Nothing in this world worth having comes easy.

Keep Sake Animatic

2012-01-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

Honestly? I'm very disappointed with this... I need to start working harder, this is my first animatic and it's not very good... at least I got it done in time, and put it down to experience. I need to get better :( No sound yet sorry :( I will be choosing the final voices this week though.

Some positive news though, I got 70% for my presentation so I'm happy about that ^^

Keep Sake Storyboards

2012-01-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

(Click images to enlarge) My first attempt at a proper storyboard, I did do some in sixth form but I always ended up doing most of the storyboarding after I'd made the animation @____@ Silly I know, kinda defeats the object. I got the templates online from the BBC, not exactly appropiate as it was actually designed for a competion for a promotional film hense the title ^^; Please ignore that haha.

Animatic coming next ;D working on it this week :D

Housing for September 2012

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-08:00

Been looking at accomodation off campus for this September, I've been getting quite worried about it but today I found one and I'm all set for next year, which is a load of my mind ;D

I'm currently on campus accomodation,but I only have a couple months left, so I thought I would post some pictures of my room, just so I have it for memories sake ;D I didn't actually bring much from home to my room just a few knick knacks and the essentials.

My collection of toys, as you can see I have a sort of CARS shrine building up, mainly from put together from presents from my friends (They know me so well :P )

My workspace

My wall of animated posters

This took hours @____@ had to find them, organise them them to the correct size, print, cut them out, white tac and stick them up... all 128 of them. Worth it though!!

Extended Project - Poetic Journey

2012-01-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

I'm back again at university for my second semester, and I'm well under way planning my first animation. I did my presentation this week to the class, and I'm going to be starting the animatic this weekend, best part of this is I'm auditioning voices for three of my characters, and the response I have recieve is amazing, the people on voice acting alliance are so talented, it so much fun recieving their auditions!

The theme for the animation is 'Poetic Journey'. My idea is called 'Keep Sake' and makes a subtle connection to the theme as it depicts an emotional 'journey' rather than a physical one , and stresses more 'poetic' sense of the the lessons learnt. The story revolves my main character, Lilly, a pretty porcelain doll.

Character design for Lilly

Character Design for Ragdoll

Character designs for Lydia and her Mum

There are four characters in total, Lydia the young girl celebrating her 8th birthday, her mother and the wicked Ragdoll.

Not going to give too much away, save that for when I post up the storyboard ;D

2012 - New Years Resolutions

2012-01-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

1. DRAW MORE!!

2. Stop wasting so much time on pointless things.

3. Make a portfolio website.

4. Get a summer job in animation (intern or shadowing).

Overview of semester 1

2011-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

Clay Model of Super Hero baby

Its been a long time since I last updated, I've been pretty busy with my first semester at university studying animation, but I'm currently on a 4 week break for the christmas holidays, and have a few of the projects I have been working on the past 3 months, since starting in September.
We had a workshop in model making, I designed a '2 year old super hero baby' character, called Teddy. Mine didn't come out as I planned, but I had alot of fun making it!

Stopmotion Skeleton

Also had an introduction to stop motion and shown the basic structure for the skeleton of a stop motion model.

My first attempt on Maya. For this I made a model for a 2 year old toddler. I've never used Maya before, and it is very daunting at first, I have the student trial downloaded on my computer now so I have been practising in my spare time, during the first year we don't get much training on Maya but its the aspect I'm most interested in. I need alot more practise, I'm looking forward to learning more about modelling, and also getting training in rigging and animating :D

VIDEO SHOWREEL SEMESTER 1

This is a video showreel of the animations I have done during the first semester. There is nothing here that I've done I'm particularly proud of :( This semester has mainly been about settling in, we haven't gone through any basics about animating such as timing or weight so I want to do some additional studying in my spare time. I have complied these animations, in the hopes that I will be able to look back at this and see improvement.

1. Death of Anonymous - Pixilation - This was a really fun project to start the year off, and I had a wonderful group to work with! We worked really hard on this and I'm pleased with the outcome. This is a short clip from the animation.
2. Rotoscoping - Another technique of animation. For this we had to film two people throwing an object back and fourth and then later import the video to photoshop and trace over it to create an animation.
3. 360 Degree Turn - This is a 360 degree turn of a Tinkerbelle figure.
4. Human in Motion - For this we had to use 2D animation and the observation skills we used in life drawing to demonstrate 4 emotions using movement. For this I created a short scene in which a little girl drops her ice cream.

Overall, I'am enjoying university, I'm happy with the campus, and gaining some independance, and I love all my classmates on the course, they are all amazing people! but in terms of the course, the spectrum is too broad, and they aren't providing enough workshops and support :( and I don't have enough understanding of the basics such as squash and stretch :( In the process of updating my CV, so I can hopefully do some shadowing of industry professionals in the summer ;D Also looking to invest in a new tablet, mine is looking a little worse for wear :(

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2012 is a good one!

University

2011-09-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

I'm into my second week of university now and its great! This week is when the work begins but starting with something simple to ease us into it, for our first task we have a pixilation assignment with the theme 'Out of Place'. Its cool as I have never tried pixilation before and it is a very surreal method of animation and it is fun to experiment with, and also something quite simple to start and get a basic understanding on how animation works. We have been given a week to work in groups to create a short 20 - 30 second animation, and my group is awesome, it is great to be able to discuss and share ideas.The final idea we decided on is a really interesting concept and hopefully the final outcome will look good.

I also love my room in campus, it's really cosy. I have a couple of animated related posters in my room just to add a bit of personality but I need to get a few more, the walls still look bare! Still adapting to independence though, I've got to be really careful about my finances and weekly spending and currently having a little trouble eating right ^^;

Depressing thought though, I already have coursework to think about ;___;

Best part of my week... I JOINED AN ANIME SOCIETY! Really excited to start attending the meetings!!

London Expo + Welcome Sunday

2011-09-16T03:53:00.000-07:00

October is going to be a very exciting month for me! I will be going to two amazing events! The first being the Zelda Symphony Orchestra which I mentioned on an earlier journal which is on the 25th and later on in the week on the 29th I'll be travelling back to London to attend the London Expo on the Saturday to meet Vic Mignogna, a man I have admired for his exceptional voice over work, and his kind hearted personality since 2008.
It'll be my first time meeting him, so I'm really excited!

Also I think at the beginning of October I'm going on a trip for my animation course which will also be fun! Which reminds me, I'll be enrolling this Sunday. Next week is freshers week and then I will officially start my course.

I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Just want to get past these intial first day jitters and start working hard.

Accommodation offer

2011-08-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

It was results day for everyone today, but it was also the day they announced the on-campus accommodation allocations. I got an email today from the uni with details. I was a bit sceptical when the attachment folder with the details was titled 'Halls off...' because I thought it contain details on accommodation off campus and would have to go house hunting, but when I opened it, the full title was 'Halls offer'.

I got a room in the accommodation I wanted! I'm happy now that I know I have a room at uni which is another thing I don't have to worry about.

I can't believe its only a month till I go, time sure flies D=

Zelda Symphony Concert

2011-08-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping up to date with the news of the Zelda Symphony since the tour was announced at E3. I was hopeful they would come to the UK but I was really surprised when it was announced that the second date would be in London! If that wasn't lucky enough, they have also stated that this will be the only date on the European tour!

Tickets were made avaliable this morning, and I managed to get a couple for me and my sister. I would have loved to paid a little extra and got nearer the front (or even better splashed out on VIP tickets!) but just being there to witness a live 70 piece orchestra play all the beautiful Zelda tracks will be spectacular!

http://www.zelda-symphony.com/index.html

The concert is this October on the 25th! Even though it is in the UK, London is still very far from where I live so I'll also be staying over.

I'm really excited! It will give me something to look forward to, instead of being daunted by the thoughts of uni in September ^^;

Creative Arts Scholarship!!

2011-07-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, nothing really been going on lately, not important enough to write about anyway. Been playing alot of Legend of Zelda of Ocarina of Time lately, celebrating the 3DS relaunch by playing it again on the N64, completed it last week, now I'm on Majora's Mask.

But anyway, a couple of months ago I found that the uni I'm going to offers scholarships in excellence, and on a whim I filled out the application for the creative arts excellence scholarship. I had a couple of missed calls this morning from the uni but when I tried to ring back, the number went directly to the uni's main switchboard who couldn't tell me why someone wanted to contact me. I was a bit concerned as they even rang my mobile. I've been waiting for them to ring back all day when I decided to checked my emails. One was from the uni scholarship department offering me the creative arts scholarship!!

I can't believe it! I never imagined when I sent off that application that I would be chosen! I will recieve £2000 and discounts from the uni theatre and gym. This money is going to help so much towards my studies, I will be able to afford the materials and programs I need!

I'm so happy ;____; It just shows that you should at least try because you never know what you may achieve!

Accommodation applications =___=

2011-06-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

Online applications opened today for the on site accommodation for uni. Applications opened at 12.00noon but it took two hours and 20 mins for mine to finally process =____= The website was being really slow, and would keep restarting whenever you got to a different stage. It's first come first serve basis so I hope this hasn't effected my chances :(

At least it's done now, I hope I get the place I want :-D

+ I bought 'The illusion of life' by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, this book has been recommended countless times but unfortunately I could only find it for £40+ but luckly I found it on amazon for £23, though when it arrived due to being poorly packaged it was water damaged =( The seller kindly gave me a huge discount and with some TLC it is looking alot better <3 I'm so happy!!

More books!

2011-05-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

Bought two new books this week, just ordered them on amazon.

- The art of Disney's Tangled - Jeff Kurtti
- Acting for Animators - Hooks

I think I have a pretty decent reading list put together now, so I'm going to hold off purchasing more books and save up while I start reading through the ones I have.

Next though I will be purchasing some Maya specific books. Thanks Andrew for the advice on the books!

Life drawing class cancelled

2011-05-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Quite disappointed, the weekly art class I mentioned in my last blog was officially cancelled last week due to the low numbers. At least I got three weeks worth of classes, it would have been great to have completed the full duration of the course I was really enjoying the lessons and really liked the tutor, she was very experienced and gave me loads of input and great advice on how to improve my art. I have learnt alot in these three weeks alone and it has all been good practise, and also now have some life drawing studies to add to my folder.

I may have found a substitute class at another college but need to find out more information.

Update: Reading List and Weekly Life Drawing Class

2011-05-14T04:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a couple of months, looking at my last journal the last time I posted was before the applicant day which seems like a long time ago! Since then I have accepted the unconditional offer to attend that university and will be enrolling in September, I think I have made the right choice, it was definitely the best of all the places I've seen, and I hope I'll be very happy there, only a couple more months now, the nerves are setting in. I've been doing some reading too and hope to do plenty of reading before September.

It's quite difficult to find good animation books in my local libraries as the animation section is so small (or none existent), I have purchased a few but it's proving to be very expensive.

Here is a great list I've found:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1670108

So trying my best to read as many interesting books I can get my hands on!

So far my collection is as follows:
- Animators survivial kit - Richard E. Williams
- The complete digital animation course - Andy Wyatt
- Ideas for animated shorts - Karen Sullivan, Kate Alexander, and Gary Schumer
- How to write for animation - Jeffery Scott
- Creating characters with personality - Tom Bancroft
- The art of Dreamworks Megamind - Richard Von Busak

and I borrowed from the library 'Draw Animation' - Paul Hardman and 'Life Drawing' - Ian Rowlands.

I think only one of those books are on the list but I've only recently found this list so I hope to build my collection around this.

Also I have been successful in finding a weekly life drawing class which started last week, I have been to two sessions so far and I'm loving it! I'm learning loads of new things and it's great knowing I'm taking such an important step in improving my art! I still plan to attend the monthly life drawing class though that class is more about drawing, this weekly class is about learning, in these two weeks alone I have learnt about composition, lighting and proportions! The class is very small though and unfortuately there has been word that it may be cancelled due to the low numbers! I really hope not! Its only for six weeks but I'm finding it very enjoyable and beneficial!

EDIT: Decided I'm going to try and buy a couple of books each week. Just purchased:
- Timing for Animation - Harold Whittaker
- Illustrator's reference manual - Peter Hince
- Tale as old as time - The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast - Charles Solomon
- Disney's Aladdin: The making of an Animated film - John Culhane

I really want some 'Disney: The Art of...' !!

Life Drawing Class #1

2011-03-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Took my first life drawing class the other week, it was a really interesting experience, surprising I really enjoyed myself. I thought it would be a real drag but the two hours flew by, the group is excellent, everyone is really focused and because people choose to be there it is just a pleasant atmosphere. I just wish it took place more often than just once a month. I will be attending next month, I got a couple of good sketches done for the first session but hoping to gradually produce more, or at least more high quality ones. The first session is quite surreal when you walk in to see people drawing a nude person, it takes some time to feel comfortable. Especially awkward when you turn up late, just lately that is becoming a trend with me.
I bought myself some new pencils, which I'm eager to try out! Still looking for some more regular classes I think I may have found on that takes place weekly for 6 weeks, need to investigate it some more.

Tomorrow I've got an applicant day at the university I think I want to be my final choice. Having a better look at the campus and accommodation.

Could this be the place?

2011-03-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

I mentioned on my last blog about an upcoming interview on Monday, I've been excited for the Megamind blu-ray/dvd I forgot to update!

I had another interview for a university animation course at the start of the week which I'm pleased to tell you unlike my last interview went very well and I got offered a place! I really like this uni aswell, they have their own animation studio which is exclusive to animation students, they have great technology including Wacom Cintiq tablets, the amount of students on the course is fairly limited which means more open facilities and one to one teaching, plus the tutors are really cool and the university is not in the city but is a proper campus set back in the country! It's all become quite real now when talking about accommodation and student finance etc. the concept of moving away and living at university is a bit daunting, currently it seems too surreal.
I still haven't made my final decision and I have one university interview to go which is being delayed due to the building of a new facility, this one is close to home so it would mean not moving away and living in.

Big decisions to make >//< *sigh* Oh well I have a few months yet, in the mean time I'm trying to learn all I can about animation in preparation, also going to try studying Maya! and also improving my drawing skills.

Which reminds me I have a life drawing class tomorrow! My first one D= Bit nervous, it's a monthly one so just going to get a taste then I need to find a more permanent class which is proving difficult!

I'm hoping to see a drastic improvement in my art over the next coming months! :D I need to put together some sort of schedule to keep me on track, I want to draw more from life, but I also want to keep up with my personal fanart drawings aswell because I enjoy that <3

I'll post again after my life drawing class! *nervous*

"What if I'm just a rock?"

2011-02-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

"What if I look inside myself and I don't find any gems... what if I'm just a rock? I'm going to try anyway!"

This is a quote from ~~the english dub version of~~ Whisper of the Heart! Its a beautiful movie with stunning animation from Studio Ghibli and unexpectedly one of my favourites, it is completely different story than what I expected. I had a pretty bad day yesterday but this film is so uplifting and inspiring it makes me feel hopeful so I decided to watch it again last night. I just feel I can relate alot to the main character, Shizuku Tsukishima. She's concerned because she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life and feels time is passing her by and it seems everyone else is so focused towards a future goal while she wastes time reading books. She is passionate about writing and decides to test her talent by writing her own book titled 'Whisper of the Heart'. Following her dream causes problems though, she falls behind in her studying and fails her exams which means no high school will accept her and it's all about making choices. Even with all she has sacrificed and how much time she's devoted the finished book is good but not yet perfect so she decided to study and retake her exams so she can get into a good high school and learn more about writing.

"When you first become an artist your like that rock. You're a raw natural state with hidden gems inside. You have to dig down deep and find the emeralds tucked away inside you. And thats just the beginning. Once you've found your gems you have to polish them. It takes alot of hard work."

I just found this very relatable. To be an artist you do need raw talent but that's not enough you need to work hard and learn all you can in order to succeed.

As mentioned on an eariler journal I had another interview for a university to study animation. I was worried about this once because on the email they specified they wanted to see life drawings which I don't have. I got turned down and was told I need to do more life drawings and maybe try a foundation art course and come back next year. I expected it though so I wasn't too disappointed. But I am doubting myself because its just very conflicting that one uni offers me the place right away and another declines me a place right away. The course seemed too structured though and didn't seem like they let you be yourself, there was a guide to follow. I'm a very different artist and always have been, and I understand my art isn't the best and I knew I would be turned down because of that. I have taken a huge risk to follow my dream and I plan to continue following it no matter what! Your always going to have people who turn you away but thats what makes you more determined and stronger!

When John Lasseter suggested computer animation to Disney he was turned away then had his employment at Disney studios terminated! He didn't give up and look what his involvement and ideas have brought to animation!

Next interview is Monday!

The road is long... and has traffic jams!?

2011-02-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

OLLO! I mentioned on my blog about an interview I was attending to regarding an university animation course.
The university is quite a distance from where I live, about 1 - 2 hours by car so set off early as my interview was 1.30pm. Making good time going along the motorway, close to arriving according to the sat nav it was about 3 - 4 miles when we hit endless traffic, and we were stuck there for about 2 hours. I missed my interview, my dad had his mobile with him and he tried calling the university but the person they directed us to was out so all he could do was leave a message. Its funny that I'm using a 'road' as symbol of my journey to become an animator then the first hurdle I get stuck in traffic and miss my interview... you don't think it's a sign do you?

Once the traffic started moving it was off the motorway and into the city, following the directions in the booklet yet we still managed to get lost. Though during the time we were wandering around trying to figure out were to go I saw a bus with an big advertisment for MEGAMIND on the side. It was quite unusal that the advertisment was still there seeing as the film has ended in the cinemas and should have been replaced. I've never seen a bus advertisment for Megamind before so it was a pretty special moment, and just made me feel really confident. This is the film that inspired me to follow my dream and to see that before my interview was just amazing. The whole area seems to support animation pretty much all the advertisements I saw were for animated films, I saw Megamind, Gnomeo and Juliet and Rango on the sides of buses and a big billboard advertising the DVD/Blu Ray release of Despicable Me.

Got the university and walked to the building where my interview was. Got to the desk and explained why I was late and it was no problem. I was told the interview was 20 - 30 minutes but it was over an hour. Shown my work, asked questions and had a tour. I was pretty nervous about my portfolio as I made a website to showcase my work opposed to a folder and I came in with an Alice in Wonderland bag full of folders from my Games Development course whereas everyone else there had big professional folders. I was the only one there for the animation interview, but that might have just been cause I was late.

At the end of the interview I was offered a place! Because I have all my qualifications and have above the minimum requirements they were able to offer me a place there and then instead of waiting till June.

I still have 3 more interviews before I have to make my decision!

I celebrated last night by watching episodes of Death Note! xD

My next interview is next Wednesday, I'm really nervous for that one!

Road to becoming an animator!

2011-02-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

Hey! This is my first blog post here, so I should introduce myself. Though seeing as no one is reading this currently as I have just started this blog I don't think it makes much difference but anyway...

My name is Stacey Gardner. I live in the United Kingdom, and I've recently finished 2 years of studying Graphic Art and Design, Games Development and Psychology in Sixth Form and I plan to continue studying hopefully starting September 2011. This is what this blog is about.

I have been lucky enough to spend my childhood enchanted by the magic of animation from following the journey of Ash Ketchum, as he strived to become the greatest Pokémon master, to laughing at the mischief and mayhem of such antics of self obsessed moron, Johnny Bravo. Toy Story, the heart-warming tale of a old pull string cowboy doll and an shiny new astronaut action figure and the other toys who come to life when no one is around, the first Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) full length film, an inspiring movie which shown a mere glimpse of the future of animation. As the years have passed animation has continued to impress and entertain me. As I’ve grown up, animation has grown up with me and altered in ways beyond what anyone could have ever imagined. Animation fascinates me. I knew I wanted to be an animator!

I gave up on this dream for a little while and tried to steer my art in another direction with Graphic Art. In 2010 I tried to write my UCAS application form to apply to study Graphic Art but found it so difficult, I just couldn't think of anything to write, so I put it off till it was too late and the applications deadline was over. After recently personal events I have been really down and thought nothing would regain my drive to do anything but then I saw a film which not only made me smile but inspired me. It gave me my purpose back. I’ve regained my passion to become an animator a dream which I thought impossible, to be a part of the creative industry is my goal and nothing else will satisfy me. The film I saw was Megamind and no matter what happens I will be thankful to Dreamworks, as I think it saved my life and gave me a future. It has never been so easy nor felt so natural to write something, the words just flowed and before I knew it I had written too much and found myself having delete big paragraphs so it could fit into the statement box on UCAS. The content I wrote really came from the heart.

To pursue a career like this takes hard work and passion! Its a stretch for me because my art is very average and I have not had experience in life drawing but I will do whatever it takes! and if it doesn't work out at least I can say I tried because I know if I don't at least try I will regret it for the rest of my life. Because...

'Nothing in this world worth having comes easy'

This is a quote from the comedy Scrubs but it is true! This won't be easy especially with my artistic ability but if it's worth having it is worth the hard work and possible disappointment. The road it long, and there will be many obstacles on the way, and sometimes you will just want to give up and give in, but that final destination is worth the journey. The year 2010 was a really awful year for me, and I know nothing could ever hurt me as much as the events of that year, I lost two close family members, one of which was the most important person to me. I'm doing this for them, I have always strived and pushed myself to make that person proud, and I will continue that now. The year 2011 is my year of IMPROVEMENT! Not only in my artwork but within myself.

I have my first interview tommorrow for an animation course in university. It may not work out and this blog will have no more submissions >///< This blog will follow my dream of becoming an animator I shouldn't really start it now because I might not even get into university to study it. Oh well! Wish me luck!

This is my road to becoming an animator!