Sneaky Peek

No one outside of class has seen any of my exhibition work - and not everyone in the class has seen it.
So, as the exhibition is looming, I've decided to give you all a glimpse as to what my work is looking like.
To jog your memory: 'The Pied Piper of Hamlin'.  I adapted the story so it's set on another planet and in space to be developed as a feature animation film.  I selected four scenes from my story to digitally paint mock animation cels.

Click image to see it in glorious full resolution!

Let me know what you think!  What vibes do you get?  What does it remind you of?  What can be improved?   Though from this small crop it's hard to get a good idea - the original images are A2 sized and look like widescreen film stills.

When it's all over and done with I'll most probably put up all four of my images.  Until then!

Hello, caffeine, my old friend...

J. x

...Though I May Collapse

I made a long overdue To-Do List when I realised my brain didn't have the capacity to remember everything I need to do at any one time.
I since regret doing this...
I only made it half an hour ago.

Someone else needs to do my life for me - just for a few of days?  That'd be great, thank you!

My plan tonight is to tick a couple of boxes.

J. x

I'm Not Dead

Bloody hell, I've not posted for ages!  And I have had so much I've wanted to share!
After Easter it's all been work work work, and when I get home I want to do anything but.

Firstly, before I left for Easter, I got an exciting e-mail telling me that my work and the work of three others' on my course had been chosen to advertise our graduate exhibition in GamesTM magazine!  I'm subscribed to the publication so to be told you're going to be in it in some way was really exciting.
The issue (109) is out now and you'll find us advertised at the back!
It's a really weird thing seeing work that's so familiar to me in something that can be seen by anyone around the country.  The ad is a decent size, which was a worry we had.  I'm definitely keeping the magazine forever.

Secondly, Ian Wharton, a graduate from the University of Cumbria, visited us last Friday.  He has already had a highly successful career only a few years after graduation.  He gave us an amazing presentation, full of confidence, honesty and inspiration.  Afterwards he spent time with each of us looking over our work, answer any queries we may have.  I was lucky to have been given fantastically positive feedback on my exhibition work, encouragement to stick with my idea for next year's project, and overall a message to really go for it.

Me with Ian Wharton

The University did this press release and took a sneaky picture of me with Ian.  I'm not happy!  I was dressed for a rainy day, not photos!  But it was definitely a moment to remember.  He made me feel (and I'm sure many others) like employment is more than a possibility.

If you want to find more about Ian...
www.ianwharton.com
Twitter: @ianwharton


Thirdly, the week before Ian Wharton, we had two guys from Ubisoft give a presentation and work feedback - Darren Yeomans, an artistic manager/visual developer, and Peter Cochrane, another graduate and an environment artist.  I didn't know what work to show them but Yeoman saw the exhibition piece I was working on and actually said (hold your breath):
"I would consider you as a concept artist"
This was based on how I had digitally painted an environment.

To say the least I'm on a high after all of this!

Fourthly: I will - I WILL - post up the images I've done over the past month.  I've kept up with the One Hour Weekly Challenge (though I've probably missed a couple...) it's just not evident online yet.  I bought a nice set of watercolour pencils in the holiday that I want to use more, mixed with ProMarkers.
And if you're fed up of silly drawings I've uploaded a few new photos on to my Flickr that I recently got developed.
All this hard work is really hard work.
Good job I find it so much fun!

J. x

Feedback

I wrote this as a reply to comments on my posts, but I figured doing it as a full blog post would be a good idea too.


I've paid a lot of attention to all the feedback I've been getting - a big thanks to everyone.
It's come from friends, acquaintances, professionals and complete strangers!  I highly value all of it.
When you tell me what you think I seriously consider your thoughts.  I feel more motivated and encouraged knowing that the little things that I do can make someone smile, give them an idea of their own, or just waste a few minutes of their time on the internet.


The new blog layout has been a definite positive!
On my work; unusual expressions, poses and angles are the way forward it seems!


My work on The Jam Factory music event logo is almost over.  I think my client and I had a mutual understanding about what we wanted, which is always a relief, but like most work I do, I can always do better.
There's been no recent news on the Bagatelle comic front as yet - I believe they want to release the website at the same time as the printed issue.  I really hope it's sorted soon, it's been too long of a wait for everyone involved.
Facebook Fan Page and Twitter are finally getting going.  They're a great way to connect instantly with people!
I haven't posted my latest One Hour Weekly Challenge as it didn't work out due to several interruptions.
I really need to give it a full and focused hour, no matter the outcome, for me to learn from it.
I'll be doing two more, one tonight and one tomorrow, to make amends.

Also, I'll be going home for a week so I won't be posting until I'm back!


Thank you guys for taking the time to not only look around but also to write your thoughts.
It's all really appreciated.


Take care,
Happy Easter!

J. x

1 Hour Week 2

A very delayed post...
My challenge last week was to do a self-portrait in which I exaggerated the colours and characteristics:

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

There are still a lot of areas that are left undefined/-refined since I have such little time...  I think I should have gone for a better angle of myself too.  It's hard to look down, keeping the same pose each time, then look up at the screen to replicate it, so I don't think it looks too much like me.  Also, as I'm not particularly haggard for an ancient 21-year-old, or have any especially odd features, I found it really hard to make myself into a caricature.  Honestly, though I sound like I berate myself all the time, I'm really pleased with what I came out with in the time I had, especially as I've never done a portrait digitally, only cartoons.
I do love the colour tones that I chose!

My next one is tomorrow.

J. x

Never Too Late for Resolutions

Even if it is the end of March!
I made a list on Friday of where I want to be and how to get there by improving specific artistic skills.  Even though I know I have a long way to go until I could be considered for employment I sometimes lose that drive that makes me try new things and better myself.  I go along my merry way doodling and sketching without a thought in my head....
Then last night I did this:

Week 1 - Lighting

I had had the colours and tones in my mind for the past couple of days, so I told myself, 'just do it!'.  So I opened a small sized file and set myself about an hour (or else I'd get carried away).  It's nowhere near perfect - I hate the hair and want to add bits of varied colour - but I surprised myself.  Not only with how much I'd managed to do in a short amount of time, but that I actually applied lighting and perspective.  It has become common for me to draw things straight on, looking very flat and without any dynamic.  It's my simple cartoon brain at work!

I looked at the image when I'd done, and it all clicked - my action plan and what I accomplished in an hour.  I can focus on each personal objective for short bursts at a time.
My plan is to make one image once a week, which is unrelated to designated work, that concentrates on one to all of the following; perspective, anatomy (human, animal), lighting, colour, realism, stylization, character/personality.

You're probably thinking this is what I should have been doing all this time anyway, and to a degree I do, but it varies from automatically considering each aspect to really considering.  This resolution is about really considering, and will not only help my skills but also my time keeping.

Onwards to employability!

J. x

A Quicker Update!

Even though it's 6 months away, I'm planning my next year's project.

My thoughts are, pick a well known story, design its characters, but in three styles for three different media: for an animation, a video game, and for a motion picture. They'll be specifically designed for children, teens, and adults.  I'm not sure which way round the last two go yet...  This way I can finally focus my styles for each industry I'd love to be a part of, as the approach is quite different for each, and I can show an understanding of audience and marketing.  Basically - GIVE ME A JOB!

I'm toying with the idea of Antony and Cleopatra, since I'm reading about the Roman Empire, and I recently watched the entire BBC 'Rome' series (why did it get cancelled? WHHHY?!).  Plus it's a fantastic and passionate story.  The fact it's a part of history is even better.

 Quick thoughts on Cleopatra

In my typically ignorant student fashion, Red Nose Day came before I knew it.  My mum was lovely enough to have posted me my red nose, that she bought me, to my student house, as I left it at home in Manchester!

I also got one of the Vivienne Westwood Comic Relief t-shirts.  Well, this is a vest...  Reading the label, I was surprised to find that only £7 of the £15 went to Comic Relief, so I decided I'd rather spend my would-have-been £30 on two t-shirts in a local charity shop.  There I found the vest!  How bizarre!  It was the only one, and just the morning after Comic Relief.  It was £2.50, so ethically, I don't know how I feel about buying it as I didn't give to Comic Relief, but I did give over £20 to Shelter instead.  Which is better than £20 in any high street store. Personally, the vest is a collector's piece and I wouldn't give it away so easily!

It's not every day you can wear Vivienne Westwood!

Comic Relief always makes me feel very proud of the nation's people, and also pretty bitter towards the celebrities telling us to give our money without hearing if they've given any of their thousands towards it.  It felt crazy how much was raised this year considering we're meant to be up economic shit creek.

And here are some latest sketch book bits, just because....

I was watching Poirot at the time....

Life Drawing class, outside in lovely sunshine.
Solely ProMarkers to exaggerate colours.
2B pencil to quickly sketch in model as he passed.

Quick dynamic sketch of our lovely life model, Wilf!

Okay, back to Photoshop, yet again!

Today I'm doing texture work for a 3D model of a train station building.

J. x