Maya, Modelling.

I haven't wrote/blogged much about my Maya modelling project. I'm currently modelling my desktop computer, these are the resource images I took:

So far I'm finding the modelling quite fun. I'm enjoying it, but there are definately some difficult parts. I've found though i'm improving and with the help of friends and our tutor Georg, this is what I've created so far:

I've got to work on the base of the monitor, and begin to add the grills on the side of my computer case. I also have to create the keyboard, mouse, power buttons, speakers, various notes attatched to my monitor, plugs/wall sockets and the little Gordon Freeman model who sits ontop of my right speaker.

Experimental Animation, Research.

For my Experimental Animation, I've been considering using chalk animation. I've been pondering around YouTube watching quite inspirational videos for research:



I found this one quite useful as it was also an Experimental Animation project by a group of students:



This is just incredible, quite possibly one of my favourite animated pieces. It's just beautiful in every way.



 I'm feeling so inspired after watching these videos, I'm going to do more research into it and accumulate more ideas within my sketchbook. This could be the best 60p I've spent at the Tremough Shop... :)

Flash Work 3, Backgrounds.

For the backgrounds I've been digitally drawing from the photos. I've been using GIMP and a Wacom Bamboo tablet to produce the backgrounds. Both are just rough at the moment and will be worked back into.

Flash Work 2, Reference Photos

Here are the photos I gathered at Gyllyngvase beach, Falmouth to help with the concept art for background and environment of my character.

This was the figure head down one of the small side streets in Falmouth High Street which I found quite inspiring to use, especially because of Falmouth's docks and the history behind it.

Flash Animation Project, Characters.

For our Flash project we've been given the brief of 'My Life in Falmouth'. Then in the style of Creature Comforts, record someone talking about Falmouth. In this we have to design characters too, here are my priliminary ideas:

I thought the Figurehead was quite a nice idea, I took some photos down in Falmouth for research which i'll put up later. From the idea of the figure head, I began looking into the idea of Mermaids based on Cornish myths and legends. I wasn't too pleased with my first sketch I did, I messed up the perspective on her sitting down. I worked on her design again and this is what I came up with:

I'm quite pleased with the final design of her. I think I may stick to using watercolours, then add detail in afterwards.

This is the full turnaround design for her.

After Effects finished piece

Here is my finished piece of the After Effects brief:

I quite enjoyed this project, I found using After Effects exciting and quite a challenge at times. However, the software itself is really useful to use. I think if I did this again, I'd try looking on websites like Video CoPilot for small tutorials. I tried one but it didn't work as well as I expected, so I dropped it. Nevertheless I'm quite pleased with the outcome of my piece. I feel next time, I'll try being a lot more adventeruous with my work.

Maya

A small practice of using light and shadows in Maya... :)
Within this we learnt how to use various different shadows, lights and creating reflections within objects. I reflected an image of the studio into the chrome sphere.