Final Mind Map

Statement of Intent (Final)

My major work will revolve around the concepts of time and growth of an individual. The medium to be used will be pencil or felt tip, large water color durable paper, water color and programs on the computer. My work will split itself into two sections, a watercolor painting and an animation. The animation will support the concept as well as the water color painting. The water color work will consist of a child running towards the right side of the frame, a teenager version of the child looking at the audience next to the child version, an adult version of the teenager running to the left of the frame next to the teenager, and finally a senior version of the adult standing still looking to the left of the frame, all the same person, all different time frames. The animation will be the very same, with the person growing as he is running, and the justification for this is because I am currently working on an animation for a teacher who has requested me to and I am learning animation for this. To include animation will strengthen the message of growing physically as an individual and the concepts of time. Look only at the past for how to do things right, look only at the future when wanting to set a goal or endeavor and constantly stay in the present because its a once in a life time moment. I will be creating this piece in the time frame of 4 terms as well as during the Christmas holidays. I will do most of the theory and experimentation during school and the actual work will be made during the Christmas holidays, as well as some sample work and documentation of up-to-date blogging and Visual Art Diary progression.

Drawing Tablet

Drawing with a drawing tablet is not entirely as I had envisioned it. I had used one in year 7 when I hadn't yet unlocked my full potential as an artist and I had found it difficult. However when I went to use one today I looked back and thought it was difficult only because I was young and inexperienced. But when I started to use it today for the first time in 4 years, it came as a massive shock to me that it was very very difficult and that I even performed and preferred the mouse over the tablet. I went online and found different videos that would assist me in setting up my tablet and how to use it and the person that was hosting the video and leading the tutorial said that without a tablet he wouldn't be creating images on Photoshop, he wouldn't be ding a career in it. This made me ask myself is he being truthful or was it for commercial purposes. I am still not sure whether I should just continue with a mouse or keep practicing with a tablet.

If I continue to use the tablet I will have to constantly use it for the purpose of getting into a familiar style or habit of using it efficiently and effectively. There is no point in me continuing if there will be no improvement although Joe said it is an easier route to go down this makes me reconsider my actions. I will have to think about the situation and develop my skills a lot during the last week of school as well as during the holidays as that is when I will complete the work. I need to do my best and not give up!

Digital Drawing

Today I started drawing digitally and I took the advice of Joe and used my mouse to start my drawing. I found it difficult at first but I managed to conjure up a digital drawing using only my mouse and my imagination. It took about 2 hours but I got there and the end result wasn't exactly perfect but it was good enough to be counted as a digital drawing at least.

It was my first time ever trying o draw digitally and for a purpose. Although there are a few minor errors I believe that a failure is better than having nothing to assess and evaluate my skills with. I created each individual shape or part of the face using layers for each one. This will serve a bigger purpose apparently in the future of animating it. I sent off the photo to Joe and am awaiting his reply that will come on Saturday. I still have to create a background for him and I will integrate his advice on layers and correct coloring. Hope I do well!

A Career Opportunity!

Today I met up with an animator named Joe Wakim and he led me through on the basic principles of becoming an animator. I was very excited to meet up with him as I was told I would and I would never let an opportunity like this get by me.When I finish my HSC I plan on doing some animation for myself and for people who want it. I would incorporate my manga style which I know so well and which I cherish now. So when I was told a professional animator would be helping me in developing my skills I was overjoyed and with blazing eyes I accepted the path that would lead me to a career in animation. This was where it all began of course, that's why it was such a big moment for me. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime and there it was, with a pretty pink bow on top. So I met up with the animator and he talked to me about techniques and programs to use when animating, he also told me about a drawing tablet I can use to create these works. The tips that he gave me were to use Photoshop, use layers within Photoshop and use shapes on each layer when creating people and body parts. He didn't go into depth with animating yet as he only told me how to start animating and where to begin. I will be integrating this animation into my major work somehow as he gave me the idea after our long talk on animation.

Joe also gave me a few tips on animating using a mouse without a drawing tablet as to improve my skills on that first then move on to a tablet. He taught me how to create a background using layers in Photoshop as well and gave me an example. Use a pencil tool to draw, position everything you want to include inside the background, add the base color/s, add details, shadows and then light bouncing off of objects. He also told me to use the program Adobe Aftereffects, which he has not taught me to use yet but I will soon. So much progression has occurred and at the end of all this work it will surely be integrated into my major work. Hopefully it all goes well!

Statement of Intent (Draft!)

I plan on having a young child on the left side of the frame who looks as if he is in the motion of running, he will be facing the right side of the frame and will be racing towards a larger or teenage version of himself. This teenage version will also be facing the right side of the frame and also running in the same direction as the child. The teenager will be in possession of items such as headphones/earphones, a cap, and a book, he will be placed in the middle of the frame, Next to the teenager will be an adult version of himself and he will look as if he is jogging or slowing down next to the rushing teenager. He will have a serene look on his face and he will also be facing the right of the frame. Next to him will be a senior man who has completely come to a halt and is just admiring nothing next to him as the frame stops there. I will create this artwork in water color as well as felt tip pen and pencil and I need a large roll of paper. The reason for me to create such a work is to express my feelings for the past, present, and future, all of which lead to something beyond each other. It shows that each major stage in life will lead to something big and new and will reveal new things to us that was limited in the past. As individuals we don't look back at the past unless as a reference as it does not define us anymore, we look to what we are doing now and if we are doing something productive and we look to the future only as something to hope for and look at as something to achieve. The past present and future all link together but what matters the most is being able to use each period of time properly.

Ideas and Details

I've created a mind map of what I'm going to create for my major work which will definitely support and justify my reasons for each chosen idea or medium I am going to use to create my work.It goes through each and every subject and many mediums that I have thought about and shows my strengths and weaknesses. Making a mind map really helped me find new things about what I could do for my major work as well as what type of methods I should use to approach what I'm going to create. Anime and manga are the best options I can relate to since I'm skilled in drawing those styles of art. Also drawing is definitely my strongest style so I decided to go with that as well. In previous years I haven't gotten to developing or improving skills other than drawing and I'm totally ready to use watercolors to create a magnificent piece of work or collection of works. Anime and manga have been used extensively throughout my work and that's why I don't want to let it go because it has been a large part in my life, it has helped me develop some of my best qualities and it really keeps me happy I suppose.