The road to animation

[tayete]

Well, the other day I was doodling and an idea assaulted me:

"Hey, I suck at color, but I am not too bad getting gestures and poses". Then it stroke me: Animator. I must have been born not a fine artist, not a colourist, maybe a draftsman, but quite close to an animator.

So, I decided to embark myself in this trip. I have signed for some art classes (starting on September), and started to fill some pages with doodles.

I will try to show my progress here, so these are the first results (I hope I can laugh at them in some months on):










Some children characters for an idea I have for a music video...









And a small test with TVPaint Animation (looks like a nice program, but I haven't made my mind about which one to buy):

[tayete]

Yesterday's exercise. Well, in fact I did many more, but not worthy taking a look...

[tayete]

Some 3 sec. sketches made in my pad at the beach... It is funny how entertaining these sketches are, though they have to be made really quick as everyone is moving constantly. Now I always carry one of these small notebooks with me.

[iheartmyself]

hmm
it would look a little odd in your portfolio
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
line drawing
etc

i dont think you should give up on colour, animation companys will be looking for a diverse range of medias and drawings, so they see that you can do it all if need be
other than that, you have line drawings down to a tee, now colour! XD

[tayete]

Thanks iheartmyself, you are right. In these first steps I was just trying to improve a bit observation+anatomy+movement. Maybe it is because I suck at colour that I am afraid of showing my colour stuff. But, again, you are right, I don't have to let the other parts of art slip away.

Well, some more line art, some random stuff, Bridgman's sketches, and more character testing for the musical video. I'll try to complete the character sheet (in colour) with these last ones.

Cheers!

[tayete]

Well, this weekend I have spent most of it copying the poses from Bridgeman's anatomy book (boy, it is really hard to follow his style and knowledge). Sometimes I felt like I didn't know what I was doing, just copying, but slowly some things started to fall in place: the ribs cage, the pelvis, the connection of the legs... I hope I will be able to learn a bit from this book. Well, in any case the 10 sheets I have covered are not worth of showing...though maybe I should also show all the crap I produce.

Another book I have nearly finished is Shamus Culhane "Animation: from script to screen" which covers all the animation production process, but which lacks (in my humble opinion) of some deepness in how animation is really made. I guess it is made for people who already are in the industry, or at least know part of the process and want to know a bit about other parts of it.

I have also started a portrait of my son in pencils and tempera. I am not able to put the mouth correctly, so I started to shade a bit all around, and I have a first stage nearly completed, except for the mouth. Now I must finish that @#~@ mouth, and begin to apply shadows correctly, and at last some tempera at some parts...

[tayete]

I decided to start a small picture to test a couple of things:

* Loomis' "patterns guide on composition"
* Bridgeman's lessons so far.

Just the first stages of this picture. I will finish it along the week.

[BubbaGump]

Not bad! The gestures are nice and lively.

[tayete]

BubbaGump: Thanks!

Some quick clouds to be retouched later, and a change in the gesture, as I don't like that arm... Later more.

[tayete]

Well, some more Bridgeman's sketches for the sketches grave (aka as trash bin), and some more composition touches for the Charge picture...

[tayete]

Some more Bridgman's sketches. I think I start to understand what he tried to teach, though not too many explanations are given in his book, just pictures.

And I retouched the clouds of the current picture. I will try to go on with my son's portrait later...

[tayete]

I couldn't work the mouth out! I'll call it done after struggling with the mouth with 60+ times...

[tayete]

I am at page 54 of Bridgman's book. At 6 pages daily of copying his sketches, I will be finished around the end of September. Well, I hope I will get something of so much time inverted.

The charge pic: the grass is made, and started the helmet; I go really slow, but there are so many things to do at the same time: some animations to test my movement knowledge, reading books, etc... and of course "real world" work.

[tayete]

I made a walk cycle (the contact phases), as a start for developing it further, as any animator must do sometime. It has been made quickly, just to get the idea. First creating the extremes, then inbetweening. I should try the direct approach too...

[tayete]

I started a new sketch in OpenCanvas, just to test this program which seems really nice. Let's see if I can develop the character with just some scribbled lines...

The charge pic goes on. Well, at the end I'll be able to create an animated GIF with all the steps...nice!
Just the face and some more helmet improvement.

[tayete]

Today I haven't done my Bridgman's homework yet...too much work, and had to take the kids to the swimming pool. It was great anyways.
Continued a bit of the new pic, just to see where it takes me...

[tayete]

Something interesting reading Shamus Culhane's "Animation: from script to screen": he mentions that Bidgman's lessons are good for people willing to learn how to draw cigar boxes, as he bases anatomy in those cubes. He also tells how glad he is that his lessons are now nearly forgotten, while in the early 30's and 40's they were a must for every animation.
Well, nowadays they seem to be reborn again. I continue drawing my 6 pages/day, though I must say sometimes I don't know what the earth I am drawing until some pages later when something "clicks" in its place. I think some more explanations would be alright, as Bridgmans seemd to rely solely in his drawings. But I must eat my vegetables, and keep on drawing...

[bakatron]

ye olde walk cycle. novel way of posting it

[tayete]

Bakatron: Soon I'll be creating more walk cycles with a bit more of "spirit" than this one

Continued with the warrior. Erased the whole head, and started from zero. I don't like it neither, so tomorrow will be another erase/paintover phase.

Finished another book on animation "The animation book" from Laybourne. Mmmmm...it is quite old fashioned and geared towards the technical process (cameras, cels, 90's computers, etc...). Not worth the money nowadays, in my opinion.

[tayete]

I am currently spending my holidays far away from home, so I am practicing most of all traditional skills, though my wacomo follows me. Unfortunately I cannot scan my works, so I am not able to post them.

Anyways, I keep on practicing Bridgman's anatomy every day, even though Shawn wouldn't advice me so (read previous posts).

And today, I made a quick drawing of a pirate, just to throw my gouache paint as soon as possible. I had never used them before, and boy, I love them. So quick, so clean, so...muddy. I love them. The only thing that pisses me off is the change in value and hue of the colour once it dries. But I guess it just takes some practice...

[tayete]

After a long time on vacation without my computer, I am back again. I went to London too to watch the National Gallery, and (even though I had been several times before) got stunned by a great portrait of Pareja by Del Mazo (Velazquez's son in law). Google it, and you'll know what I mean.

Back to work (even though I have been making my homework daily: Bridgman), and this stupid pic:

[EBrown]

I like that you're exploring color now, Tayete. I still have yet to really venture into that realm since my grasp of color theory is... weak.

You've got some great characters and really nice ability to generate the 'painterly' look. What program do you use (if it is one) and brush set?

[tayete]

EBrown: The previous pictures were made using OpenCanvas, a nice app which allows you to record too the whole process. I think Barontieri uses to post some of this "videos" with his pictures, so you can see how he created his astonishing images.

A quick sketch:

[tayete]

A couple of faces made this morning. Mmmmm... I should get a new scanner, this one is about 8 years old, and was low-quality even then.

[tayete]

Well, I am quite unsatisfied of how the previous pictures where going, so I started this new one: An orc with a Kalashnikov AK47. Yep, maybe the orcs are quite cliché, but AK47s are cool!!! (unless you are in front of one, of course)...

[tayete]

Well, today I couldn't do my Bridgman's homework, so I guess tomorrow I'll have to make 12 pages.
In the mean time, I created some small pieces following Nubb's approach (or what I think it is his approach until he delivers some Youtube video *hint* *hint*): I think he uses some kind of broken colour technique, so I tried it with this small alien, inspired by one of his designs. I was too lazy and anxious to try it, to think of something, and it is not copied, nor cloned, just what my brain retained of one of his designs.

[tayete]

A reference-based sketch. Pencil...

[tayete]

Well, a week has passed with no posts, but a lot of things have happened:
Of course I continue with Bridgman's exercises, and on Tuesday I sarted my art classes. Just 4 hours a week, but I hope they'll be worth it

I just started with an A3 drawing (a part of it shown here, stupid A4 scanner), to test what my skills where. It is a copy of a picture from "Anatomy for artists", and the teacher thought I was prepared enough about sketching, blocking and line weight, so we should move on to value toning.
So the next day I copied a greyscale print of a teapot, some oranges, etc... which I had to copy again in A3. That didn't go so well, as everything went in nearly the same tone. I cannot show it yet as next lesson will continue where I quit, with an exercise the teacher told "maybe you'll like".

[the ANGRY filipino]

Hi Tayete!
Nice Sb ! Its a good start. Hope you keep posting because I really like what i have seen so far! Hope you finish that orc with the AK47!

[tayete]

Angry Pilipino: Thanks by passing by! The orc is resting right now, but will be finished.

Some sketches for a drawing about rugby players, and a "straight line" orc. Just trying to make lines straight, as I've noticed all my lines are curved...too "organic". I think, for what I have seen, that mixing straight and curved lines makes the drawings more interesting...