Animate it ! camp July 17 21, 2017

Animate it!

Kids animation camp at ACAD.

I taught a new camp this past week and made a little video of what my 6 boys created during the week, check it out below.

A dozen ways, a dozen days....what am I doing these days?

Keeping it up as any bunny would and could. I made this video from the studio of a piece I am slowly nudging toward completion. Check out the video on my you tube channel by clicking on the video below. It's only 5 min of your time deep in my thoughts and goals.

EPISODE 10 - "Making Headway"

I continue on with my drawing study of the tiny plaster head and muscle cast.

Check out how after building the proportions with a scaffold of sorts I begin blocking in the lights and dark values to create form.

EPISODE 9... the latest is up!

It was the long week-end and I assigned my self some additional homework to help illustrate how I get started and going on a sketch from life. Watch it below and/or share this link: https://youtu.be/AUhWN8zCFiY

EPISODE 8 "no rest for the wicked"

I was reluctant to put this one out after realizing how tired working myself to the bone has got me. I wasn't going to post it but I decided to do it anyway for you. Hopefully it goes to show you how hard artists can work and the time lapse gives a bit of insight into my process. Check it out on my You tube channel/below.

I have a lot of things coming to a head, classes and jobs are coming to a close in the next month and a half, comic expo is on the horizon,  another free sketchy sounds night at Local 510, instructing figure drawing at Body worlds, the publishing of this years Blackfoot Graphic novel, a big trip to Japan and much more!

Sticky fingers and youtube uploads

Sampler Sunday at Swinton's Studio.

I taught an oil sampler this fine and toasty Sunday.   I always hope that this little introduction to the glories of my favorite painting medium doesn't scare people off. Instead, I hope it inspires people to delve deeper and keep at it because it can very rewarding.  It has its ups and downs, limitations, toxicity, chemistry, history and traditions. That being said, when you are first starting out it can also be intimidating, expensive, challenging and confusing, not to mention messy. But if you stick with it, you will get stuck on it.

 I had a great group with diverse and dynamic backgrounds. My friend Sylwia, who I haven't seen in ages, attended. I even had a little girl, so I had to curb my usual rants and positive and passionate use of swearing.

One lady used a palette knife to put it on thick, I love the richness and creaminess of oil paint, thouh I've never been brave enough to slather it on like she did.  I am always amazed at what people come up with. I love seeing what colours they mix and how they apply paint. The possibilities are endless and I learn a surprising amount when I'm teaching.

This participant to work quick and loose and in doing so she put my demo piece to shame. As a quick demo, I often do an homage to Bob Ross and then scrub it off before anyone can take a picture of it leading to my embarrassment. But I do it quick so it seems less intimidating. Making art should be fun, playful and easy, so about halfway through, I remind them to smile. Eventually they hit a wall as is one of the main challenges when making art, that's when one has to know to take a break, a real art form in itself.

 This quick alla prima of a harbor turned out great for a first time oil user. Any more and the colours would become muddy and the whole thing would become frustrating. We don't have time to allow layers to dry in the short few hours of this class to really show off what makes oil so diverse and wonderful. You never know, somebody in that class could become and artist in the future!

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I am always making something. I put up a few new things on you You tube for you to check out.

Here is a teaser for the Blackfoot Graphic Novel.

And a quick motion graphic for the USAY Backback giveaway event this summer.

R2-D2 - Lego Kit Assembly

Here is my latest lego assembly time lapse video for your enjoyment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWDXNAGkPtQ&feature=youtu.be

Why my posts have been few and far between….

I'm up sh*t creek without a paddle.

Well maybe it's not that bad, but the clock is ticking and we are getting close to the final deadline, our screening is this Sunday at 6pm at the Globe.

I have been devoting every day of my life, since November, to the Aboriginal Youth Animation Project. Its been an arduous journey of learning and challenges, but we are in the last few meters of the sprint and the finish line is in sight. For the past few weeks, I've been staying up late every night working on piecing together our screening and documentary reel. I also teach my regular load of classes on a few evenings and week-ends. I highly doubt all work and no play has made me dull, but I am looking forward to a mini break after screening the films.

Here is the Fast Forward Article about the program that came out today:

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/screen/film-features/first-nations-animation-11966/

Lucky Bunny Part 2

What I do with the Lego gift is the exciting part, and the extremely nerdy part. As an artist and animator I can't help but set up my gear on night and time lapsing the assembly of my new toy. What can I say?! Afterward I pump it into After Effects and use some of my skills in the digital realm to put it together into a pretty package, check it out below!

Enjoy!
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One lucky Bunny!

Well today just got even better, My friend Joe and his Dad Dan popped into my work this morning to drop off an unexpected gift, and check out the wicked wrap job!

We hung out at Devonian gardens last night after work and talked shop, Joe is planning on making his own science show to carry on what he begun at Beakerhead this year. I mentioned my LEGO collecting addiction cause I shook the box and I could tell what it was, the surprise was even better once I opened it!

WHAT?!?!?!?!? A Volkswagon Camper Van kit!!!!! Way too awesome, I am so stoked it is going to be difficult to get thru work not wanting to assemble this, alas I'll have to use the force.

Here is a quick After Effects project I put together today as a demo and for kicks and QAS. Check it out. I don't expect it'll get over 50,000 hits like the the video I launched last week, but I'm not counting anyway. lol.  If you want to see the AF Satori animation check it out below.

Week-end update 2, but wait there's more

On friday night I bought a ticket to the Landscape demo at Swinton's Art Supply. When I showed up the owner, Doug asked me if I liked Vodka. That was a trick question because before I knew it I had slammed back a few too many screwdrivers and thus was a screwed driver in that I couldn't drive him. lol.

Neil Patterson gave a demo and wisdom session to a full house. It was fun watching him work the crowd while working the paint. He's quick, that's what years of experience can do for a painter and not a drop on his outfit = pro. It was great hanging out with the Swinton's crew and reconnecting with Milo who gave me my first break at the Sugar Estate Gallery back in the day.

Before and after After Effects. lol. Thanks class for being awesome!

We began the advanced animation portion of the class after a brief review of the principles and functions of how after effects with key framing transform properties. I taught the students how to make their work more professional by using the 5 types of motion. In order to do this I demonstrated a variety of ways to adjust the velocity and behaviour of the keyframes using the graph editor as well as keyframe assistant etc.

We also launched the animated music video/novella I have been working at in my "spare" moments. It is done in After effects with scanned watercolour drawings. Take a look.  I am on the last week of art production for the Aboriginal Youth Animation Project and we are really behind, which is to be expected. Stress levels are rising as deadlines are quickly approaching but I am really looking forward to a long week-end so I can catch up on household chores where needed.

Week-end update

It is no secret that every moment of everyday I have something on the go. It has been an exciting week as we quickly veering toward the Holiday of love, I am looking forward to the fact that it is a long week-end and I only have quality R & R planned for once!

AYAP
It is our last week of art production Aboriginal Youth Animation Project. Now the participants are under the gun and are finally exhibiting the type of work ethic needed to be an animation artist. Fingers crossed they can keep up the pace in order to get it done. Our screening isn't until March 30th at the Globe but there is a tonne of post production to do before then, during which they are placed in job internships in a related field. It seems like the time has passed so quickly. After the screening day I'll be out of a job and onto new yet unknown creative adventures.

SNOW DAY
I took part painting kids faces for a Snow Day event.  The room was chaos, 10 ft. away was a bouncy castle I have never really seen kids line up and be so patient like they do when it is time to get their faces painted. I was to busy to snap shots of all the other kids, but I did do some really good ones. The girls got snow flake ice princess designs and my personal best the my little pony unicorn pegasus wings around the eyes like a butterfly, my most popular design. The boys got iron man, spider man, and Silas got a Lego Chimas lion guy, special request. As seen above, this is how it looked after a play session in the snow and bouncy castle and after eating and rubbing it a bit, it held up fairly good.


INTRO TO OIL PAINTING
I took over the acrylic and oil samplers at Swinton's art Supply.  It was a really good class, I am stoked to be using my Sundays at Swinton's educating future artists. I created quite extensive notes for an into to accompany my demonstrations. Hopefully the complexity and perceived expense which causes oils to seem for boding has been melted away. For first time painters the full class produced works to be proud of! I look forward to seeing what they come up with in the future, now that they are off on the right foot.

QUICKDRAW EVENING CLASSES
Both of my evening classes are running at Quickdraw Animation Society. The After Effects is full and we went over our cap!  This group has done far better on the first day than any class I have taught before. I must have honed my teaching skills enough now to really propel the students. Maybe it's not me a t all and they just all get the hang of it. either way I look forward tot eh next 11 evenings to see them transform their skill set. I have a really eager group in my Advanced Animation class who have all taken classes before and can create a walk cycle on day 1. The work load for this class is heavy and very technical but by the end they will have a short bit of finished work and a plan with with to grow their practice as animators. The pic above is Duncan our Technical Director repositioning the classroom and Chris Jones one of my students.

I'm off to get fitted for a suit during my lunch break. even when it's break time I've got something on the go. lol.

Ciao for now.

Aboriginal Youth Animation Project week 3 & 4

Today is pay day, so we are wrapping up week 3 & 4 of the Aboriginal Youth Animation Project.
We began the week with our first group project where we created a metamorphosis film together.

We discussed the variety of possibilities with this technique as well as how to easily breakdown the phases of drawing. Each student does a drawing which metamorphoses into the next in a our ani-jam.

Here is the chart of the planned animation. Below I show the frames side by each so that the sense of time becomes tangible. Having 12 sheets of paper that are photographed for 2 exposures each really helps make the amount of drawing needed for animation a reality in physical space.

We then created our own field guides by drawing on acetate to use under our animations. This helps us all work to the same aspect ratio and size for our projects and to help line up the artwork under the camera. Guides cost too much t buy but are super easy and cheap to make.

I taught the first fundamental of animation which is the squash and stretch. I get the students to create cut out self portraits in which to experiments with the spacing and timing under the camera. Then they pair up and have head bounce battles with the various techniques they have learned to see what thee can make happen.

 The participants move on to creating a ball bounce using the proper planning technique, first drawing a trajectory then figuring out the spacing and the timing on one sheet. Later they will transfer the plan onto individual sheets and pencil test it. Following that they will correct the timing and anything else that isn't working. Afterward, they will have a solid plan and a tested example in which they can then turn it into a bouncing character animation.

On with the show.

AYAP Week 1 & 2

I am now teaching full time in the days with my job as animation instructor for the Quickdraw Animation Society's Aboriginal Youth Animation Project.

Along side life skills and team building curriculum is my history of animation component. We covered a lot of content as well as made animation toys and watched a lot of movies. I took a few iPhone photos of my whiteboard notes to share with those of you who follow my blog :D

After a history of human communication slide show and lecture we move into the developments of the 1600's. I have the class make a Thaumatrope as their first animation toy assignment. I have to continually tell them to stay off the Facebook! (hence the drawing a participant did of me in the top corner of my whiteboard in the next picture)

The next thing they make is the infamous Phenakistoscope invented by Philip Plateau. This is where you have a disk with slots cut out and you face a mirror, spin the disk and peer thru the slots into the mirror and images on the disk appear to be moving. This eventually gets developed into the zoetrope and many other fantastic inventions.

We go thru the development of more animation related inventions and why they are important leading up to Edison's invention of motion pictures. We spend some time reviewing Muybridge's serial chronography and begin work making flip books, which I intend to later film for the final screening and possibly print to hand out as gifts. To the right in purple is an example of how to breakdown the stages needed to draw a blinking eye.

In another session I cover the Silent film era which includes the first animation ever made, the wonderful "Gertie the Dinosaur" by Winsor or McKay and some other hits along the way until we arrive at Disney and the first cartoon with synced sound. To the left in purple is the breakdown of artistic devices used by each film and how they pass down thru the generation. I encourage everybody to "know their history" and pay homage as we are all standing on the shoulders of greats who developed it.

I jump into my favourite era once sound is introduced and rubber hose arms. I discuss the ongoing competition between east and west coast animation and all the developments and great films it brings with it, including the ultimate demise of my favourite animating brothers the Fleischer's.  I show how Betty Boop starts out as a walk on character, and the fact that she is a dog, literally! I go from pre-cod to Disney's feature film triumph - Snow white and compare ti to what the Fleischer's are doing and how Superman eventually brings them down.

After colour is introduced we enjoy the Golden Age of animation and the massively awesome and huge amount of fantastic material produced. I do a little WW2 history lesson in there as cartoons go to war and show the first Astro boy, some UPA and a few cigarette ads featuring the Flintstones.  I segway into the commercialization of cartoons to sell products and weave my way to the first computer animated feature "Toy Story".  It has been busy since I work this job and teach some nights and most week-ends but I will also add the caveat that it is very fulfilling too.

This week-end I am teaching my final drawing class of the semester and hive the final critique followed by the life drawing event Draw 'til you Drop……….. and I just might!!!

IN THE BEGINNING........ SPECIAL THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORTES OF CREATIVITY LIKE YOU!!!

My "In the Beginning" animation is finished and up on video but only for private viewers like you who were so generous in supporting our Calgary Animated Objects Society conflict/resolution invest YYC campaign.

 

Thank you!!

Ashley Bristowe, David Quiichini, Kate Monaghan, James Murphy, Isabelle Kadyn, Marilyn Field, Angela Inglis, Jake Mulyk, Emiko Muraki, Karen Ball, Colin Jackson, Patricia Glenn, Brenda Lieberman, Sharon Stevens, Gina Georgousis, Michal Lavi, Alane Smith, Carol Beecher, Charlie Johnson, David Nicholls, Jim Button, Jessica Barker, Sharon Watkins, Gina Georgousis, Charlie Johnson, Xstine Cook, Jana Lait, Shawna Quinn and Janet Perlman. 

Got Nerd?!

Even just a little bit?

Warning: 
Exposing yourself to nerd may be dangerous as it known to be contagious in the State of California, viewer discretion is advised. 

Click here, but remember, you've been warned!

Last week I posted a Lego Star wars B-wing Starfighter assembly time lapse animation.  I added the Millennium Falcon kit to my collection. I had to pay full price and choose this kit because of it's classic appeal and multiple mini figures. It has a Darth Vader, Obi Wan, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and of course, Luke Skywalker.  I have so much fun putting these together that I just have to share. I  love Lego!  Enjoy my 1 min. stop motion animation.

PS: if anyone has any Lego they want to send to a loving home, I have open arms eagerly waiting and ready for Lego donations, wink, wink.  =;D

If there ws any doubt.....

today may it be put to rest (on May the Sith, as if May the Fourth wasn't enough, it is still STAR WARS celebration day the extended version) I am a complete NERD!

I decided to combine a few of my favorite things Media art and Animation (time lapse) Lego and Star Wars. I went to the Lego store in Chinook Mall (yeah, that's dangerous, I didn't even know we had a Lego store..............future addict right here, got myself a V.I.P card) It just so happened that they had a May the Fourth special on. They were giving away free Han Solo Lego figures with any purchase over $75 and there was a LEGO B-wing Starfighter (10227) kit on sale for 50% off. regular $250. Need I say more?!

Here I am happy as a clam.

I time lapse photographed my Lego ckit assembly and post it on You Tube with some music, sorry no After Effects laser beams and light saber etc. added, that would be going a little too far! lol. =:D
I have access to some old VHS copies of the original Star Wars and watched episode V & VI back to back. while I put together the 1487 Lego pieces. Check it out below.

I was surprised when opening the box that it was just full of numbered bags full of pieces and also bags within bags. I remember older kits when I was growing up having vacuum formed plastic trays you can organize and fit the pieces into. I recycled all the plastic bags which is a great bonus. I am going to keep the box for future moves and maybe there is some value in it. The LEGO kit even came with a display stand. It has a bit of movement. The cockpit can fully rotate, so can the treads behind and you can change the angle of the wings. Its not stable enough to play with or let the kiddies handle. There were a couple of tough spots and some weaker attachment areas in the design, but all in all a real joy to put together. That is probably why it is a 16+ model. The design of the Starfighter in this kit is bigger in scale then regular kits, so the little Lego men are too small to sit in the cockpit so this kit does not come with any mini figures =;(  Good thing I have the free "May the fourth" bonus gift - Han Solo from Hoth.

Lego instructions are super straight forward and easy to follow. There are no languages, just pictures and a couple of arrows.  This week-end Jess and I played a game where one person had the Lego instructions and the other person had the pieces. Its a great way to practice communication skills as well as being super fun. When I worked for the city one of the application tests was to work as a team giving instructions to another to put together a simple Lego kit. Pure genius! There are no names for the individual pieces so you have to get a system to do it well. I find it is good if you organize the pieces first then get your partner to orient the piece right and get it put together. This is my kind of challenge and its fun. Needless to say Jess and I were very successful in putting together our "cookies" and colored "thingies with __ (numbers) of bumps" correctly.

The B-wing took over 4 hours to completely build on my own. I love how the designer used the colors within. In the end they are completely hidden but makes for easy assembly. At about 1 am, after assembling all the B-wing Starfighter components, I began losing focus some of the smaller bits of the constructed pieces fell apart. This is the time to throw in the towel if you are smart. Battling it just makes it worse. I decided to go to sleep and repair it in the day with fresh hands and a fresh outlook. I shot the time lapse of construction of the stand before breakfast, it was a breeze. I took some finished shots of the assembled B-wing and did the post production. I outputted the image sequence from After Effects with a new orientation and scale and brought it into Final Cut to add the sound. I sped up Meco's 1977 record Galactic Funk 167% to fit the length of the video and outputted it to upload to my You tube channel for the enjoyment of other nerds on planet earth. Enjoy!

Here is the link to the you tube if you want it :D 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFO56jrQLgU&feature=youtu.be

GANESH drawing for the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo

Usually this is a slow time of the year for me. But this year is different. It wont let up.
I've been digging deep. Like the energizer bunny, I keep going. It always seems like I bite off more than I can chew and the task is impossible. Yet, I get it done!

Here is the list of things I've just wrapped up since my last post; CAOS project animation, Wreck City installation and take down, The Calgary Underground Film Festival,  and the Calgary Comic Expo.

Meanwhile I made this appearance on ShawTV's Calgary Now program.

Today I'm back at it.

It's a good thing too, today is tax day and I balanced and filed my taxes which make me feel like I'm on top of the world. The numbers may not say that however.lol.  That being said, I can finally post the making of my GANESH drawing. I donated the original to the Calgary Comic Expo for the Children's Make a Wish Foundation. It was printed on page 10 of their artbook this year.

Above is a progress shot of the drawing I created on canvas paper.

 I outlined it with my Copic multi-liner pens and began coloring it in with various copic markers based on prior work so that it would with my special 3d glasses.

 Here is is colored. I did the background in a soft pencil crayon and then decided to revisiting the piece and darken the background and add some clouds around the outer edge.

 This is from  the photo I sent in to the Comic Expo for their artbook submission competition. I didn't hear back for a log time so I assumed I was not selected to participate. Days before the Expo when I was on the TV show I ran into the CCEE people (Kendrix and Emily Expo) and they told me I was in fact in print! Booyeah!

It was great seeing my work in the publication. I donated the original fully framed to their auction to help raise money for Children's charity. I signed hundreds of copies for those fans who came to my booth G01 in the Artist Alley at the Expo this week-end and let people borrow my 3D glasses to get the full effect of the artwork.

ink trees

Mostly I'm spending hours on this laptop putting the many pieces of my animation together.

I painted my main intro title frame by frame on this black and then fit it into my timeline.

 I wanted some trees to grow as they zoom past the camera in the foreground. I intended to shoot them a variety of ways in black on white and drop out the bright. Since it is frame by frame it will appear to grow organically.

 I made an elaborate set up consisting of a fish tank with a glass bottom being shot up toward so that I can paint with ink onto the back of wet paper towel, allowing it to soak thru and bleed.

I also decided to do a few trees as top down progressive animations. I based some of my trees off of bonsais from my book collection.

Here is one done in ink on animation paper. They turned out alright, the experimenting allowed me to come up with a variety of things for my animation that I would never have thought up to do. This opportunity has been an incredible opportunity for experimentation.