Art Journey~ My Time in the Arts Institute at Bournemouth~

**markey2d** · April 1st, 2008, 06:01 PM

man your individual style is really taking on a life of its own, i love it.
looking at your makes me smile man.
good job

**Bendragon** · April 7th, 2008, 10:48 AM

Markey2d - Cheers man. Im glad some one enjoys them

I do enjoy experimenting and changing techniques once in a while. Its refreshing and most of the time I get better results loosening up in this way.

Another trip to the zoo. I have some mixed feelings that day. Im quite pleased with one or two bits but some areas I feel I could have done better. Blah! Drawing the giraffes was particullarly fun. We got pretty close up to them.

**Quicksilver** · April 7th, 2008, 03:29 PM

Heya, Ben!

Loving the zoo studies - the animals have a lot of character to them, esp. this lil guy and the giraffes. How long does each study take you, normally? 'Cause they look pretty steady and accurate considering they were from living, moving things!

About the ChoW: The captain looks weirdly out of balance. I know the top-heaviness was intentional, but it doesn't look quite right. I've done quick paintover, and changed things like the placement of his belt (moved it further up), made the thighs thicker and rotated it a bit to the left so he looks a bit more grounded. Hope you don't mind!

Happy drawing~ Will prolly see you tomorrow at life drawing

Was it on last week??

**markey2d** · April 8th, 2008, 09:18 AM

those zoo studies a really good, they have alot of character.

l8r

**Bendragon** · April 15th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Naomi - Thanks! I think it took a good half hour to do about each page, but the giraffes prob took a lil longer. It is a challenge to draw them from life. A lot of the times they change their positions and move out of sight which doesnt help! I try to block in the general shapes of the animal quickly at the start. With that guideline down, the whole drawing is pretty much done. I just spend time now just adding in the details. It doesnt matter much that the animal has changed its position cause Ive still got the guideline down to fit it in.
Cheers for the pointer. I do have a habit of making things lean off balance. I still dont realise this early enough! Didnt check life drawing that week - watched football instead!
Matkey2d - Thank you my man. Hope those studies r going well! Keep up the good work.

Finally!!!!!!!!!!! After 3 days of late night work I finished compiling my animatic for my pitch. In the second year of our animation course, we have to pitch an idea for a potential film to be made next year. I had to hold this update back until I finished pitching (which I did today). The pitch went very well to my suprise and delight! Its been a bit surreal, you get quite tunnel-visioned working on these stuff and to find people actually liked the idea when there is so many other good pitches going on is incredible! Its taking me a while to absorb it in but Im just delighted people actually enjoyed it! Thank you to those people who I know are lurking on this page!

Ahem, so anyway... The story is about a romance between two martial artists. The boy is a student who lacks discipline and focus which is why hes having trouble in class, but he has great potentials. The female character is more disciplined in her studies, being the daughter of the grand master. She ultimately becomes his muse and he is able to channel his fighting ability through her...

**Quicksilver** · April 15th, 2008, 06:55 PM

Awww wow, that's so sweet!! Nice one; it's well made and concise. Glad it was a success~

BUT WHERE BE THE LIFE DRAWINGS??!!

EDIT: They should so make Okami for the DS....

**Utopia** · April 16th, 2008, 06:27 AM

I think you are very hard working, and the progress is obvious! The lines are much more free and easy now in contrast to the beginning.
I'll keep an eye on your sketchbook, I am sure you have a lot to show!
Regards!

**Bendragon** · April 18th, 2008, 04:31 PM

Naomi - Glad you liked it. I feel quite lazy when it comes to scanning so..... youll have to wait a bit longer to see 'em! Hehe. I havent actually played any of the Okami games but Ive heard great things about it!
Utopia - Thanks! Theres nothing better to see than progress. I'll try my best to offer more! I also enjoyed your skechbook a lot too! Good work.

Crazy Crazy Crazy Crazy week I had. The film I pitched as a potential grad film has been selected to be made into a full animated film! Its such a strange experience. I feel gilt and sympathy to the good ideas that didnt make it through. I am happy that it made it, but this is not even the beginning. Ive still got to make the thing next term. It promises to be the most challenging year for me. So theres a mixed feeling of excitement and foreboding. It should work out well in the end.
Heres a few more things I did for the pitch. Character shots and initial production still. More to come...

**Eugie** · April 18th, 2008, 04:44 PM

Can't wait to see the whole thing!

**Nubian Greene** · April 19th, 2008, 04:22 PM

aha! so this is where your wasting your time!back to work benny boy.
good stuff
hehe
.

**Bendragon** · April 20th, 2008, 02:40 PM

Eugie - Me too! Just got to make the thing now. *gulp* Thanks.
N00B! - Ah yes! Nubian! When are u gonna post ur stuff huh?

Life drawings! These r the decent attempts anyway!

**krossj** · April 20th, 2008, 03:42 PM

nice book man, studies looks nice and really like the watercolour life drawings.

cheers dude

**dannE-B** · April 24th, 2008, 12:30 AM

Its half five in the morning, your sleeping like a baby and im waiting to go to London...So thought id post on your work,..looking at your stuff you used in your pitch again its easy to see why your's was favoured so much...its real good quality work...i think that really helped out a lot. The watercolour pieces are really nice...although dont get too comfortable with them...maybe try something else...if you do i WILL TOO!!...oh and dont worry im gonna get that Bad boiiII out..and i will consider coming to china...and by that i mean try and find some money.

**Bendragon** · April 25th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Krossj - Thanks!
Danny boi! - Didnt know u were going to London! Thought u said u wanna come speak to Parr with me about the China trip? Now you should have some idea what does well and what doesnt from the pitches. The hard parts yet to come! I was planning to try some dry brush painting after what Alice produced. Yeah, we can both try and fail together! Harhar

W00T! Handed all my class w0rk in today! Now I can pick up ma Wacom again... WIP!!!!!!!!!

**markey2d** · April 28th, 2008, 05:18 PM

that was a really nice animatic Ben, i was so stuck on my animation assignment and you just helped me a whole lot with that man.

keep up the nice work.

**hollietree** · April 30th, 2008, 03:21 AM

wow, brilliant animatic, very inspiring

loving all your work.

guess what, i'm going to AIB next year! woop woop! i'll be seeing you there, i suppose!

**lord_regenschirm** · April 30th, 2008, 03:45 AM

Beautiful little animation you did there ... Very dynamic and expressive. It really thrilled me

**markey2d** · April 30th, 2008, 12:24 PM

hey there ben, i just saw some pictures of ur short animated film in the new AIB prospectus.

l8r

**Bendragon** · April 30th, 2008, 06:54 PM

Markey2D - Cheers man! Im very glad you got something out of it. Nice to know its somewhat educational

Hollietree - Hey, CONGRATULATIONS Hollie!

When was your interview? You were supposed to let me know, cheeky. But you did well anyway. Looking forward to working with ya!
Lord_Regenschirm - Haha, thanks matey! Hope it retains some of the success in the final thing.
Markey2D - Hello again! Huh? You must be talking about the Favelados film right? I was only a 1st year helping out on small tasks then. Once its finished being shown round exhibits it can be shown on the internet!

Heres a few character designs I produced for the film pitch. It still needs developing. I'll be working with my team on the pre-production work soon. Lemme know what you think.

**Camara** · April 30th, 2008, 07:00 PM

I like you cartoon style!Very funny!!!But these last bunch of characters have a lack of originality,they are very "Zelda Wind Waker-like" style.......and this is not very positive cause they are not 100% original.I prefer the third sheet of characters!

Keep posting,man!!

**Bendragon** · May 8th, 2008, 11:04 AM

Camara - Cheers man! Youre absolutely right there. The first couple ones were drawing too much influence from wind waker. Im looking to develope the characters further with my team.

OK, thought Id share where Im up to with my ChoW. Whip! Theres gonna be another character on the right side too. Need to draw him first

**markey2d** · May 10th, 2008, 09:07 AM

in terms of tone, colour and overall mood, i think this is a big step up Ben, i wanna see how it turns out.

l8r

**chuck18mp** · May 10th, 2008, 10:06 AM

I like your little cartoon very cool

**Bendragon** · May 11th, 2008, 11:42 AM

Markey2D - Cheers man! Ive been trying a different approach here and trying a darker value background a bit like Carravagio.
Chuck18mp - Thank you!

Heres the finished Chow. Now off to play

**RandAlThor** · May 11th, 2008, 11:53 AM

Awesome chow dude, that frame really tops it off. Loved that little cinematic as well, nice flow and sweet story.. keep it up mate ;-)

**Evil_Sloth** · May 11th, 2008, 12:09 PM

WoW! I always think that people can achieve awesome things if they practice, your like second year? And already producing more than professional work. Pimpen dude.

**Bendragon** · June 3rd, 2008, 05:41 PM

RandAlThor - Thanks matey

Evil_Bro - Cheers man. Yeha, keep practicing and try new tricks.

Recently visited the Body World exhibit in Manchester. Really good experience and a good opportunity for some anatomy studies! ... and some drawings of my arty chums!

**markey2d** · June 4th, 2008, 01:32 PM

some nice skecthes i really like the ape ones, really brings it to life for me.

l8r

**Ash888** · June 4th, 2008, 01:36 PM

I really like these new anatomy ink drawings.
You have done a great job capturing the power of the ape.

**Bendragon** · June 17th, 2008, 11:03 AM

Thanks guys!
Just got back the other day from the Annecy Animation Festival. It was awesome stuff! I got a glimpse of Matt Groening and animation legends Richard Williams and Bill Plympton. There was an exclusive screening of some Pixar and Disney shorts (Presto, Glago's Guest and a Goofy short) and a poster signing after that. I spoke to Chris Williams of Pixar and managed to get a drawing out of him

Also spoke to a lady from Ubisoft about Sparth and Pascal Blanche! One night I saw the character designer from Mulan and Hercules and went for a chat with him. Pretty amazing experience aghhhhhh!
On with the drawings....
First one is the doodle by Chris Williams. The rest are from a sketchcrawl around Annecy. It was an event organised by the author of the Flight graphic novel I think. It was inspiring to draw side by side with so many talented artists. Students and professionals mingled. I had to be on top of my game. The last two are drawings of my classmates on the train home. Sleepy gits!