Haven't blogged for a few weeks!

The last few weeks have been about trying to tie up all the loose ends . . . its ammazing how long it takes to do some artwork and plan printing and DVD menus etc.

Things are beginning to look a little clearer at least. Still so much to finish off though.
Half way through the production report, need to finish the Innovation Project and need to plough through my mentors info email for the Professional Practice report.

Also need to get to grips, very quickly, with encore for a simple menu for my Major Project DVD, as it will contain 3 animatics. No panic!

Last Background Image

Last piece of artwork to be finished for the major project, the living room for Couch Potato.

Loads for writing to do now in finishing all the reports and innovation project. Then, the job of artwork pieces for the postcard and business card which I am a bit blank about at the moment, don't know what kind of images to use . . . so I'll have to plough through artwork to see what I come up with as to what seems to represent my work.

Need to ask Jay Clarke loads of questions about his work and career, and about he achieves the results, which software he uses etc. Loads of bits and bobs to do!!!

Backgrounds

More close up shots of the living room background for Couch Potato, I really wanted to do more of these scenes but there just hasn't been time. It has been an invaluable time in getting to grips with painting in Photoshop and beginning to use programmes without having to stress about how to use them, freeing up the creative process instead. I hope to become more proficient as an artist using all forms of media . . . in time!

Nearly Final Animatics!

Think the animatics are about finished, they could probably be tightened up a bit more but time is running out for the other projects, so I am calling time on them.

The good news for me is that I asked Mike if he would do sound for the three animatics and he has said yes, which is fantastic!!!
I really needed someone to say that they had some inspiration when viewing the animatics, which he did, so that would give the finished feel to the films.

Anyway, for now here are the edited versions of Couch Potato, Country Lanes and Riptides.

Last Background Image

These are from the living room scene in Couch Potato:

The last background image I will have time for before the end of the degree unfortunately . . . then written work takes over again, which feels like the story of the degree. I feel like I have spent more time writing than drawing over the last 3 years.

Anyway, still getting to grips with Photoshop artwork, but things are improving, slowly.

Country Lanes Scene

Finally finished the countryside lane scene . . . although it took ages to do it was quicker than doing the shop front scene! Most of the scenes are a combination of some hand pastel layers and Photoshop, but as I improve in both Photoshop and using a graphics pen more is being done directly on the computer. But, hand pastel work creates a good textured base for distance areas on landscapes and I do want to keep working with hand materials for diversity of skill and appearance, so I don't want the computer to take over completely.

Anyway, there is one more background on my list to do, the living room in Couch Potato which I know will take a long time to do. So, I think I will do that in stages, fitting it in when I have a few hours here and there as I need to start the 'abstract' for the innovation project.

Although I haven't managed to do all of the backgrounds I will have a good cross section of designs fro each scenario, which is originally what I had planned.

Country Lanes Backgrounds

Been working on a country lane scene above . . . which I wanted to look quite detailed. These are finished sections from the scene.

I think it is coming along OK, but these scenes take me ages to do, I'm not quite sure whether the timescale is slow or average, I just know that there is alot to do in a scene like this. I could probably cut down on some of the distance detail which practice and reduce my thinking time with experience.

Also, this is where 'sketching constantly' comes into the picture, there is no substitute for life drawing and scenary sketching for backing up your work.