Atomhawk Design

I've been researching animation and design studios in the local area and I found this really awesome games design company called Atomhawk Design based in Gateshead!

They are seriously in close proximity to where I live here in Newcastle!

So I will be working to get an up to date PDF portfolio and showreel ready to show them! Hopefully they will let me hang around the place for a week or two during the easter holidays!

So... Wish me luck!

Here is their 2012 showreel featuring much of their work. They have worked on such game titles as Mortal Kombat, Enslaved & the Realm.

I was really blown away by their digital painting skills, the way they get them to move and work as an animation. Hopefully if they let me look around the studio they will give me some tricks, tips and insights on how they produce their work!

Liam.

Remaining Use of Time

And reaching goals.

Well, the end of the course is getting ever closer! Time to formulate a time plan for the goals and body of work I want to have complete for my portfolio, show reel and Final Show.

I have 6 weeks of university left with an additional 2 week Easter break in between, on top of this I have an additional 3 weeks until the Final Show
Here is a rough bullet point list of the projects I would like to complete in this time!

• Five 5 second shorts (possibly more if time allows)
• 'Sea Gypsy' 3 minute* animated trailer along with pre vis
• 3D printed, posable character made in Cinema 4D with the use of a model sheet
• Finish my E4 Ident from last year
• 3D Ealhdun animation
• Wall length comic strip for final show

On top of this I want to constantly be pushing and improving my digital painting. Of which I can use for both my physical and digital portfolio.

Wish me luck!

Liam.

Drawing from Life II

Dropped into another life drawing lesson today with the 1st years. I have to say I haven't performed as well as I would have liked considering I have been drawing quite a lot of late! I guess it's just one of those days!

These are on A2 paper.

45 minute pose - Nero lead, Charcoal, Chalk & Blue ink

2 minute poses - Nero Lead

Cheers Liam.

Drawing from Life

Hey man,

So this week the 1st year student's had life drawing class and a couple of use 2nd years were allowed to drop in. These were done on A2 halftone paper with chalk & charcoal.

These were done in around 30 minutes each.

I'm really proud of the first one and feel I've progressed a lot since last years life drawing lessons. Not so much with the second pose, I really wasn't as eager to draw the model's back, but I suppose it all counts!

Liam.

COLOUR! That moves!

BAIDIR from slimane aniss on Vimeo.

Maynn...! How do make a design work with so many vibrant colours?

And how do you animate it so gorgeously?

I'll get there one day...

Also note the cleverly integrated 3D environments and assets. However the majority is 2D.

One day...

One day........

Industry Practice Flash Animation

During my work experience at Kilogramme I learnt a lot about 'character kits' and the animation software 'Flash' in general. There aren't as many opportunities for one to work as part of a large work force these days and a lot of studios are relatively small. Thusly it is important as a freelance animator to be able to do more than one job role and be able to produce scenes on their own as well as part of a team.

Utilising 'Character Kits' in Flash, i.e. Setting up re-usable animation such as expressions and head turns which you can call upon using keyframes saves valuable time and allows you to work a lot faster.

Here is a great example of rough animation from Titmouse studio on the last episode of Motorcity.

Here the animator Ben Li has used pre made head turns whilst animating the rest of the character's movements "tradigitally."



I think it is important for me to strengthen my skills in this fashion in order to reap the most reward from Flash as well as increasing productivity.

Liam.

The Human Torch

A little animated portrait done today in class. Took around 30 mins to animate.

Cheers,

Liam.

Pretty Girl & iMac

Just a little sketch today in class.
Love being able to drop textures in Photoshop and manipulate them slightly to get a better finish and add interest to your work rapidly.

Cheers,

Liam.

Work Based Learning & Competitions

Well as part of my work based learning I have been working on some live briefs of late. I've been currently working on a freelance project for "the Hothouse Sessions" album cover. Here's where I'm at so far!

Front

Back

Also as part of my work based learning module we are required to enter some competitions! Two that I am really interested in are:

'Hidden Stories' competition by Red Kite Animation Studio

AOI Illustration Awards which I have a really cool idea set so we'll see what happens!




Thanks for stopping by once again!

Liam.

Some More Inspirational Videos

Here are a couple of 'making of' clips by Vincent Ngheim. Taking you through the steps involved when making a CG 2D animation.

I found these clips very helpful and motivational even if somewhat daunting at the skills required to produce animation at this level. But I must soldier on!

Liam.