A Quick Mime Doodle

Mime Thumbnailing

A bit of a dull post today I'm afraid as I don't really have time for anything better (apologies!)......just a couple of thumbnail sketches for the next scene on my 'mime' film.

A Quote That Bares Remembering

I'm not adverse to a good quote, but rarely do I find one worthy of it's own blog post. This post is really just for me; a reminder to never become complacent.

"Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong."
                                                                                                                      -Anon

Unity, Variety and the Uncanny Valley

I have been reading a rather old book lately called 'The Practice & Science of Drawing' by Harold Speed. It's a really interesting read, and I recommend it to any artist. One thing in particular grabbed my attention enough to warrant writing a blog post about it; an interesting little part that links in with that most overused of terms, "the uncanny valley"......

Respect for Your Audience

I have worked in the animation world for a few years now and while my opinions on many matters have changed to some degree over that time, one thing has always bugged me: the seeming disrespect many people in the industry have for their audiences. Whether from creative people like animators, or more business-orientated people, comments about the level of intelligence in an audience never cease to shock me......

How to Be Creative....?

One of the hardest things about doing anything creative is convincing your brain that it needs doing. It's not like cooking your dinner, or showering, or making that appointment with the doctor; those are all things that you just do because otherwise you'll be hungry, smelly, or ill. What happens when you don't draw/paint/animate/write? You might get a little morose perhaps, in some cases downright depressed, but there isn't a clear connection between these things and creativity like there is between hunger and food.

So how do we keep going?

Some Sketchbook Entries

Today's post will have to be a little light on wording I think as I have a splitting headache! So I thought I'd just share a few sketches from the past few weeks. Nothing that I'm particularly proud of unfortunately, but that's typical of how things tend to be! I've only just noticed how much sitting is going on. I should go to draw somewhere where people are more active!

More after the jump......

Trying to Rediscover the Enjoyment of Drawing

It's all too easy, I have discovered over the years, to forget that drawing is supposed to be enjoyable. The same goes for animation too. So I'm trying to let myself relax a bit and just enjoy putting pencil to paper without getting all worked up and frustrated. The two very quick drawings of my hand here are a result of this.

Pixar's Brave - A Spoiler-free Review

Before seeing Pixar's 'Brave' tonight I had pretty much condemned it. I thought that it looked an awful lot like Dreamworks' 'How to Train Your Dragon' and felt a bit too much like a Dreamworks film in its design too. However I take it all back, every last word......

Completed Mint Tin Paint Box

So I said on Monday that I'd show my completed home-made watercolour sets. Well here they are! You can see a picture of the insides after the jump......

From Mint Tin to Paint Box

I'm not especially keen on plastic portable watercolour boxes. Well I might be better saying that I prefer metal ones. I have wanted to get one for a while, but always get put of by the cost of them. So this weekend I decided to make my own......

Where Did Simon's Cat Go?

Unless as an animation enthusiast you have been hiding under a rock for the past few years, you will no doubt be aware of the internet sensation that is Simon's Cat. But is the furry feline in recent instalments the same cat we have come to know? More importantly perhaps, is it even a cat at all?......

What Are You Grateful For Having Done?

I'm not sure whether this post will have much to do with animation per se, however it is something that I think perhaps any artist, if not any person in general, should think about. Whilst driving home today I was chatting to my girlfriend about how I find it harder and harder as an adult to experience excitement for things like I did as a child. We came to the conclusion that excitement tends to come from experiences that you perhaps never thought you'd get to have, and as an adult I find that fewer things feel impossible. However I found it to be extremely moving to note the things that have I have done that I recall giving me a feeling of excitement, as well as things that I am just glad to have done......

Artists Better Than I

I'm about to attempt to implement a strategy for using my time more efficiently and I know that somewhere along the way I'm going to struggle to maintain momentum. So I thought before I begin I would collect together a few bits and pieces of other people's work that I currently find inspiring in the hope that it helps me on the dark days......