Finished Animation

Finally, I have finished my animation! At 30 seconds, it is quite short as animations go, but I am happy with it as this is my first experience of creating a stop motion animation. I drew all the frames by hand in quite a limited space of time so I think I completed the task successfully. By doing this project I have gained a greater appreciation and insight into how an animation is made, and have acquired a new skill which I will probably use again in the future. It took about 30 hours to make this 30 seconds of animation, so it really is a very time-consuming process! I found it to be rewarding, if a little testing and difficult at times. I hope you like it!

Animation

I am now nearing the stage in my animation where it is time to photograph the frames! All I need is some sort of tripod to keep the camera steady, as this is vital to ensure that the animation will run smoothly when I upload the photos onto Moviemaker. I am pleased with the frames, and I think the paper cutouts of the moving figure will fairly accurately depict movement. I also need to consider what sound track will be effective for about 20 seconds of animation, some uplifting music definitely, possibly The Who, not just because I really like their music, but I also think it would be appropriate to use a band who made music in the 1960's and 1970's, as it is around the same period when Roy Lichtenstein started to make waves in the art world with his now iconic pop art.

 

 

The Knitting and Stitching Show, Dublin

 

 

 

On Saturday 3rd November, I went to the RDS in Dublin to see the annual Knitting and Stitching Show. It was my first experience of the show and I must say it didn't disappoint. I have a keen interest in textiles, and have a deep love for anything ranging from knitting to patchwork to embroidery, so I have to confess I was like an excited child at Christmas when I strolled into the RDS and saw the huge array of stalls full of textile-y things! Shelf after shelf of coloured wools, packets of buttons, rolls and rolls of printed fabrics with any motif you could dream of, my eyes feasted on this wonderful celebration of craft and design. The sheer vibrancy of the colours and the vast quantity of stuff really was an eye-opening experience.

 

 

 

One of the many stalls selling haberdashery, with a beautiful patchwork display as a backdrop

 

 

Far from being a mundane setting with only a scattering of elderly women clutching their knitting, the RDS was heaving with a great variety of people, both young and old. The crowds on Saturday were large for most of the day, and showed little sign of easing until about 5 o' clock. There was an enthusiasm and energy throughout the building which was palpable and infectious, and it left me with little doubt that I am quite passionate about textiles. There were some Textiles students from NCAD with stalls showing their work and notebooks which was quite interesting, as well as traditional lace makers, and patchwork displays. I also was talking to Roscommon tapestry weaver Frances Crowe, who I have worked with in the past as part of a collaborative school project. She showed me some of her weaving which was great, as this is something I really enjoy when I have the time.

 

 

 



Frances Crowe, Roscommon tapestry weaver

 

 

I was also talking to several textile designers and artists who been working on a project based on a mill, since April this year. Unfortunately I can't remember their names, but they were very helpful and they let me look at their notebooks which was brilliant! As a student, it was beneficial for me to see the work process involved, and to observe how ideas formed and developed. It was very encouraging to see so many people who are working in an area that I aspire to work in, with a passion and vigour that really shines through in their work. It definitely has given me a boost to keep working hard and to experiment with my creativity. All in all, it was a fantastic show, and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in textiles, but also for anyone who enjoys viewing hand-made crafts. I look forward to next year's show!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Animation-Making Frames

With this animation project I have gained a new appreciation of how much time and effort is really required to enliven a figure and make it move. I will never look at a Disney film the same way! Even the simplest of movements such as drinking tea, must be accurately constructed to work properly. For this project I am aiming to create a short animation, approximately only 20 seconds, based on the Lichtenstein painting of a living room. I have drawn my own sitting room in Lichtenstein style, complete with the Ben-Day dots, and am planning to integrate a figure into the piece, sitting on the couch performing simple tasks such as drinking tea, reading and talking on the phone. While in theory this seems to offer little range in movement, it is still proving to be quite a challenge for me, especially where patience is concerned! On average, each frame takes me about 30 minutes to complete, even though it is only a cut out of the moving figure and not the whole room each time, as the background stays the same for the duration of the animation. It is both an enjoyable and tedious process, which requires a lot of precision and concentration. I think once I really start to see the figure come alive, I will be pleased with my progress! I will post up some photos soon. Meanwhile, time is ticking!

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is an important stage in the process of animation, but what exactly is it, and what does it entail? Well, I researched some basic definitions of storyboarding to give me some insight into this new and challenging world of animation.
 

Storyboards are graphic organisers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualising a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence. The storyboarding process, in the form it is known today, was developed at the Walt Disney Studio during the early 1930s, after several years of similar processes being in use at Walt Disney and other animation studios.

Simple storyboard with captions

 

How to make a storyboard-

The first step in creating a storyboard is to draw a series of squares on a piece of paper. Think of these squares as the video frame. In each square a different shot or scene will take place.  You can sketch the scenes by hand, create them on a computer or even take photographs. It is important to leave space to write notes the script beneath or next to each frame.    

Beneath each picture you should write the lines from the script that will be said in that shot and jot down some notes about what is happening in the scene.  People should be able to read through your storyboard like a comic book to get a sense of exactly what will happen in your video.

Note that your storyboard doesn’t have to be incredibly detailed — you don’t have to draw in all of the props or even use color.  If you’re not great at drawing that’s fine too.  Just provide enough visual detail to give an impression of what is happening, which characters are in the scene and what the general framing will look like.  The script and notes will help fill in the rest of the details.  You can also make notes about camera angles and movement, transitions between shots and other details that will come in handy during production and post production.

 

 

Animation Artwork- Roy Lichtenstein

For my animation project I have chosen this artwork by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. I plan to base my animation on my own sitting room at home, and centre it around the theme of my weekend, depicting it in a style similar to Lichtenstein. While Lichtenstein used paint, I plan to use pen and marker in my animation as I find it more convenient and comfortable to use. I have been researching the Ben-Day dot technique which is traditionally associated with print, particularly in the pulp comic books of the 1950's. It is similar to Pointillism, and is comprised of coloured dots which are closely or widely spaced or overlapping, depending on the effect that is desired. Lichtenstein adopted this technique for his own usage, and greatly exaggerated it in his paintings. He used stencils and painted them by hand, a lengthy process that he engaged in to produce an effect very similar to a mechanically produced print. In my animation I hope to explore the use of the Ben-Day dot in a small section, as it is one of the most notable characteristics of Lichtenstein's work.

I plan to enliven the composition by introducing a figure, possibly sitting on the couch, relaxing and engaging in simple tasks such as reading, eating and drinking. The movement will probably be quiet minimal, possibly with a surprising action at the end. I'm not fully clear on how this will come about, or what exactly is going to occur in the animation, but I suppose that is what story-boarding is for!

 

Animation Project

As part of L2L we have been given an Animation project that we have to work on for 6 weeks. Our task is to take an artwork by any artist, research and analyse it, and use it as an inspiration to make our own animation. It is a challenging yet interesting task, as I have never tried to make an animation before! I have started by choosing a piece by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, because he is one of my favourite artists, and I think his bright graphic style would suit my own way of working, as well as being apt for creating an animation. I will keep you updated on my progress!

L2L Debate- Is the current generation better off than their parents' generation?

In our L2L Monday session last week, we had to discuss whether or not we are better off than our parents' generation. We paired off in twos and talked about both sides of the argument-the advantages of modern living, as well as the advantages of life about fifty years ago and respective disadvantages. This proved to be an interesting topic for debate, which I admit I got quite passionate about!! While the overall consensus seemed to highlight that the current generation has a much better quality of life than that of our parents approximately fifty years ago, I held a more alternative view of how there were many positive aspects to life of the past generation.

I chose to point out that as part of modern life we are a society consumed with the media and ever-increasing use of technology, whilst ignoring the more traditional aspects of life such as direct, personal communication and the simplicity of just living without being contrived by the opinions and perceptions of the media.

However, I must accept that as part of life fifty years ago, the power of religious institutions had a great influence on how people lived, especially in Ireland; a power that is not unlike how we are influenced by the never-ending bombardment from the media, through television, magazines and newspapers but to name a few.

We live in an era where everyday life is quite fast-paced, we feel the need to be constantly stimulated by our surroundings, and we have a dependence on technology to perform tasks for us with rapid speed and efficiency. As a result we have become less patient, and less appreciative of the present moment. We have become more consumed with social media at the expense of engaging in real personal interactive situations. How many of us have experienced someone texting constantly on their phones while ignoring your attempts at trying to engage in a real conversation with them? It has become a very familiar situation in our modern world. Many people, myself included, would probably have a freakout at the thought of abandoning our mobile phones for a week, or living without radio, television, or internet-modern telecommunications which we have taken very much for granted. 

As with any interesting topic, there are a lot of other areas and aspects that could be discussed, but I am trying to not to go off in a tangent! I think I did enough talking in the group discussion!

 

 

Presentation Mindmap

Here is the mindmap I made based on the research I did on photographer Stephen Shore. I used this mindmap to help me give a short presentation on Shore last week. I based the centre of the mindmap on a photograph of a jigsaw that Shore took as part of his collection 'Uncommon Places.' I created a border around the edge in the form of a film strip, with small thumbnail sketches of several photographs in the Uncommon Places collection.

 

 

 

 

Presentation on Stephen Shore

As part of my L2L research project, I have been given the task of researching Stephen Shore, and presenting a mind-map based on the information I find about him. Stephen Shore is an American photographer, born in 1947, who has gained much recognition for his collection of photographs entitled 'Uncommon Places.' Shore embarked on a road trip across America, which he documented with his camera, spanning from 1973 to 1979. He recorded every day instances and situations, ranging from the petrol station he refuelled his car at, to the burger he ate at McDonalds.

Having spent several years documenting Andy Warhol's factory, from the tender age of 17, it is evident that Shore obtained an interest in pop and commercial art. His shots often contain simple graphics, in the form of signs and logos, for example at the Chevron petrol station (above).

Shore was intent on capturing the ordinary, in an extraordinary way. Like Warhol, he strove to document the ever-changing culture of modern America, and he seems to target the huge consumption of resources associated with their society and way of living.

The photograph of the filled car-park (above) seems to highlight America's dependent relationship with cars as a means of transport, as well as suggesting the vast consumption of oil and other resources by the modern world. It may also reflect Shore's own personal journey across America, in which he spent a large amount of time in his own car.

Shore also documented more enclosed, intimate instances, such as this hotel room. It depicts the sense of calm and relief felt by the individual, who presumably after a long journey, takes the opportunity to rest  and take time out from a busy world. However, the presence of the television on the wall seems to impose a little on the restful scene,  highlighting the reality that the media is a prominent part of modern American culture, and is difficult to avoid. 

 This photograph of an unmade jigsaw is one of my favourite pieces by Shore, and was the inspiration for my presentation mind-map. I think it is effective how Shore chose to capture the jigsaw in its topsy-turvy unmade state, which is probably more visually interesting than the completed puzzle would have been. His spontaneity in taking such an image is visible in the scattering of the loose jigsaw pieces which are cluttered around the table. The stark contrast between the yellow tablecloth and the light blue jigsaw pieces is aesthetically effective, and seems to imitate the enjoyable recreational activity of making a jigsaw. 



L2L Mindmap

As part of my module L2L, I have created a mindmap based on my reasons for choosing to studying Art & Design, and my aspirations for the future in this field.

I have always had a passion for art and this motivates me to learn new skills and obtain new viewpoints when studying other artists and appreciating their artworks. This desire to learn and succeed in my studies will hopefully remain with me throughout my studies.

I have an interest in Textiles in particular, and would consider taking further studies in this area. However, at this early stage I am open to anything!