Thursday, February 24, 2011

Major Earthquake has hit Christchurch, New Zealand


It's just unbelievable what has happened in Christchurch. We used to live down there. I walked those streets almost every day. So many of our family and friends are there. Man it must be so incredibly scary. It's now three days later and there are still so many people missing and buried under buildings. As well as the living conditions that those who have survived now how to face. I feel for the people so much and I just hope that we can all contribute in some way to help them - financially and through prayer.

Just... unbelievable.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Here goes nothin!


Righto, well here are my storyboards. First attempt at doing them, so I know I still have a reeeeeeeeeeally long way to go especially stylistically, and also I really had to force myself to start thinking about different angles etc, but didn't want to go too overboard at the same time. Another thing that I know I didn't do enough of is research - looking at billions of western trailers and stuff like that - although we didn't have heaps of time to do research in anyway. One thing I was pleased about was that I got a LOT faster at drawing up the boards by the end of the week so time wise it didn't take me too long to draw (although my very wise tutor did tell me that I still need to be more rough - which doesn't come naturally to me). 

So if there is anyone out there who would care to give me some good old fashioned critical feedback I would love you for it! Especially because we have our assessment next week!

So as a little bit of a background - we were given the script and character designs. The script we were given was an actual one that my school used for a TV commercial. So it's just short and sweet, but quite a cool idea I thought. Cheesy, but cool. And what would life be like without a bit of cheese right? : )















 (There is a pan here from right to left of the above drawing to the below one)







So yup. Not as awesome as I would have wanted. Stylistically especially. But hey - first attempt and at least I know what I need to work on. Big thanks to my tutors who are amazing - Hat Lieberman for his fantabulous tutorials on storyboarding - and also Nancy Beiman's book 'Prepare to Board' which is invaluable on the subject. 
One day, maybe, I will be almost as amazing as these people. : ) 
(maybe)

Beeeeeg beeeg eyes.

So life has been really busy lately.

Been doing some amazingly cool stuff at school tho. Working on storyboards - and it didn't start great for me, and yes, I did get a bit frustrated. But then I got head down and tail up and learnt A LOT.

So I got to a point after working and reworking my storyboards where I think that... maybe... just maybe I am confident enough to put them up here. And I figure hey, what have I got to lose. There can't be that many people who read this - and if anyone does and comments on them - then I will have learnt more! 

And that's what I like. Yup. I'm a nerd. 
And then, potentially - hopefully - next week I will have finished the book I'm illustrating. Potentially - hopefully - the author will be happy with the results.
And then most likely - definitely - I will be able to get some sleep again.


So next up - storyboards.
Eep!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Morning coffee sketch


Grumpy old man. 

This is not a self portrait. 

I hope.

Monday, February 7, 2011

And so another year begins....

Well ok, so the year has already begun - but first day back at school today. Wow this year is going to be full on, but that is a good thing. Got soooo much to learn and an amazing bunch of tutors to teach it to us, so got to make every minute count. 

I did do a sketch this morning of a grumpy old man, which I was going to put up here, but I left my sketchbook at school, go figure. So tomorrow will have to do. I am finding myself with quite a lot of time in the mornings before I can get into school, so I have found my new favourite cafe and will try and keep up my sketching there for stuff to put up here. I think that the rest of my time in general is going to be taken up with schoolwork and the book I'm illustrating! Here's hoping I can juggle all this... if you don't hear from me again, you will know that I have collapsed from overwhelmedness (I'm sure there is such a thing - I can't believe I had to coin that word).

So since I don't have my grumpy old man, random lady sketch will have to do.
Peace out!



Friday, February 4, 2011

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Argh

Well I don't seem to have any time at the moment to make stuff for the blog, so we are still working our way through old material. I have been working like a maniac on the book - I want to get as much of it finished as I can before I start school next week, coz then I'll only have the evenings to work in. However! I am quite pleased because I have managed to get over halfway there, so once this week is over I should be fine. (Hopefully). 

So today I send you all a set of brightly coloured birdies to cheer your day. Don't be fooled by the expression on the blue one's face - he isn't sad, he is just very very tired and trying to recover from the fright that the little one gave him. : )