Reflective Report - Moving Images

For my animation, I had every intention of pushing myself and getting my figures from my print to actually walk along the screen. I knew this was going to be a challenge but if it worked, I knew it would be very effective.

What went well?

Scanning my drawings of the walking cycle into photoshop and editing them allowed me to select the images as a series and upload them into After effects

Getting my figures to walk! Although probably not the smoothest walk cycle, I was still happy that I managed to achieve it.

I used various textures for the figures to give off that old fuzzy TV effect and to convey they idea that they are moving by turning up the blur effect.

Each figure has a slightly different texture because i wanted to play around with depth - something which i think works quite well.

I think the figures slowly disappearing one by one is a good touch as it adds to the power and dominance of the blue figures as the black figures are slowly being engulfed by the human race.

Struggles?

I wasn't sure whether to have the black figures walking in the opposite direction or to just stand still. I tried with them walking but i felt like there was too much going on.

I had the figures standing in front of the blue figures which looked a little basic and the depth that i thought i had created with the textures, looked to have disintegrated. I allowed some of the blue figures to walk in front of the black figures which added to the depth and intensified the dominance of the blue figures.

The sound

I wanted just some simple 'walking sounds' - i experimented with listening to people walking in public with background sounds but i noticed that there was too much going on and it actually distracted me from the sound which was most important - the walking.

I wanted to combine two different walks, as the figures aren't walking in unison so there are some cross overs. This creates an uneasy atmosphere as there are is no real clear structured walking formation. It was relatively difficult to find a walking sound which actually corresponded with the walking visual simultaneously.   

Final printed Pictures

Study Task 6: Presentation

Dan Forster

Markets his work on 'Etsy'

The piece of work is framed in the photo but comes unframed.

States the size of print and type of paper stock (270gsm)

4 colour screen print

125 editions




Big apple prints

Etsy user

Painter, scans his paintings in and prints them onto canvas's, posters or glossy prints.

Reproduces a lot of prints

Presented against a wall - show customers what it looks like in context.

Moving Images proposal

What do I intend to produce?

My initial idea was to produce a simple animation of figures walking from left to right along the screen and then walking off the screen with 'Toni Morrison' popping up. 
If this doesn't work (I heard making figures walk is actually quite difficult) I was thinking of having a figure praying and then blue eyes gradually start appearing until the whole page is blue and the 'Toni Morrison popping up.

Themes/concepts?

I want to use one of my prints which outline both my author's work and her beliefs. Based on her quotes and texts from her books.

Moods/ideas?

I want my animation to reflect more of an old retro feel - If i could add an effect to make it like this than I will. A lot of the stuff Toni Morrison writes about is from years and years ago so I think this effect will fit the animation quite nicely.

Audience?

My animation will be aimed at more of the older generation or people who understand what actually happened or people that can relate to the experiences. It could also appeal to the younger generation who don't know much about black history or slavery - potentially educate them.

Reflective report - printed pictures

What have I been doing?

I have established that lino print isn't successful enough to be considered for a final print. My designs are very simple and I feel like lino is for more complex designs with more line work.
Screen print is also something I have drifted away from, purely because of the crisp, precise compositions in the outcomes - something I don't want reflected in my outcomes.
Mono print not only conveys that gritty, dirty texture, but there is something really interesting about the unplanned and unpredictable nature of the outcome. Through experimenting, I have discovered some really interesting 'mistakes' which have contributed to the success of the composition. 

I have been spending a lot of time in the print room, experimenting, playing and testing.

What is working?

My colour palette of black and blue - very striking and the blue reflects the poignant emotion.
The simple imagery opens up various interpretations for the viewer - allowing them to relate in some way or another.
The texture the mono printing press is giving to the design adds that extra edge and gives it a greater level of sentiment. 
The texture of my paper also adds to this effect.
My designs cohesively work well as a series.
My concepts reflect my author's beliefs and themes from the books in more of a subtle way

What needs improving?

The paper I am using for my stencils is far too thick, therefore the ink is struggling to get through the smaller cut outs.
The printing press's pressure is too much and actually creasing my prints.
My stencils (A3) are perhaps too large and I need to reduce the size to A4.
Some of my prints are a little too messy and perhaps need to scan them in and clean them up a bit on Photoshop.

One to One tutorial feedback:

One of my designs (the space ship one) I have a 'space ship' with intentions of morphing it into a blue eye. My tutor told me it doesn't look anything like an eye so this was something I needed to adjust. 
For my 5th design I was struggling to come up with something. My tutor suggested that my theme seems to be repetitions of themes, for example the eye, the people, the hands - so why don't I choose something else to repeat. 

Ideas:

A mouth engulfing a figure (Sethe from Beloved) with hands coming out from the teeth.

Blue eye at the back of the mouth

Repetition of hands grabbing a figure

What am I going to do? Actions?

Design my 5th design and re do all my stencils but in A4 print so my prints don't crease. 

Study Task 5 - Sound study

Animation 1:

https://vimeo.com/47547114

'Two Finger Typist'

The sound corresponds well with the animation by changing colour. When the sound gets faster so does the change in colour. It gets faster and faster until the coffee spills on the laptop  - this relates to the kind of thing I am thinking of doing in terms of people walking and then the speed gradually building up alongside the sound. The sound getting faster and faster until the black figures walk along the screen when there is no sound anymore?


Animation 2:

https://vimeo.com/4020697

The sound in this animation is really interesting. It's harsh and the colours give it more of a fuzzy, fragmented representation. I like this idea in relation to mine - with the figures walking, each step they give off a fuzzy (noisy) effect with the sound. I quite like the fuzzy texture anyway because it gives off that old retro feeling (my author writes a lot about black history so it works quite nicely).

Study Task 4 - Animated shorts/stings

Animation 1:

https://vimeo.com/117803815

'Shapes'

The simplicity and cohesive narrative - each shape blending into another - strong relationship and smooth transitions. Variations of pace.

Animation 2:

https://vimeo.com/79823240

'Asu'

Complex - numerous transitions - Text mixed up with the characters - focusing on the walking cycle which is something I am hoping to try and achieve. Very fast paced. Effective cohesive narrative. 

Animation 3:

https://vimeo.com/47115080

'The Unconscious Homeless man'

Very simple but so effective - subtle transitions but a clear narrative with some added humour. Successful and elegant aesthetic - is this something I want to focus on? - making very simple movement with well illustrated pieces of work? Very slow paced which keeps you locked in.