Final-ish storyboard and art work.

•  dark background textures with texture trees and leaves.

• Zoom in to more trees behind. 

• Panther with human come in from side  

 Panther stops in centre ( may have wood looping in a sequence behind too)and runs text could appear in the black gap in the trees. I am thinking of the text to be letter press, as it would fit with the aesthetic of the animation.

Need to add a second colour some how but that I think will come through with more experimenting with the imagery.

Amendment to moving image project proposal.

Changing Idea.

I am changing my idea for the sting from the eye in the tree to the running panther because , I think I have more flexibility to play around more on after effects with this design. The eye in the tree one still dons't seem to be working as the eye is still pixelated when I zoom in and I don't think that the artwork is as strong as it is for the panther. Also I really want to animate the panther more because there is a potential for a really nice narrative there and I think people will connect more with animal then with an eye. I can keep it simpler too , the eye idea already started to get complicated and I could just simply have the panther running through the tree , and this will create the narrative. Is it running away from something? But keeping that simpler idea running allows me to add smaller elements and hopefully by doing this it will tie the whole animation together.

eye experiment

This initial experiment with after effects.
It is much easier then I thought but it did take me a while to get started but once into it , it was much easier to operate. I'm finding that using quite simple movements like zooming in and out are really effective and I am surprised at the fluidity of the movements that creating the different keyframes create. So with this experiment I just wanted to test out this idea of having the tree with the eye zooming in but found that they eye become very pixelated , but I think this is because I enlarged the initial image on photoshop quite considerably. So quickly cutting and printing a new eye could be a good option as I can edit it less and if I scan it in at a higher resolution then it will allow me to play with scale more.

I am finding working with after effects a much easier and quicker process then printing analogue but I am finding that I am encountering  more issues and I don't get this very often with print as I know the process well but from carrying on experiments like this will hopefully help me to iron out these issues and gain confidence in the process.

2nd developed storyboard

• Texted background with hole in the foreground tree. 
• Zoom in.

• panther appears , and moves in the eye. 

Zoom out again to end in where it started.

Creating the sting background.

Making this background I actually found a fun process. Mainly because mixing textures and creating backgrounds like this one a a lot easier to do on photoshop rather then trying to create then using more analog techniques which I have done in the past. 

The invert tool was really useful, inverting the different textures from the mono print experiments really help the piece blend together with the backgound texture because in the early stages it wasn't working well in a white background but changing it to a mono print texture was a good decision. 

This allowed me to then create the tree trunks with other textures and working into it it with the eraser tool helped me to create an almost 3D effect. But this was also achieved I think with playing around with the blending options for the individual layers. Subtract was really useful for this. 

Re using the other images too worked as I was able to edit out the leaves from the 4th print and use them to create the head of the tree and the bushes that run along the bottom of the frame. 

It also created a good contrast having them in a whiter colour then the darker trunks, balances contrast. 

Roughs for moving image.

 I like this idea with the trees and the panther moving in between them. I think that it could be a really simple idea that could have a good and simple narrative to it.
Again I have decided at the end to finish with a black screen as I think that it shows a definite ending to the animation and allows for the text that I will add in at the end to be clear.

Making the trees out of textures could be a really good idea. I could edit some mono print textures on photoshop to form the trunks.
The panther could also be running and this could be a really effective piece of animation if exsicuted well.

This idea is much more complex however and it mergers the ideas that of the eye and trees together. This could be a potential spring board to my sting but I think doing a 30 second animation could be the only way around this one. Trying to squeeze this into a 10 second video won't work just because of the amount of detail in each frame and the movements between them. However the advantages of producing a 30 second animation is that I can get a strong narrative into it and have more time to experiment with and add to. So I think I'll be making a 30 second animation. I also feel like I am become stronger in roughing. Knowing the images that I am going to work with first then roughing and playing around with composition I find easier. I feel like to make the development process quicker and more effective this way and helps me to visualise the final outcome more clearly. I feel this could be the problem when going straight into roughing a the start of a brief, I don't know what my aim is. Where as if I experiment first and create more refined imagery then go into roughing I have a much clearer sense of direction.

' Tape'- Illustration Friday.

 ‘Tape’ I went abstract with the concept. I had the idea of
a tapeworm and internal worm that enters your body by
being ingested and grows. A dark idea and I think works
well as a concept but the illustration lacks successful
execution. I struggled to draw a tape worm and it was hard to show what it was and I think that this is the main down fall of the image. Photoshop was heavy relied upon to make this image work and it has helped, but still is not clear.

More time spent really trying to figure out what how to show this would have been better but given that this was meant to be a quick brief time was short and what I have produced still relates to the work but isn't that clear.

original lino .

Feedback from Mega crit.

Overall the feedback was very positive and one person commented that they loves the concept behind the prints and I have executed it really well. This was the response I ideally wanted that my approach to a sensitive topic would be taken the right way and that the images had a sympathetic edge to them. The aesthetic of using lino and screen print went down really well too, people seemed really interested in particular in the prints that I edited and combined on Photoshop. Some feedback said that they looked like the more developed of the final prints. One aspect that I forgot to consider was the overall format of the images. Given that the actually images are different sizes , I might go back if I have time and re print the smaller ones to make them all in a much stronger and matching format or I might even be able to trip them down to match. It will help make them work as a more effective set of images. The prints took ages to make but overall so far I am happy with the outcomes.

6th print.

I decided to create a sixth print because where was one print ( the second one) that I wasn't that happy about so I had time to have a re think and do another. I am much happier with this print. It acts as an extension onto another print I have done in the set and so this helped me a bit when putting the image together. It ties the set together well to start and end with the image of the panther and human.  I love all the detail this image has and how the different lines in the lino create a variation of tones. It works a lot better the using digital half tones. All the elements blend together well and when you look at the panther initially you don't see the humans face until you look a bit closer.
This image needed to have a bit more of a narrative to it in order to work for the next part of the brief and I think that I have achieved this slightly. So this image could be a great starting point for the sting/s. Overall I think that this could be one of the best images in the set but I am now interested to get the feedback in the crit.

5th Print

This print takes a similar structure to the 4th one apart from this one represents right over there own bodies( torso in center). The images dose have quite an abstract approach but aesthetically I am very happy with the image. Mirroring and repeating certain elements is effective in this and the overall shape works as an interesting composition.

Again though not sure if I like it in black and white or colour? I think that they both work well but for continuity the colour one is the final. It took a lot of playing around on photoshop to get this image to work and if I had more time I would have like to have developed it further as I think it there is still more to be done with it. For example I think that the torso could be more detailed and I would work on the top of the image more , not sure the plant shoots fit, a head of something may have been better. But over all happy to leave it as it is.  

Roughs for moving image

 I have started to create simplifyed storyboard that included very simple movements. For example this one starts with a dark background that lightens and shows the panther underneath. The camera then zooms in on the eye and then fades out again. This seems like it could be a much more achievable outcome and gives me chance to play around on photoshop with adding different elements in and overlaying textures.

Framing the key elements of the animation with in an eye could be a good idea too. As it makes all of the focus go to one specific area and I can make it really simple by just having the eye opening and closing.  I also quite like the idea of the leaves overlapping the first and last frame, however I can see this being complicated when it comes to developing it into aftereffects. I plan for mono print textures to create the background and I think overlapping this with other textures could create a very noisy image. But I will have to do further experiments to find this out.

Responcive- Mega crit feedback

One of the overall comments was that I have done a lot of work. I really don't think I have, I am behind on responsive and not where I hope I would be by this point. This is mainly due to the effort I have been putting into 504. Printing is also a time consuming process, but you do get results that are highly developed and aesthetically look good. Once the main part of 504 is over I will be able to go into other briefs within responsive more.

Dark and scary are adjectives that are so commonly used when others describe my work, but I think with breifs like secret 7 it would be really good to expand , use more colour, which was another main comment. I think by using colour it will hopefully make my work more versatile and give it other meanings. A distinctive visual signature is also starting to come through which is great, I think in general the way I work, lino is the perfect material for it. Overall very positive feed back but I think that I really need to up my game, I need to be awnsering more major briefs rather then just illustration Friday. However still keep going with the quicker briefs , I feel that these really help the developments of my practise more because I am being forced to create work quickly and get it out there. 

  

4th Print

  I have set myself at least the deadline of getting at least 2 prints done by the end of the week because I would ideally like to have 5 finished ish prints by the Mega Crit next Friday , this will give me Christmas to work on the after effects and the other modules.  As a result of this time constraint I decide to play around on Photoshop with my existing lino cut rather then cutting a new one to save time. I found it a lot easier to work out compositions on Photoshop , it was easier to visualise and play around to see where things fit best. It was through experimenting with the already cut shapes that I made this image. I am really happy with how when I mirrored the person they formed the shape of lungs. The lungs are suppose to represent life or a right to life. The circle of leaves fitted perfectly onto the peoples back and the roots/shoots tie these two elements together.  Using the patterns within the people to help shape the lungs I think is a good idea and dose give a more collaged effect but could be seen to overcomplicate the image slightly. I wanted to be a bit more brave with colour , and using colour to highlight the lung shapes works well. Orange still, even though in other prints it is meant to represent jail, in this one it is more for continuity for the final set.

Using Photoshop to get ideas running was a good idea and one that I should use more often. It is much quicker and easier than trying to work it out through drawing. Planning to do the final print is a similar way as, this is probably one of the more successful prints in the set, but I'll hold fire till group feed back.  

After Effect Session 4.

Positon path.(above)

Select this option in order to work and transform layer properties.

Auto orientation button at bottom of selection menu allows you to create an orientation path within which you can make paths for the objects to move along.


But when you are setting up a motion path make sure you are focusing on the correct layer with the key frames. This ensures that you have achieve consistency between key frames.

key point- spacing between the key frames determines the speed.




 Example of motion path above.



Different switches to use:
The shy switch:

Allows to to simplify your layer pallet, meaning that when clicked on the layer will be hidden so you can not work on it.







Film Frame:
Motion blur option.









Adjustment options on top of key frames palette. Similar to photoshop.

Illustration Friday - "Tape'

3rd Print

  

I made this third print simpler because all of the other prints that I have done so far have been quite complicated and detailed so doing a simpler one is better as it will hopefully help to balance the set out, let the viewer have a breather almost. It also gave me the opportunity to design a new head. Again I want this to be a symbol the represented the growth of  black rights movements and for it to almost to represent life and a respect for it , with the lungs, branches growing from the lungs and the small shoots surrounding the head. I cut this on a slightly smaller lino compared to the last one just to save time. However I have been feeling that I am starting to run out of new ideas and I see myself struggling to get new ideas down and printed. I need to find a way round this.     



Final second print.

It was a long process screen printing this image. I really anted to cut an A3 lino, Mainly because I had more room for detail and image but also I wanted to push myself to see if I could create an image big enough to exists within the large frame. And I managed it and I now really want to go bigger in the future , A1 maybe? Then when it came to screen printing this the first time, due to working at a large scale , I had to shrink the image down on photoshop and it was only when I started printing I realised the image was blurred. this cause the print to look a mess e.g. image on the left.  so started again , and second time much better. 

Cutting the A3 lino was really time consuming but it turned out okay.However I still have another 3 prints to do , I really need to speed up! 

The context behind this image is the panther is surrounded by a pattern inspired by finger prints(identity)  and this is surrounded by tabacco leaves which where farmed by people in slavery in the 1800's and today. I wanted it to be a power symbol or a symbol of powerful identity, not sure weather this comes across, but feed back from the crit will give me a better idea. But I feel that I could have done a better job of illustrating it and spent more time working out what I wanted to say in a more concise way. But I am happy that I used colour in a more obvious way compared to the last print , I adds depth and makes the image look more appealing, rather then just black and white.

In my next print I really want to try and move away from the panther as the main point of focus and  on other aspects, otherwise I can see the prints getting very repetitive and it would make for a more interesting set if they where some variation within it. Overall with this current print I am happy to leave it there but I just wish that I had spent more time on development. 

Storyboard task and workshop.

 In the workshop I had realised that I have really over complicated my 5 initial ideas. I was trying to create Lord of the rings and I think because I was trying to tackel a huge issue at once. I would be better if I just selected three objects.
However when drawing up the story boards I found that I was thinking more about camera angles and zooming in and out. But Composition is really lacking and it is a key element so i really need to nail this in later roughs.

I need to simplify it down too, as I am doing lino for most of my prints , it is detailed and this would be  pain to animate, so simplifying it down to simple shapes is the way to go.

The workshop was really helpful and , it helped me to use my imagination more and think more outside the box.

plummet and splat. 

I normally have a real nightmare roughing but I actually really enjoyed making up stupid and funny narratives to fit with the key shape ( a circle) and the words, like float above.  

I think this approach of selecting a certain shape and a word to work with would be a good idea because it may help me to stop over complicating things. KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!

I also need to bear in mind about camera angles for example , pan, zoom, track and panning. 

Dynamic composition too, small details and little devices. I want to revisit my project proposal too, because I need to simplify that too , will help. I just need to power down idea and get them to a good stage for the mega crit. 

Project proposal - Moving image.

Sting using sounds.- BBC 2.

This compared to the other short animation sequences I have looked at is much more simple, It also used much simpler sounds too. For example the chosen music has a aquatic sound to it , but this just seem to run over the top of the animation. It is overlayed by sounds like the two coming up through the water ,  the mechanical movements of it turning. It has a very short and simple narrative, two come up , looks right , left and then goes back down. For the 10 second sting that we could create this would be a great example of how simple it could be. But I would prefer to take a more interesting narrative then a bit of movement by a couple of objects. I think one piece music can be used more effectively when it fits the mood and movement of the objects rather then adding sound effects over the top. I prefer that method, it would make for a slicker and consistent outcome.  It would also tie the whole sting together.

After effects/ animation that use music- Ratatouille- pixar, disney

Music is a really strong factor in this sequence as,  most all of the rats movements are based around it for example, the foot steps at the beginning, and the rat get his tale caught in the trap, just so when it hits the music breaks. The pace also reflects the movement of a rat, fast quick and light. It has been prissily timed so it fits with the musics rhythm and pace. This must have been hard as because it is a piece of classical music the pace and rhythm change frequently.  So this would mean adapting and changing the movements often. However I think that this makes for a more interesting animation , as it allows the veiwer these reprieve and then throws another load of information at them, rather then just a consistent fast beat with an overload of information.  the music also replicates the sound of some of the objects for example the alarm clock is a shrill flute. So small details in the music can bring a connection between the objects and the music.

    

After effects/ animation with music- Monster university- pixar.

Like the other monsters Inc title sequence this one runs along very similar lines in which it works with the music.  Apart from this one is appears to be going at a fast pace which means that the objects like the books and papers are moving faster. They type moves with the drum beats and relates also the the mood of the character. In fact I think that the music reflects the mood and enthusiasm of the main character and sets the initial story up well.  It is much shorter then the other titles too. But I think the amount of content could still be the same. I could be that just because the music is so fast pace it allows for objects to move quicker there for enabling the animator to cover more content ?
The type of music appears very military, so this allows for the animator to play around with the formation of the objects too, for example the cards flowing out in a neat ordered pattern , but the this is juxtaposed by the messy movements of the main character.  The music is very sequential to the animation and is a fundamental part of the story telling as it dose reflect the characters emotions or the situation they are in.

Playing around with new ideas.

 Trying to think of a new idea for a print but struggling as I was playing around more with the hand idea on Photoshop and I came up with this design in which I have adjusted the layers, so the image of the small panther underlayed the hand print. I was aiming for the meaning behind this to be a symbol that was pro the movement. But I don't think it works as it isn't very clear and the Panther doesn't really aline with the hand.




I tried it in different colour as well, the orange in reference to the jail system in america. Orange is a relivent colour to the subject, so I am thinking of keeping most of the prints black , orange and white.

I really need to work out the rest of the prints , but I really want to try doing a A3 sized lino , as I think it is achievable in the time left and I think it would really help push my print practise forward. Not so sure about this hand idea though.