Prezi - My Process

So got hold of Prezi and I've uploaded all my ideas and thought processes. I've not set it up into a presentation format as that was not the point of this. This was to have everything I have researched and worked towards, for the Tex Avery project, in one place. So I recommend to Just look at it in full view rather than with the arrows as that accomplishes nothing. Just press escape when done.




This has everything from my reading lists for each artefacts, failed attempts and even my first presentation ever for this project.

Rough scene setup

It starts....

 

Slight Change

So I've looked at the bearded man so much I don't know how to improve it, I think I'm going to have to give it a break for a whole.

So with that in mind I've started my essay properly, not just the research and quotations for it. Forgot how hard writing was, spent nearly all day just doing the introduction, September I hope is going to be a long month. 4000 words here I come!

 

This is my mood and inspiration board for my essay. I'm going to get it done!

Styles and Logos

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

Ok bit naughty but... He's got a BEARD!

Ok I know I've got like a billion and one different projects going on, but this idea struck me and theres nothing else out there like it. I have started my essay, and getting all my research together, to be honest I've got the answer and what I want to study in my final year, but it's how to best word the question, so I get to add all the things I want to study into it. Also my client project is coming on, but uni systems are being updated so I can't use them at the minute so it will have to wait.

Oh my chicken animation has come to a stand still BUT... Yesterday someone contacted me asking if it was possible to use it, a video company wanted to use it in a wedding video they were doing. How good is that?? So later today I'm going to get back on it, especially if someone thinks it good enough just from the 6second walk cycle.

Anyway back to the present this bearded fellow, just started the background, something I still haven't got my head around taking me an entire day to get the courage and begin drawing it. I didn't know how to start it what setting would best suit him, I was thinking indoors but then lighting became an issue. Then I thought about him on water almost meditating like, but that too became a bit too complex. I'm only a little beginner so that I'd start a little easier and do it in a forest setting. So here is the base, I might change the colouring, I'm going to add little light orbs around him, make it more mystical. Just have a play. Hopefully the base is a good enough start for me to get my head around scenery painting.

Practice makes perfect!

 

The Butterfly Walk

So I'm taking a bit of a break from my animation, going to save it for my long journey back to the UK tomorrow. Trying to figure out to best do the background to my chicken walk, I've got all the ray ideas but getting it into the animation is going to be a bit tedious and complex. I've got a 14hr journey ahead of me so plenty of time to kill. So today went on a walk and came across this little fella. My sister though he was adorable and I manage to capture his fantastic little expression, definitely something I'm going to give a go at drawing.

Anyway this walk primarily was a butterfly hunt, haven't been on one of those since I was a child, can barely remember the names of most of them. I managed to capture three decent pictures of this very pretty little things. I think it's important that even though I'm on holiday and taking a break from my animation to still keep the creative juices flowing.

I spotted this Gate Keeper on my mums flowers. He sat there a little while just long enough for me to take the picture of him against the pink.

Then we saw this large White fluttering across to some flowers, spent ages chasing him, only find that these guys are fluttering all over the place.

And finally I saw this beautiful creature just chilling on some nettles. Such a lovely juxtaposition, I couldn't have asked for more. He didn't even move when he had my giant iPad in his face. The Admiral, one of my favourite butterflies as a child, he kept wings perfectly still so I could see all the detail!

I thought I might save this one till last, definitely my favourite of the three, and thats including the goat.

Anyway I've also been commissioned to create a logo for a website, similar to Groupon but for Gay men. Having a meeting with the creator next week. Hopefully I will be able to create something to his liking, as I definitely do need the money!

 

Chickens Walk Cycle

So I've begun my first ever hand drawn animation, just in time for the iAnimate competition. It's still a bit rough, but day by day I'm getting better and better, it's steadily being tidied up bit by bit. Considering I had no idea on how a chicken walks (my chickens must be fed up of my staring at them!) and had never successfully made a flip book or hand drawn animation of any kind, I don't think I've done too badly. I'm using the Animation Desk app on my iPad to create it, it's a bit fiddly at times and mid way through they updated the software and changed everything, Just as I was getting used to it! But with the mini set backs I think I'm getting the hang of it. I've only animated 72 frames at the minute, and at 12 frames a second that's only just 6seconds long. I'm planning to start animating the background, and have lots of things happening, like buildings being built, wars, aliens, chaos that kind of thing, life in general. Yet have the chicken causally strolling along, un fazed by the turmoil and chaos around it. It the lays an egg, and the end slogan will be "Life goes on"

That's exactly what happens, life goes on regardless of what occurs, or problems faced, life will always carry on in some way or another. I think it'll be quite interesting to watch, and if I can make the background elements interesting enough, I think it could be quite a good animation.

 

Tell you what, France is doing me a world of good!

 

I ain't no Chicken

Well since I've started blogging again, I've actually drawn something, rather than sat there thinking about it! It was a good idea to start again, and in France I have complete peace of mind. Anyway I've been drawing away on the Procreate app and have come up with these 6 designs:

After asking others opinions, number 3 was clearly out of the running, it was also my least favourite of the bunch, but it was my first attempt at a chicken, as I designed the others I got better and better until I finally finished with number 4 /5, my favourite is number 4 with four and 2 being a close 2nd and 3rd. Although he only reason why others liked number 2 was for the beak so I might transfer that over to number 4. I liked number 5 until someone said it looked too much like a cockerel, which is true, a fat one at that.

I think number four is the one I'm definitely going for, it's a cartoon without being too over the top, but there is still some humour there in the design. It also resembles the Magic flute (my real chicken). I'm going to start animating it today, just the walk cycle see if I can get the hang of their walk.

It won't be in colour in the actual animation, I'm keeping it simple!

Long time Avoiding

So while I've been on holiday, I seem to have lost motivation, or more likely I burnt myself out , especially towards the end of term. I think I needed a good break from it give my mind a bit of a reboot, so I can come back to it refreshed. Although that's not saying I haven't been thinking creatively I think I'm ready to get back on it, ideas and the to do list is getting bigger and bigger each week. So I think i shall begin again. I've set up my iPad so I can blog regularly so no more excuses. I'm using an app called Blogsy, really good interface, just figured out how to upload photos as well which is going to be useful. Plus I can upload videos so all my hand drawn animations which i'll be creating using Animation Desk (awesome app by the way).

I think it's this photo I took of a giant carpenter bee that may have sprung me back into action, along with my mums chickens. I never realised how funny a chickens walk is, so I've begun designing my own chicken and will be animating its walk cycle. Then I'm hoping to make little animations based upon this chicken using Animation Desk. I've got some ideas of how my chicken should look, I'm hoping this little exercise will help understand and appreciate the animation style of Tex Avery. As that is what my enter next years essay and project is on. Although Andy emailed me just to tweak the question a little as I've managed to make it a little difficult for myself, AGAIN!!

Currently I am in France, it's the one place where my mind is completely at ease, I think it's because my mum and dad take control and I don't have to be an adult or responsible for a few weeks. Well that's the conclusion I've come to. Oh these are the chickens that have inspired me, they're Sussex chickens or something I'm not quite sure, anyway here they are. They make the most oddest noise, and when they run I find it hilarious, so hopefully I can figure out how it's legs actually move, as the knee is bent opposite to ours and the balance of things I Think is off.

Once I have figured out the mechanics of the creatures I can then animate it correctly, I've video them, watched them and still can't figure it out. So I think I'm going to have to watch Chicken Run and some YouTube videos just to help grasp how they move. I will be uploading some designs of my chicken today and maybe even a outline walk through too.

We have a chubbier chicken and a more stream line one, I think I'm going to be basing my ideas on the fatter one as she genuinely has more personality and we have nicknamed her the Magic Flute as she never shuts up and makes the most bizarre noise, our chickens don't cluck and they have no fear either, well until you suddenly move and the leap away.

Anyway here she is, hopefully I can d her some justice in my designs as it is all down to her that I've wanted to start animating again. I think my mojo is coming back, my mind is more relaxed, France has taken off the pressure. I'll be here a few more weeks, so hopefully I'll have something worth while.

Also today I'll upload some videos I've taken of them walking around and just doing chicken things, like scratching the floor, pecking at insects and flapping their wings.

Wish me luck on my quest for motivation and getting back on the animation trail.

Posted with Blogsy

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.

Facial Expressions

I've been watching these clips, trying to learn the range of facial expressions. I can't wait to kick Hagatha into action, well as soon as i get the modelling thing sorted. Really frustrating as she is not working the way I want her too, every time I model her and add a few more sub division layers to her in Mudbox, she goes weird when I export it. So annoying, but hopefully Andy can save whats left of my hair.



Anyway these little guys have definitely brightened up my day, some very funny quick sketcghes. Something I would really love to get into.

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'.

Tweaking and Playing

So I've re done the UVW Map to Hagatha, along with re doing her model in Mudbox. It was very flat and bland and I couldn't figure out why, but after a few discussions I realised that I hadn't been using my original design as a reference but just doing it from memory. Anyway by doing this it looked flat and dull, so I've gone back into Mudbox and started from scratch. So here is the difference now from the original image:

Original above, Below the Tweaked.

She is getting some real shape now in her torso, the "shelf" is more obvious and so is her stomache and bulge. The tweaking has just begun, this may put me back a little bit but there is no point in doing things in half measures.

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.

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.

Character Design

So here is character one for my animation. I'm now starting character two, and over the weekend I will be working on the Scenery. This project for me is important to show my ideas and workings before the animation as this is perfect practice for the job area I want to go into. I need to develop the skills needed for this career path, along with building up a porfotolio worthy to show people. Developement is key.

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.

Mudbox Practice

I can't believe how quickly I'm getting the hang of this, it only took 2.5hrs to build and paint. Started with a sphere, and finished with this. The stalk was the awkward bit, but I think l've found a new way which will allow me to build upon a smaller surface area, the sculpt tool. So now because I feel that I've got the hang of this i think it's time to move forward onto the next level. Can't tell you how much I love this program and my graphics table.
So onto maybe a creature or even a christmas decoration in spirit of the season. We'll see...

It's Decemeber

Well I'm on the last stretch of this advert I just have to tweak one little bit of it and add music, then it is finito. I've just uploaded the begininng of the piece, so you can get a feel of where I am heading with it. Alll the other bits of animation are done, I've just got to add a high impact sequence for the name, then I'll have it all done by thursday I think, depending on how long the music takes me to do. The after effects animation bits aren't great and it does need cleaning up, but that only comes with practice and me getting into it. I think though I'll use after effects mainly for title sequences, becuase i really really enjoy doing that, and this project has taught me so much more than when I used it for the Chess animation. All these skills now are just adding up.

I also can't believe it is decemeber, so the next few blogs will be a bit sparse but will be to do with the next project; The Still Life piece. Little bit nervous to begin it as I know it has to be precise as well as materials being spot on as well, plus lighting. It is a composition piece, and you can't hide things going wrong through moving pieces like in animation. Maybe a christmas miracle will happen.

Plus this christmas I will begin designing my two characters in the Silent comedy animation I'll be doing. I've already got the idea. characters and sequences playing out in my head. Just got to start drawing, downside to that is at my parents home they don't have a scanner. So it will be after new year when the sketches will loaded up unless I take pictures, but they never come out any good.

Teaching Myself After Effects

So with little knowledge I had of After Effects I set out to make a scene that is going to be in my advert. For a first time it's not too bad, and I've tried to remember animation basics. Its actually really fiddly, but once you get it, you're sorted. I know it can be better and less basic cartoony but be gentle its my first time. I like it because once the giant velcro balls attach, Octi slows down and it looks heavey, exactly the feel I wanted.
Weaves in and out, collects the big black 100 then ends up collecting a load more and starts getting weighed down.

Gonna finsih the Slithering scene tonight and hopefully put it all together tomorrow, going to try adding a fast blur effect to the slithering scene.