5DM031: week 2: more monster sketches (grim reaper)

As part of the mask making task, I've decided to change the theme to the monster of a Grim Reaper instead of a Cyclops as I saw the one eye as a flaw when it comes to making it suitable to see through in the performance stage.
Here are designs inspired by artists perceptions from the internet of a grim reaper aswell as an A3 sketch of the skull shape needed for knowing how to create the mask's features. For my design I also wanted to display some decay of skin on the face other than just a skull.

5DM034:week 3: posting letter footage and maya plan

This post shows the planning stage for the 3d animation of representing emotions through the scenario of sending a letter through the mailbox.

• Who are they (sex, age, class etc)

For mine, the character would be male, mid 20s, thief and courier/dealer

• Their intention is to post a letter, what is there obstacle?

For the scenario, the basis is that he is trying to send an envelope filled with drugs in the mailbox without been noticed or seen by anybody as he is watching every direction to make sure he isn't watched whilst discreetly placing the envelope into the mailbox. 

• Where are they coming from, where are they going?

I would say he would be coming from a gang of dealers from a secret hideout where they conduct their business without any eyes or suspicions from officials. For the package, I'd say it would be going to another courier or the buyer to conclude the business.

• What are they thinking, what's the back story?

The character would be thinking he needs to get this done straight away before he is noticed and needs to get back as quick but discreetly as possible to get what's owed of him for the trouble he goes through. The backstory would be that he is in debt and needs a quick fix on the situation before it gets worse which could create a sense of desperation and fear in what would happen if this isn't sorted and what will happen when he does these dangerous jobs.

5DM034: character animator (Glen Keane)

For my chosen character developer, my favourite is the work of animator Glen Keane.

Aswell as being an author and illustrator, he is well-known for his artist animation style portrayed through certain characters he has worked on and developed in Disney films from 70s to the present day.

 His famous creations include Tarzan, Rapunzel, Ariel, Aladdin, Pocahontas and the Beast. From his life time contributions and achievements, he has won awards including 'outstanding Individual achievement in the field of animation' (Annie Award, 1992) and a Winsor McCay Award (2008)

What I find fascinating about his work is that he is able to make his animation mark and personal drawing signature in both 2d and 3d elements. What I love the most is how he can take animation styles and create them to be more personal artistic expression. Furthermore, he's the sort of animator and artist that can keep pushing the boundaries to blend and produce a new artistic style within this medium. This would include the harmonious collaboration of hand-drawn and computer animated elements in 2012's 'Paperman', presented in the form of a black and white romantic story which would still be used in his future work; and in his new short 'Duet', he represents the full short's animation with organic drawings without the colour fill-ins but displayed in a negative and organic quality to show a different energy to this type of animated presentation.

What I've learned from an interview, he was more interested in being a painter when he was younger inspired by his father's artwork but he changed his motive over time when he attended the school of film graphics. From then on he started to love animation but wanted to blend his artistic knowledge into this movement by adding shading and textures to objects he was animating. But to achieve this sort of work he imagined, he made sure he knew the fundamental cracks of drawing through studying anatomy. 

Once he started animating, he wanted to keep the classical drawing element in all the work he does. This was by researching and being inspired by historical artists. From the creation of Ariel, he described about being inspired by french artist Francois Boucher through the Rococo art movement which focused on bringing more light hearted, asymmetrical design, curvaceous forms, graceful lines and combining drawing and colour within the paintings. This sort of advantage is what glen touched on and adapted into the creation of Ariel to generate a soft feel to the character. This sort of approach is how he research and developed his characters in other films. In my opinion, combined with the personalities created as well as the soft, simplistic, curvy tone of drawing style, you connect with the characters straight away and figure what sort of person they are from their visual displays.

What's more creative in his character development is when he finds his inspiration is from personal sources like his daughter's free style artistic personality becoming the traits needed to create Rapunzel; researching places like African jungles for the characteristics of Tarzan from the landmarks and environments and even taking drawing references for Pocahontas from her actual descendants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Keane
http://www.skwigly.co.uk/glen-keane-interview/
http://theartofglenkeane.blogspot.co.uk/

5DM031: week 2: more monster sketches (cyclops)

this post shows sketches of a Cyclops monster in drawing stages to get a good overdraft of what this character would look like and what scenario would they be placed in.

5AD008: concept art research notes (1)

These are rough notes and a spider diagram of the topic I am approaching in this module. But this might change over time as I look into the fundamental research needed to do the essay.

5DM031: week 1 (3rd-10th feb 2015) circus and monsters themed sketches and ideas

These selection of photos display the ideas and sketches of what I would be bring forward to the table of which monster is best to suit the puppet making and mask making within the group collaborated circus project. But this could change as these aren't definitive monster ideas I would use in the production stage. These initial thoughts include werewolves, witches, grim reapers and aliens.

5DM034: week 2 (11th feb 2015) thumbnail and line of action practice sketches

This post shows the initial thumbnail and line of action sketches I conducted when my classmates were acting out key frames for a scene that involves someone putting a letter through the mailbox but using emotion in the mix that is visually described through movement.