Effects Animation - The Fallen Inbetween

So as most of you guys know that when animating there are a many MANY MANY drawings that never get used.
If you are not an artist, just know how agonizing it is to make a beautiful drawing (or entire sequences) that don't get used! Imagine pouring anywhere from 4-40 hours (no exaggeration) on drawings/shots only to throw it all away.

With my final effects animation video (seen in the post below), I wound up redrawing it almost 4 entire times over again. I was just NOT happy with the resulting motion. While the renderings were great and I was happy with it, animation is all about the motion.
If thats not right, it will always feel off.

Heres some that got thrown away over the semester:

And once more the video: 

Effects Animation - Working on the Final

HI EVERYONE.

First off, so sorry I disappeared for so long, but between Thanksgiving, Finals, and now Christmas Break I have had little sleep and a lot of time away from the normal things. So get ready.. I am back.
As I fall back into life of sketching, painting, video games, work and tv shows I need to catch up on I will be showing you guys my upcoming animation and art I'm working on.

Here is the final of the effects animation I was working on the last couple weeks. Sadly with the little time I had to dedicate to it, I'm happy with how far I got it. Regardless that school is over for now, I plan to keep adding to this piece (not too much as I should move on to bigger and better animations from here), I want to be fully satisfied with it when I stop updating it.




Hope you all like!

Finding Inspiration - People Revisit

Remember what I said about just sitting down and talking to any stranger...
Everyone's got a story?...


Here's a great example:

Photoshop Files - Still Life

So busy with school, but trying to continue doing other things.

Still Life painting has dragged on too long, so heres where we'll end it.
Definitely going to start speeding up my work rate.

Effects Animation - Splash

As I mentioned before, I'm getting my feet wet (pun intended) in effects animation - its definitely been one of the harder things I've done since I've started animation but on the flip side really rewarding when you put the pencil down, scan in your drawings and it actually comes out decent.

Again these aren't any particularly spectacular animations but I plan on revisiting and documenting the growth of the artist :]





And a little something extra - Lightning I had animated, inverted color and added a glow.

 

Art Studies - Effects

This semester I'm taking Intro to Effects Animation and its been a fun ride so far. A little more than half way through.
I realized the growth that's come along and I'm stoked to show you what's been going on over here. I'm wrapping up my splash animation but here are some sketches over the past two months we've studied.

Yeah some of these are NOT spectacular. But this blog is about growth and I want everyone to see it, crappy drawings or not (but trust me the really horrid ones will never be shown). I intend on revisiting these animations and studies so I want to show the 'then' and in a few months time I'll show the 'now'.

I'd like to say I've been busy making more artwork but I've been struggling getting my creative juices going. Work and school lectures have been more stress than I had anticipated and can't help but want to sleep when I get home.

I'm not as energetic as I used to be...


But worry not, I feel that drag slipping off and I am ready to go again. CTN is around the corner and I'm excited to begin mixing in with artists again; I'm positive that like last year it'll feed my inspiration for the next 12 months.

Animation References - Smoke

Over Halloween, I had to help set up a party for work and my buddy introduced me to the amazing fun world of dry ice.
I just went through a few weeks of smoke animation in my effects class and GODDAM do I wish I knew about dry ice sooner. I knew what it did but I did not know how cheap and easy it was to get.

But I wound up seeing NOTHING but animation references the whole time we were playing around. So I filmed it and here it is. ENJOY!


 

Visual Effects Spotlight: GOLEM

I've looking for this video since I started this blog. So happy I found it...

The movie is based on the short story “GOLEM XIV” of “Imaginary Magnitude” by Stanislaw Lem from 1973.
The book is written from the perspective of a military A.I. computer who obtains consciousness, moving towards personal technological singularity with growing intelligence.
It starts to refuse military support because it detects a basic lacking of internal logical consistency of war.
GOLEM gives several lectures with focus on mankind's position in the process of evolution and the possible biological and intellectual future of humanity before it ceases communication.

The movie tells about the first point of its "about man threefold" lecture as a reduced and simplified version while visually weaving this with GOLEM simulating human culture processes based on ideas and dynamics of freedom and curiosity, fear and security, abstraction and fiction, the lack of accessibility in face of unknowing and the need for generating meaning.

The whole creative intention about this project is to face your own process in this world with reflection and self responsibility, to stay curious and create, look for new ideas and stay keen.

Finding Inspiration: Part 4 of People & Nature

AND finally... We get to nature.

Humans are just too complicated and intriguing to get into 1 or 2 parts, thus the delay. We'll come back to that another time, but finally it's time to give notice to something that matters.
Alot.

Nature is a massive topic and there are so many things I could cover but will not get into  otherwise this post will never end. I'm just going to wallow in the shallow end of this pool, I'll let you do the rest on your own. 

[For non-artists:] In art school you are CONSTANTLY told to go do live drawings. Go out into coffee shops and parks - go paint or draw the people and the trees and animals using live references. Do not solely reference photos. Photos are great when you take a moment and see the anatomy of an animal or plant, understand the shapes and textures associated, understand the human form and yada yada yada. But a live drawing - that is when you capture THE moment. 
You capture an action...

A gesture...

An emotion. 

(And yes I understand the irony of me using photos to reference these moments to you, but think of what you're missing out on seeing in person)
No live drawing will be like another, it's also true for a classroom drawing the same model; they all have a different perspectives of the figure and will interpret it so.


Now, let's go off on a tangent but I promise I'll bring you right back...

I live in a concrete jungle. Southern California has nothing but buildings and freeways and metal chaos for dozens and dozens and dozens of miles any which way you go. It can really desensitize you. I'm completely over it. People assume there is a fantasy world in LA and Orange County that just is not true. Yeah there's Disneyland and Beaches and some celebrities here and there but it is definitely not worth what you are missing. Most of the appeals here is a fad. You grow up and grow out of it. Now what I truly miss is nature (fresh air included).

I never cared about anything mother nature-y growing up, but what kid does. You don't realize the amazing things happening around you til you don't have it anymore. That - coupled with the fact that my grades now depended on me going outside in the world and draw what I saw, it truly does open your eyes.




This is the part where I bring you back...



If you are struggling to find inspiration in doing your art or workouts or chores or whatever - just take a moment and go outside. First of all vitamin D is good for you. But secondly we are so used to being fed garbage all day it's refreshing to step outside and get something real. Turn off your Televisions, your reality shows, your music, your video games, your computer and netflix, even your air conditioner - and just enjoy nature. I think most environmental concept artists will agree.

We are animals. We have a connection to this world like every other living being and we do not enjoy it enough. We do not take advantage* of it enough. Observe the world. Look at the sky, look at the cloud formations that will never be the same as it is in this moment, look at the stars, see the vivid colors in the plants around you, see the amazing formations of all the rocks, the artwork that water carves into the sand, look for something amazing. You won't have to look or go far, but  I promise you'll find it.

Nature is a powerful beast. It can annihilate a forest or level a city at any moment. It could be powerful in a  forceful way, or it be powerful in an enlightening way. Star gazing can make you humble and make your realize what a fragile planet we live on. Watching tiny insects build vast networks in trees can make you realize how intuitive the rest of the world is. Seeing life come into this world can make you realize how beautiful all life is. And if you have ever experienced the death of a loved one, nature makes you realize how short of a time you have to enjoy all of that.

Nature is an endless source of inspiration. All it takes is walking outside. Maybe a hike, maybe a short car ride depending on where you are..but its there. And its FREE.
I said I'd wade in the shallow end of the pool but let me take this one step and say - be adventurous. Go travel the world. See the many different things. I don't JUST mean see other cultures and cities and villages, but see what else nature has on the other side of the world. See how different it is everywhere! No two places are identical. Just go get lost and the majesty of nature will give you the inspiration you need to find yourself.... or that answer that you've been looking for - whichever it is you are chasing.



If you have instagram follow: Wonderful_places 
They have incredible photos of nature from around the world.
Enjoy..

Animation Updates!

Without further ado enjoy these very quick and rough pencil tests I did over the past two weeks.
Learning hand drawn effects!

Finding Inspiration: Part 3 of People & Nature

So I intended at this point to jump into the nature aspect of this multi-parter by now but something keeps coming up that just HAS to be posted.

While browsing the internet I stumbled onto Anonymous Production Assistant Blog. The articles and posts were hilarious and really insightful. He tells about the exciting/bland/tough days on being a PA in Hollywood. Not everything is what it's cracked up to be that's for sure. Any job in Hollywood is a tough tough life to lead. That is a fact.



Sadly Animation is as much a business in the entertainment world as the rest of the production studios in town - it is cut throat to get into and even once your in it is NOT steady work. It can absolutely shake a students' will down to their very foundation (I know I can speak from experience). But there are definitely great things about wanting to be in this industry - otherwise WHY ELSE would anyone try to be in the industry.

So I try to gain advice and insight from blogs like APA's. While reading his post on No Pay, I saw a comment by Michael Taylor. I made my way over to Michael's blog which was also wildly fansinating to read! I decided to email Michael and ask him a question.

"Looking back at your 30+ years in Hollywood, knowing what you know now, would you do it again?"

It's a ridiculous question that cannot be answered, but I wanted to just get something from someone in Hollywood who would say what I think from time to time, and that is: No - it's not worth it.

I got quite the opposite. Michael wrote a wonderful well-written email back to me that he has granted me permission to post. Ladies and gentlemen please enjoy:


Neil;


I don't recall what I said to Matt in my comment on the Anonymous Production Assistant's blog, but you're asking some big questions here. It certainly wasn't my "dream" to end up a juicer in Hollywood -- but when I graduated from college with a head full of movies, my only real goal was to go to LA and get into the industry one way or another. Given that my knowledge of the realities of Hollywood was extremely sketchy at the time (with no Internet and thus no blogs, inside information about the industry was very hard for an outsider to come by), my aim was simply to get in, see what it was all about, and take it from there.


That's pretty much what I did, and I'd be lying if I told you it was all one long Sound of Music singing my way as I walked up the lush, verdant mountains of Hollywood. It wasn't... and more than once I seriously pondered bailing on the industry altogether. But I stuck with it, followed where the business led, and have no real career regrets. I met a lot of great people, did a lot of traveling all over the country to work on feature films and television commercials, and had a lot of fun. I also worked my ass off, but that's part of the deal whether you're in live action or animation. Hours will be long and tempers can grow short, but if you get the opportunity to work on a good project, the rewards are there. And never underestimate the joy of engaging in a difficult effort with like-minded people -- there's an enormous satisfaction in that.


Would I do it again? In a way, that question is meaningless. I'm a very different person now than when I rolled off the turnip truck into Hollywood -- and this town is very different place than it was back then. No film student comes to LA as ignorant as I was back then, but the learning turned out to be half the fun. As trite as this sounds, it really is the journey that matters, not the reaching the destination.

I've had no problem with career longevity -- at 36 years and counting (three more 'til I can retire), I've had plenty of work in Hollywood and beyond. Yes, there have been some serious ups and downs -- working free-lance (and it's all pretty much free-lance work in film and TV) is like riding a roller coaster -- but that's increasingly true in many walks of life. The notion of signing on with a company upon graduation, then working an entire career to get the gold watch of retirement 40-odd years later is largely a relic of the past. The ups and downs you just learn to live with. There isn't much choice.


I have mixed feelings about all this "follow your dreams" stuff. That kind of rhetoric is the cotton candy fantasy of young people fresh out of school, who have yet to butt heads with the demands of the real world. If you have a strong leaning towards a given profession (animation, in your case), by all means follow it -- in the words of Joseph Campbell, "follow your bliss and the doors will open for you." There's some real truth in that... but dissecting the difference between a "dream" and a "strong passion" is something only you can do -- trying to do that for someone else is a fool's errand. There are no easy answers. You'll have to decide whether or not animation is a passion worth following, and if you do, be prepared for periods of uncertainty and disillusionment ahead. That comes with the turf... but also know that if animation is indeed the True Path for you, things will get better after a while. Work and life seem to come in cycles -- ups and downs -- that we all have to ride out from time to time.


Although I don't know who Glen Keane is (time to google his name, I guess), his quote makes sense up to a point... but what if you're not "completely sold" on any career path? Rather than settle on something less that perfect, you can keep searching until you find that one true path -- and what if it's not there? Sooner or later you've got to make a choice and stick to it.


There are so many intangibles in life, and this is just one. It's hard to know the right thing to do, especially when you're young with limited experience in the real world, but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and make the best of it -- and hope you land on your feet. And if not, you'll still learn a lot from the experience and thus be better prepared to make the next big decision when it comes. We all make a few bad turns in life, but with any luck, it'll all come out in the wash.


Glad to hear you like the blog. FYI -- if you click the "New to this blog? Click here and scroll down" link under the photo of the gloves on my home page, it will take you to a post with direct links to twenty or so "greatest hits" over the years. There's one called "It's the People" that tries to put the career conundrum in perspective. You might find some other posts there worth your time... or not.


Good luck with your career decisions. Life is a confusing mess at times, and there isn't always a "right" answer for whatever you're facing -- just do the best you can and make it work for you. We've all been there at one time or another. You'll get through it and be okay.


All the best;


Michael Taylor




In one of my past posts I told you guys if your ever in a coffee shop just start up a convo with any random stranger. Humans are INCREDIBLY FASCINATING. Everyone has a story, no matter how dull you think they might be, there is something (one would hope - if you run into someone completely plain then let me know...I need to meet this person).

I urge everyone here to read a post Michael has on his blog about the people he met: It's the People

Well, jumping off the coffee shop platform and my email exchange I challenge you to do this. Find contact information on someone you admire, either online or in person, and write to them. Ask them for advice. Ask them about their story. Ask them what they are most proud of.

You'll be happy and amazed at the response. And if you're like me, you will already know the answer. But you just need to hear it from someone else! Someone who has made it. There was nothing in Michael's email that I did not already know. But it took HIM to tell ME for it to start sinking in. One can only drink their own coolaid for so long before they try someone elses' to realize they're one in the same.

Thanks for reading, and thank you Michael.