weeks 12/13 Coronavirus Impact, Cancelled Projects and Some Animation

Me and kat where in the middle of shooting something for the sustainability award. It would've gone towards our live briefs. But the virus forced the uni to close suddenly. So all of our work is just sat in the stop motion studios so we can't work on it anymore. I was also collaborating with her on another of her projects. I would have been doing some animation on after effects. I would've had to use the university computers as my computer hates after effects, it's constantly crashing. But it's all shut now so I can't. Heres what i managed to salvage before the uni shut 

I have been continuing to animate. The anxiety of my family getting corona virus has been effecting my concentration. (My dad's considered at risk because of his age and asthma)  I've only been able to do 4 seconds of roughs this week. Corona virus has really kicked my butt. I've been working on roughs mostly the beginning of the 3rd sequence where she collapses and gets back up again. I've not much so far. 

On a more positive note. Tisa made some tests to see how the wings should be for the end bit. Overall I am really pleased with them. I gave her some constructive feedback. I thought they should be less pointy and more swan like.

What went well this week?

• I survived

What could be improved?

• Need to pick up the speed and do more animation

Set Dressing For Kats Project

Set dressing on kats project
So I helped kat dress her set briefly. I don't know if this is really big enough to make its own post about. But anyway. She made the books and the toys. I helped her a little with the furniture, but not much. I was mostly there to give input on where I thought things should go so that they fitted the character and narrative.

She originally wanted everything in the child's bedroom to be neat. But it's a child's bedroom. It's going to be messy. I put the toys on the floor and made the books crooked as though a child had been reading them but hadn't put them away properly. Same with the toys.  This is relevant to my practise of i want to go into background design i need to know how backgrounds can inform the narrative. 

What Went Well?

• I used the stuff i had learnt from professionals, during pp to inform my decisions
• i liked how the set turned out overall

What Could Be Improved?

• The tree could have really been closer up against the wall especially the branches. They don't look strong enough to hold the weight of those books
• We had problems getting the walls to line up properly and stay in place. In the end we ended up using half a roll of masking tape to hold everything together. 

29/04/2020 - Stuff Still Left To Do

• around 20 seconds of roughs 
• all clean up
• all colouring

RIP

Live Briefs - CDC Doctors and Nurses and The YCN Brief *

The NHS CDC
With this CDC I tried to create a vapour wave aesthetic with this theme. this was a challenge for me because I had never done anything like this before. It's also rare that I actually draw people with realistic proportions. The hands look really awkward, but at least I was brave enough to actually attempt to do them this time.

He's supposed to be an optometrist. But I gave him gloves. I'm not sure if they wear gloves. He's also wearing a hair net  I just didn't want to draw his hair  but again, I'm not sure if they actually wear hair nets. I also attempted to add the folds in his trousers. This is something I usually struggle with, so I avoid it.

So I should've done more research. But I did really push myself out of my comfort zone with this project.  

(read the eye test)






What went well?

• I pushed myself really far our of my comfort zone
• I tried drawing hands for once
• I like the colour scheme, it has an appealing athletic 

What could be improved?

• I'm not happy with the lighting, it could be more refined. 
• I'm not happy with the composition, it's not very dynamic

YCN UK Greetings
I designed a set of greetings cards and gift packaging. I themed both sets around origami/geometric characters. The shapes are simple, so that children can relate to them, but they are also aesthetic. So teenagers and adults can enjoy them too. I kept the designs consistent by creating a master sheet of all the origami characters. I chose to aim the designs primarily at children so that the illustrations six be considered family friendly. Family friend is  bit of a buzz phase at the moment. So I think it'll resonate with the card designers and YCN judges.

YCN and UK greetings have run this brief through YCN before. I was able to find and look at past entrants work. Most had 3D mock ups of there work. So I decided that I'd do the same. I'm not very good at Maya or blender or really and 3D softeners. But I'd heard of a program called Adobe Dimensions which allows you to put your designs onto 3D models if you don't have much 3D experience. I spent about 3 days learning it. Then applied my designs to the 3D models. I submitted design bored with all of the designs on them including the 3D mock ups, I also labelled each one.

What went well?

• I learned a new 3D software
• I created a set of designed that I can now use in my portfolio regardless whether I win or not
• Time management wise, this project went well and I was able to submit my work to YCN on time.

What didn't go so well and what needs to be improved?

• I really struggled with the colouring/shading. On one hand I wanted it to look really illustrative on the other I had to think about time and that I was doing all the work myself. I think I found an okay balance between them but I wasn't able to keep it consistent. So some of the designs look more finished than others.
• The illustrative style took to long and it didn't have the desired effect.

* Can't put up finished project up yet because the competition is yet to announce the winners.

Week 11 - Finally Animating! Yay

Finally animation I'm planning on doing (roughly) 14 seconds of roughs per week. Ben has suggested looking at this style https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1dROZBgfo

I re-recorded some scenes because I was not satisfied with the outcome.  The ballet dancer’s moves were too basic, so I had to go back to her and explain in more detail what I wanted to achieve. Unfortunately, the ballet dancer was not available for a week, which put the project behind.  Finally, together we managed to work out a sequence which was closer to what I initially wanted.

My tutor gave me constructive feedback, which I found useful and acted on. On editing the video of the dancer, I looked at how each move could transition from one move to the next move.  I made an instruction video for everyone, which explained the different transitions that were needed. I also made a separate instruction sheet with the brush sizes and the brush settings, which were well received.

When I began animating I asked everyone what they could do and they then asked what they were expected to do. From this, I made a plan which we all managed to adhere to and which worked out well. For this week, I feel I had a lot of time to reflect on what I actually needed from the dancer and that worked out well - I was able to get the footage that I needed. I felt I managed the set-backs well. If this had happened in week 4, when I was feeling down, I don’t think I would have handled it in the same way.

What went well?

• Had a relatively productive week 
• I feel as through im getting back on track, just a little 
• I was also able to react positively to constructive criticism. 
• Communicating with the dancer went well we developed a good working relationship, which resulted in a successful outcome.

What could be improved?

• I could have done more work on my live briefs this week. I did do a little but not as much as I had hoped

Week 9/10 - Finding a new dancer, finally recording, live brief update

This week we finally managed to get a dancer to perform for us. We (me and Kat) spent tireless nights in the computer room trying to come up with dance moves that made sense that would look good in front of the camera. On one hand this was good because we could then go in on Thursday  and be more confident about what we wanted however at the same time it kind of stifled us because we’re not dancers so the moves that we were doing or trying to do where clumsy and wrong, what felt right for us and what we fought would look good wouldn’t necessarily be what looked good on the day

I feel as though we might need an extra day of filming just to really nail down the composition of the film and the narrative and to really see what we can pull out from the script because originally I was going to show the dancer reference videos and ask if they could do something similar, then allow her to improvise and run with it but because we only had her for an hour and because we only had the studio booked for an hour, it became very difficult to do that within that time period. I edited the footage together When my tutor gave me the Feedback she actually said to cut it down from 1.5 minutes to just 1 minute because I was 2 weeks behind with trying to get the dance sorted out. I had already experienced delays, as my first dancer had to cancel, as she had exams. 

I have been working on the live brief with kat, for the sustainability award. We've been making props for a photography shoot that'll be for a takeaway style  leaflet. The purpose is to raise awareness about the disregarded plastic, rubbish and glass that is left lying around Hyde park and other parts of leeds. Our aim is to create a series of postcards and stickers to accompany the leaflet. The stickers would be used to inform people what rubbish can be recycled and which bin they can put it in. The postcards are so people can send others the information they have learnt from the leaflets and stickers.  

 







Rings Squirrel feeder - Rubbish that can kill wildlife.
Bird Feeder - Rubbish that the birds injest
Shoes - what sticks to your shoes
Toys - broken glass that children play in
Dog toys - broken Glass that dogs walk through 
Fish and Chips - micro plastics that you consume
Fish netting - plastic nets used to package fruit that goes to landfills

Week 7/8 Watercolour tests, Character Model Sheet, Turn Around and getting back on track.

 Style Tests

I have discovered Kyles watercolour brushes. They are amazing. Although they aren’t as good as the ones on Adobe Fresco. I have tested most of the bushes. The ones I liked or thought where especially interesting I labelled for further use/experimentation. Based on my initial tests that I completed during Week 0, I further developed my tests by using the watercolour brushes to colour in the model and experiment with different styles and techniques.

Concept Art

This week I have been focusing more on concept art. I have completed both a character model sheet and character turnaround in record time, a total of 2/3 days for both. This was in part due to the work completed during COP. Which allowed me to complete the work faster by re-purposing the original character model sheet and utilising some additional poses for Ellie. I used the knowledge gained during my watercolour brush tests to develop a style that was different to the one used in cop. Whilst it is still watercolour, it is much more minimalist.

What went well?

·        I have been very productive this week.

·        I have been working faster than usual. 

·        The character design and turnaround came out well and I am please with them.

What could have been improved?

If I’m being super picky, Ellie's top knot/bob changes position on the character model sheet. Maybe she just ties it differently each time.
#

Getting back on track

After my blip in week 4, when I felt down, and when the dancer dropped out in week 6, I have reconsidered the project and have decided on a backup plan. This was to change the animation to one minute and have me and Kat from my group, doing the key poses, and have the rest of the group and myself do in-betweens. I was going to ask the animation group on Facebook to help out and it would still be in 12 frames per second. 

So,I  have been reaching out to contact as many people as possible. I have also been sweetening the pot by offering a commission and money? In return. Also, I can’t afford much at the moment I have budgeted for something like this as I did in second year with the music.

Quest for a new dancer

So I have emailed Leeds Becket. They got back to me pretty much strait away asking me to send over all  the work so far for this project and they’d put it on their equivalent if studio. I sent over them the next day and then I haven't heard anything back. I have also tried to contact leeds student union because I know they have a ballet society.e to send over all  the work so far for this project and they’d put it on their equivalent if
studio. I sent over them the next day and then I haven't heard anything back. I have also tried to
contact leeds student union because I know they have a ballet society.

Week 6 Talks with Mike, Dancer dropped out and Live briefs

I talked with mike about my depression and difficulty regarding the project.
we discussed alternatives. We talked about my depression and feeling like I'm really under pressure and behind. This feeling that I am struggling has affected my motivation, but Mike said there are too many people counting on me and that I've put in too much effort to turn back at this point.

I talked to Cara who is also doing a project that involves rotoscoping, she has ballet friends and her daughter Millie goes to a dance school which she said she would contact for me to enquire whether any of the dancers would like to be involved in the project. I have also emailed Leeds Beckett University BA (Hons) in Dance, and the Ballet Society at the University of Leeds.

In the meantime I have been working on a YCN brief, making greetings cards. This will help develop my portfolio. I don't have much to show yet. But I am thinking of doing based around origami animals.I have sketched a few out thus far.

what went well?

• my mental health seems to have plateaued a little. This is good as i'm able to get a little more work done as i build my strength back up. 
• considering this, i have had a productive week
• the sketches turned out reasonably well. You can tell what they're supposed to be 

what could have gone better?

• if i really pushed myself i could have lined them this week
• I need to communicate more 

Working On Kats Project

This was a wood burning test which went well. It was to establish the wooden floor design for a class-mates project. I was pleased with the various effects achieved in such a short time, which amounted to 2 days.

The first image shows a styling process test on balsa wood. I used a wood burning tool to create the effect and then varnished it. The main part of the process was noted underneath the sections of wood. Once I  found something that worked on the mini test, I then replicated this on separate pieces of balsa wood, pictured below.

The second image shows the re-test on an unvarnished piece of wood.

The third image shows where I tried to achieve as much detail as possible onto the piece of wood.  I also practised spacing the panels at an equal distance. I was dissatisfied with the outcome, as I felt it looked too much like a chocolate bar.

The fourth image shows the sets in progress and the floor unfinished.

Live Briefs: CDC Spirited Away and Bakerproudlove Window design

The character design challenge (CDC) had a special fan art month where you had to design a spirited-away character. So I wanted something simple, but also something that you wouldn't necessarily think of when you're thinking of re-designing a character.  So I re-designed one of the soot sprites in the style of a Beano character, because I thought the design of a soot sprite in human proportions would look good with gnasher's fur.  I also wanted to emphasise that these poor soot sprites had been working day in, day out.  they are tired because they never get a break.  This was influenced by a scene in the movie where the character (Chihiro) picks up a piece of coal to help the soot sprites. The soot sprites think - okay if you're going to do that, we'll up and go. This shows that they are tired.

Submission Proof

What went well?

• I developed my idea through to completion.
• Time management was alright
• Character turned out okay

What could have been done better?

• Time management could always be better
• Character should have been more finished, so that it's not just okay, but its good.

Overall I feel a bit meh about this submission. Like I don't think it'll make it into my portfolio.

For the Baker proud love window design brief I was going to use guerrilla marketing strategies in a similar fashion to how I used them last year for the YCN KFC brief, I was going to take a classical piece of art and make it funny somehow. My initial idea was to have Greek ladies in a salon getting their hair, makeup and nails done this would work by assuming that people are going to be expecting a serious piece of ancient Greek art but instead their getting a modern, contemporary take so it subverts people’s expectations. However, I hadn’t really developed the idea beyond that and I hadn’t and come up with any kind of concept sketches it was all ideas that were in my head, although I did brainstorm them out.

So, my second idea was more slogan/catchphrase based. I developed the slogan 'conquer the concrete jungle with Baker proud love', with the idea being that the city is a concrete jungle, jungles aren’t usually empty so by filling these shop spaces you are essentially conquering the high street. I was able to develop this idea  further by creating a character that had acute motif which I think helped and it represented what I was trying to say and how I was trying to come across.

Submission Proof

I revived an email back from the company saying that they where really impressed with my work however they didn't feel it really fitted in the designated space. But they asked for my contact details so i could be considered  for future work/commissions.

What went well?
I used previously gained knowledge to inform my design choices
The slogan was good
The idea was good

What could be improved?
I need to get better at drawing in general. But I think my current skills let this project down the most.
The art bored could have looked more professional
I felt really rushed.

Overall this project was okay. Again, I just don't think it'll make it into my portfolio because in not happy with the end result. I think it could have been drawn better.