In fact that is what my finally year is all about, pushing the limits of animation. Tartakovsky's team had to re program and script how the rigs and models would morph so as to make it smooth and not crumpled or disfigured in a horrific mess. I'm not sure how I'm going to go about doing it, but I know they used Maya. so thats what I intend to learn today, wish me luck.

text Postitions

Logos Coloured

GiCandi Designs Finalizing

Coloured Designs

quick update

Another quick design before I'm thrown out of the computer room

Styles and Logos

Have another meeting this evening, just to update on progress and make sure im heading in the right direction.

Successful Meeting One

Well had my meeting yesterday and it went very well, we're going to meet weekly. Anyway after showing some of my rough designs, this one was a winner, so ive expanded on it since then, taking into account the text style and coloruing they wanted. I'll be doing plenty of variations on this, this is just day ones worth of work. I'll be getting quicker and quicker narrowing it down to the perfect design they want.
the logo will be the cocktail glass with the lolly/olive being the initials GC for GiCandi

Painting

learning to paint properly in Photoshop, here is the first stage of my concept for the Graphi Novel/film I have in mind. Its called 'Pods'.

I DID I DID see a putty cat

Still practicing my drawing skills and photoshop. It's simple stuff like this that builds a portfoilio. Especially as I know exactly how I'm going to digitalise my sketchbooks properly for the real portfolio I'd hand to potential employers as a concept artist. If I keep doing stuff like this by the end of the summer I'll have quite a collection. Anyway this is me and emma as Cats, I took the the previouse images I drew and changed us into cats.

2012 Showreel

So here it is, my first ever go at making a showreel, theres a lot that could be improved, but there is plenty there that shows the hardwork. The most important thing is how much I have come along in such a short space of time, and this really shows that. From having nothing for two years to suddenly being able to pull together a 2minute showreel, I wish I could add more into it showing my knowledge of all the programs I know, like after effects and Maya, but this will do for now. It can only get better as my own skills improve, i also think that my next one will be more conceptual based this one is all about what I've learnt my next one will be me not having to rely on that but show all the things I can accomplish. I have added my sketches onto the DVD just not into the Showreel, I have a good idea of what I'm going to do for that too when I get there. One step at a time though.
Anyway as promised here is my baby, can't wait to watch it grow:



Also want to apologise for the flickering I uploaded the wrong version to Vimeo, but u get the jist.

Little ol' me

Yes this is what I used to look like as a kid, always wore tshirts that were way to big for me, along with my my scraggly hair my poor mother used to have to try and tackle every morning. I was a rough and tumble kind of kid, I think this quick sketch somes me up quite nicely.
Could do with some tweaking, but I started to take too long on it, took me an hour as I kept getting distracted.

Morning practice

Just some mid morning practice, 30mins from that poor photographed sketch below. I'm practicing to speed paint basically, and half an hour to have it sketched out in photoshop and coloured isnt too bad. Just trying to build up my portfolio I guess.

The Modelling begins

So here is a screen shot of Hagatha's Torso and arms, I thought it time that I plucked up the courage to begin the modelling process, I can just keep adding drawings as I go along, it is no longer essential. Well apart from the storyboard, key scenes and her facial movements, thats all I really have left to draw up. Will update again once she has legs.

It had to be done

Ok after a lot of tossing and turning last night, I couldnt sleep properly at all and the reason is because of this still life project. I knew I hadnt worked my best, i did at the beginning but slowly I've just gotten more lazy. So today I kicked myself into gear and re done the scene and surroundings, no longer is it just a rubbish picture I took on my phone, it has been completely re modelled:

I've used my own kitchen as a reference, like the surface and side boards. I didnt want to go over the top with the plates and knives as they're just a background feature although while I was modelling I did a quick render and got this cool shot:

I really like the reflection from the steel border, especially as you can see how much detail i've put into the loaf of bread. Anyway I'm gradually becoming more proud of my work again like I was at the beginning, just think I hit a rut at one point, hopefully will pull it back before the deadline.
I still have to sort out the lid and the fact it looks a little lifeless.

Sharpened Pencils

So thought I'd add some of my sketches and idea process for this Silent comedy project. I really want to focus on the  character designs and the process along with it. I've got quite a few ideas swimming round, here are a few: Hiccupping Cat Burgular, Witches first broom, The chicken and the Naughty Egg.

I get bored of writing so I like to sketch as I go along helps with the visualisation process. Never know when an idea is going to stick. (Sorry not been able to rotate image, using the phone).

Below is how the process begins, in this project I'm not going to concentrate so much on being neat and tidy, i'm just gonna do it.

 Since hearing this project last term, i've been stuck on one idea, unfortunately I've let it fester, so ove rthe weekend I bought the looney tunes boxset, loving it!!! Also the Laurel and Hardy Collection, surprising how much its helped. There is a sketch on the Road Runner DVD where Wile E Coyote has a broomstick, simple short funny sketch. I realised throughout the DVD's I loved the ones with ghouls and monsters in, and it led me to witches... This might be the route i'm going to take. Its funny there is alot i can do with it, along with the character design of it all, just a simple background is nessecary with the main focus being this little fat witch struggling with her 1st ever broom. Yes I think that is a better idea then my last which started getting too complex and would be better as a short film then a 1-3minute one. To be honest it may all change again, so will keep u posted.

Background Inserted

So I've almost sorted the environment, just need to play around with the lighting so it all fits, the background is actually the one at home, changed my mind about the one in France as I didnt have all the shots needed to complete it and I want it more homely than that, what better place but my own home here in Nottingham. Anyway Knife blade needs adjusting along with the glass Jar, I want to avoid Mental ray for the time being until I understand it fully. I think I will wait till tuesday and speak to Roma on how to achieve the best effect. I'm getting there though bit by bit.
I have also begun my big animation project due in April (sounds along way away but is NOT) anyway I have a decent idea for the Silent comedy but I just need to start sketching it out and putting it into practice before it can fully develope.
Anyway this is the background added:

This is just the model setup.

The Sketches

So here are the basic sketches I begun with before I started modelling, sorry both the camscanner and camera didnt give the best quality, but it will do for now. Also keeping with my New Year's resolution still practicing my drawing skills, I'm going to start my graphic novel initial sketches soon, its called P.O.D.S its futuristic and creepy. Anyway back to my Still Life sketches, here they are;

 And Bread is surprisingly hard to draw, out of all of it, that was definitely the most challenging.

 I now can say I practice drawing anything, chopping boards! Never ever have I drawn different styles of chopping boards. I can see myself in the future needing to be able to draw different styles of knives, maybe even jars, but chopping boards is new one.

Never realised how many different types of spoons there are out there, like there shapes and styles of handles. Anyway the Bread might have been hardest to draw, the spoon was definitely hardest to model.
I think after this I will upload my latest bit of work on this project, I've re done the knife handle and chopping board.