Where's all the time going?

Here we are, yet another Monday and the start of a new week. Lots to do. I'm feeling raring to go though, so fingers crossed it'll be a productive seven days.

Before I go onto my weekly plan. I'm going to go through a few illustrators who have been tickling my fancy lately.

First up, Jelle Pelle. I might have mentioned him in earlier posts. He illustrates for childrens books, magazines etc, and his work is top nosh. Here's an example.

Everything about this is fantastic. The composition works really well, all the elements have room to breath. The colour choice helps carry the emotion of the image, light and colourful. Also, if you look at the shapes which are used, its mainly curves and circles, which are proven to make the viewer feel happier than say, sharp angles.

The perspective is obviously great too, even at such an obscure angle, he manages to tell the story of the image. Anyway, I basically love this image.

Right, here's another image one of my favourite genres, Western! Again, the composition and framing in this is brilliant. The two bandits hold the piece together at the bottom of the image, and their hats help to draw the eye towards the cowboy. The colour coming from behind the cowboy works really well too. Also, I like the collage effects in this. He uses different textures and patterns for the clothing. Sometimes if this isn't done well, it looks clumsy and awkward. But when done right like this, it adds alot to the image.

He uses a collage effect for the background too, things such as the wheel and cabinet are imported in and then adjusted to fit the image.

Anyhow, heres a video of how he made the above image. Honestly, if you only spend 15 mins on the internet today, make sure its watching this. I love how much attention to detail and love goes into creating this image, I hope I can get this kind of finish in my illustrations one day, I think its all abut patience and hard work.

Illustrating a Cowboy in Photoshop and Illustrator from Jelle Gijsberts on Vimeo.

Class eh?

Right, I've got plenty of other artists and animations that I want to go through, so every day this week I'm going to post up some inspirational stuff, and thats a fact.

Okay, weekly plan. As I mentioned in my last post I'm a little behind because of the work I've been doing, so this weeks needs to be a real belter. I've got a good feeling though, so fingers crossed.

Monday:

Updating blog- check! But more importantly I want to get my final storyboards done and dusted so that I can work out which part I'm going to animate for this project. So, when I get home later its straight to work on my boards. Its funny because sometimes I want to work on personal piece for my portfolio. But for now, all my attention is going to be on this film. I'm getting excited about working on it, and hopefully that won't fade away...

Tuesday:

Now that my storyboards are done (hopefully) I can begin fleshing out the thumbnails of what I'm going to animate. I haven't decided whether I'm going to do a scene for the robber or the Ice Cream Man, or even both if time allows

Wednesday:

Okay, so hopefully everything will now be in place to begin basic animating, getting keyframes done and what not.

Thursday:

Animation is the order of the day with a side dish of hard work, blood and tears. Mmmm

Friday:

Okay, so by this point I'm hoping that I'll have a finished line test, or at least a rough one.

So its not the most complicated plan, it basically just involves hardwork and graft. I also have to squeeze in my research which isn't quite all done yet. Yep fingers crossed.

Weekly round up and other stories

Its been a funny old week. First off, I've wrapped up my freelance work for the Customs House. I'd already done the jigsaws and colouring books, so that left me with the Where's Tommy? Illustration. It was abit of a slog, and the client came back asking for a few amendments so it was back to Illustrator where I redrew the whole background, well live traced it, but it still set me back a couple of days. It was good to get back on Illustrator though, I haven't really spent much time on it recently, opting for Photoshop for most of my work. I think Illustrator brings a different approach though, and that professional finish needed in some projects. Hopefully I'll be playing around with that a bit more anyhow. The clients really happy with the end products though, which in turn makes me really happy, I felt relieved and proud that everything went through okay. Its strange, but when your working by yourself, it can be a bit lonely and daunting, there's no one their to cheer you on or give you a pat on the back...but thats something I'll have to get used too if I want to make anything of myself. Still, sometimes its good to have a second opinion on your work, but as I said, I hope that will come with experience.

I've also managed to get a couple of new freelance gigs too, the first is for a local newsagent. Its basically a logo and a boy riding a bike holing a paper. I'll post it up in due course but I used the same method as I did with the Customs House work. I sketched out a few ideas, which I think is always important as your first idea is very rarely the best one. I then inked it up in Photoshop, and live traced it in Illustrator using the 'detailed illustration' mode. It came out great, so I Live Painted it and hey ho there it was.

The other project is for a marble arts company, they want a Rococo type logo with two characters either end. I've sketched this up and I'm awaiting approval to go ahead, so I'll be sure to update as soon as I can.

Reflecting on the work that I've been doing recently, I think freelance work is exciting, intimidating and rewarding all at the same time. It's a bit like being a footballer, you can do all the training in the world, but once you get out onto the pitch, its a different ball game. You're following set instructions and expected to deliver a high quality product on time and on budget. Seems simple enough, but in my experience I began to doubt myself at first, I almost felt like I'd forgotten how too draw a straight line. But, you just have to work through it. I'm not sure if this a common thing but that was my feelings anyhow. Another important aspect is the time spent on each design. I had to think what my time was worth, and in some respects I think I made some mistakes on this one, especially on the Wheres Tommy. Also, after speaking with Dave, he told me that even if you yourself arn't 100% happy with everything, it doesn't really matter as long as the client is. You could spend more time tweaking things that people won't even notice, and the more time you spend, the less money your essentially making. So I suppose the golden rule is: If the clients happy, then you should be happy.

Freelance work is an interesting beast. As I mentioned it can be a lonely road to take...but the prospect of being your own boss is an appealing one to me. Having said that, I'm under no illusions about how much of a struggle it would be, there would be good times and bad times, and in the beginning I imagine it would be mostly bad times. Building up a strong client base would be the first port of call, but that can take years, you need to prove yourself to be reliable, efficient, and have the skills necessarily to deliver what you say you can, there's no hiding behind colleagues and not answering the phone and the delivery date. That appeals to me though, I like to deal with people and see projects through, I think this could come from my time working at Hexagon, where my job was basically to see a job through from quotation to sales to artwork to delivery. And all business work on the same principle, so I think its set me up in good stead for the future. Having said all this, if someone was to offer me a job in Studio I would bite their hand off, I'm going to keep my options open.

Mondayitis and last weeks evaluation

Roll up, its the start of another week. I feel a bit tired and poorly today, but I just need to man up and get on with it.

Anyhow, last week I had planned to get all my research done and start drawing up roughs for my model sheets. I think for the most part, I followed my weekly plan through. For the first time I can remember, I'm not going to be stressing around on Thursday night trying to get all the paper work done. That's a good feeling, having all week to draw and make everything look spick and span. I mean, a whole week of drawing, it can't possibly go wrong, can it? Well, anyway, I think last week was a good 'un. Friday was a productive day too, it was all about the Skillsets website, writing up what we want to do when we grow up. I thought it would be boring, but I actually enjoyed it, and learnt something too! I got it done too, which is an added bonus because I think the worst thing that could happen would be too go back at the end of the year having to do all the Friday work.

So...heres my plan for this week, its mostly going to be doing my model sheets but I'll try to be more specific where I can.

Monday: I'll be doing more work on the model sheets, I'm going for the two characters, but I don't want the standard to slip so tip top drawing is on the cards today (along with lots of screenshots)

Tuesday: More of the above I think.

Wednesday: I'll be tightening everything up in Illustrator, getting everything print ready and what not.

Thursday: I think I'll be spending the day putting my sketchbooks and research file together and making everything lovely.

Friday: Hand in day. hopefully there will be no running around like an idiot and come 1pm, I'll be done!

We shall see if this all falls into place, I cant see why it shouldn't... I've kind of left the best til last, and despite my Monday Misery I think this week is going to be another belter.

And finally, I went to the the Illusionist last week so I shall be giving a fairly long review for no body who reads this blog

Constructive Crit

I thought this might be of interest. A few of you might have seen the Film Noir thing I did. Well, I sent it over to a cartoonist friend of mine who always gives me honest, brutal, but most of all helpful feedback. Honestly there's nothing better than someone disecting your work, especially when it comes from someone who knows what there talking about.

Plan of the week, 20th September

Monday morning, bright and early. The first years are getting there brains melted by information overload and I'm sitting in the pod thinking about what I'm going to get done this week.

I've managed to get a fair amount of research done this weekend. I looked at a some tip top character designs and oddly enough, actually learnt a fair bit too, about what I should change to make my designs stronger. I've still got a little touching up to do, typing up my backstory and what not. I've obviously given myself a bit of a do because I have two protagonists, so that equals two backstories to type up, two model sheets etc. But, I don't mind that, the enthusiasm that was pulsing through my veins hasn't evaporated over the weekend so I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Anyway, here's the breakdown of the week.

Monday: I want to finish up all my research. Like I said I've got the majority of it done, which is a bit of a rarity for me. But I think if I can spend today making it tickety boo I'll be happy.

Also, I have got the approval on the linework for my jigsaws and colouring books, so tonight I'll be bashing on trying to get the colours all put together. Shouldn't take to long hopefully as its only flat colour...but I think the quicker I can get them done, the quicker I can get paid!

Tuesday: With my research (hopefully) out of the way, its time to start working in my sketch pad. I'll be gathering up reference material for the robbers, Ice cream logos etc. all that jazz. I know I already have some initial designs, but I'll be starting from fresh and I'm going to exhaust all avenues.

Wednesday: Hopefully I'll be fleshing out my idea's, drawing out some more designs and what not. I think one of the things I'll really have to go at is drawing the bike for the robber, and the ice cream cart for the Icer. So I'll be spending time making sure they are of the same quality as the characters.

Thursday: I'll be spending the time developing my concepts again. Also, The Illusionist is on a the Tyneside Cinema for the last time, so I think I'll be going to see that.

Friday: Hopefully, my designs will be pretty much sorted, and I can spend the day, and the weekend drawing up my final concepts for colouring next week.

Yeah, so that's that really. I think that seems like a fairly reasonable amount of work. I'll be updating here to show where I am with the designs throughout the week...so keep an eye out

A New Dawn

Well its the beginning of the end. The final year has arrived, and with it a fresh start and a chance to prove what I can do to myself, my peers, and the industry.

Without sounding like a pretentious idiot, I really feel like this year is going to be a good one. I've had productive summer, doing freelance work, meeting people in industry, reversing into cars (allegedly) and generally just doing alot of drawing. All of this seems to have put me in good stead for this year, and I feel optimistic and ready to have a good go and what comes my way, and grasp any opportunity that I can.

I had ameeting with Paul Windle Design during the summer break and they seemed to be keen to take me for work experience during this year, I'll grab that with both hands, it would be fantastic to see how they work, and I'll probably learn how many bad habits I've picked up too.

I'm also busy with the freelance work I mentioned earlier, its basically some illustrations for some jigsaws and colouring books for a theatre company in South Shields. I'm awaiting on the approval for the linework at the moment, so I'll be bashing on with that once it comes through.

I thought I'd start of my first post with some of the work I did over the summer, so here goes:

This was a little piece I did just for fun, I rarely draw women, and this is something I'd like to remedy this year. I had rendering this one out... especially the face.

This was a wee piece I did for my portfolio

I did this for an potential iPhone app that hasn't took over off, or even left the hanger really. It was originally for 250 characters for a kind of top trumps game. In one way I really wanted this to come off as it would have been well paid, however on the other hand its about half a years work

Again, this was done for fun and my portfolio. I think the fire works alright on this.

Something abit different from me, I gave myself about an half and a half and just painted a quick scene.

And finally, here are a couple of initial designs for this years AD207 project. I'm I'll chop and change them in the coming weeks.

Thats about it for now. I've got a few animations that have really grabbed my attention that I'll be posting up soon.

Also, if anyone would like to follow my personal blog, the address is:

www.leestilldraws.blogspot.com

Animation Frames and Numercy

I'd forgotten to add this in, and I know its in the brief, so here goes nothing!

In regards to the e4 Ident we completed earlier this year, there was a number of mathmatical nightmares I had to overcome. As you may now know, the live action of the flipbook and the Flash animation had to be composited onto Photoshop. This threw up all sorts of problems. Firstly, I had to work out how many times I would need to repeat the flipping so that the animation would fit on. The animation was roughly 6 seconds, and the actual flipping of the book was about three. To get around this, I took a certain section from the live action, about 15 frames and repeated these so the animation would fit. However, if I had just laid the animation on the top, the viewer wouldn't be able to see what was happening. So, every frame from the animation was laid onto the live action four times, twice when the paper was flat, once when the page was starting to turn, and a third when it was almost flipped over. When the other page was in view, I laid the next frame onto page, so that it gave the illusion of a real flipbook. This was a very time consuming progress, and the file was becoming so big, about 450MB, that I had to split the file into three sections, which would later be composited back together in Final Cut.

This was how I managed to get around that problem. Of course when it came to the animation I did on Flash, I had to think carefully about the frame rate and the timing. I had to cut some of the animation down as it was too long when taking into account the opening and closing of the book.

This was the way I managed to get around this