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!