For those that are wondering, I've left AAU for the time being. Frankly, I've run out of money.
In the meantime, here's some perspective homework from a few weeks back.
Showing posts with label Academy Of Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Academy Of Art. Show all posts
A Stick Figure In Cleveland: Part Two
More from anatomy class this semester. Per usual, 18x24 newsprint and charcoal, anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half. These have been the most fun, and rewarding of my recent hectic weeks. I can usually pull off listening to Smodcast and locating a scapula simultaneously, so they end up being pretty low stress.
Just like the rest of school, I'm chomping at the bit to put these new skillz into practice with something fun!
A Stick Figure In Cleveland: Part One
Like In San Francisco, I want to chart my figure drawing growth on the website. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to keep up with it as well as I'd like.
Cleveland's a drinking town after all.
Here is the first month of my anatomy assignments and exercises. They are mostly forty minute charcoal drawings done on 18 x 24 newsprint.
They are all done from photos. I plan on uploading work from over the summer from a live model, and hopefully get to some more figure drawing sessions in the near future.
How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Charcoal
I never put up my work from Analysis Of Form last semester. Which was a pretty big turning point for me, just like it's supposed to be.
It was the beginning of really learning to see, and probably the first time I've ever spent more than 40 hours on a single drawing.
Which means I stuck it out, and didn't give up on using the charcoal like I have for the past 15 years.
Big thanks to David Choong Lee for walking me through it, and becoming my new hero.
A Stick Figure In Clay
There is no doubt H.David Wagner leveled me up this semester.
one class with a model
I've mentioned before, this was the semester of the figure, and I don't think I've ever learned more than I have in Figure Modeling.
one class with a model
Working with clay, and seeing the figure 3 dimensionally solved problems I've been struggling with for years.
two classes with a model
There's something about touching the form it that makes it real, and it gives you a much better idea of what you're drawing later.
one class no model
I can't wait to start applying this to things that aren't real.
A Stick Figure In Charcoal
I havent been keeping up with the weekly updates, but wanted to show off some stuff now that the semesters over.
These are all from Life Drawing, and mostly 5-10 minute poses.
Halfway through the semester Henry Yan was replaced by Matt Crane. Both men are monsters, but Matt really championed the halftone-eraser style, which resonated in a big way for me.
After 15 years of fumbling with charcoal I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of the tool, and I'm at the beginnings of a style.
Now to figure out what to do with it.
A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Four & Five
(click on the pictures, and they get bigger)
I've spent a lot of time arguing that art isn't a god given talent, and the past few weeks have done nothing but prove that to me further. What we perceive as a natural style is nothing but a series of decisions (even If that decision is to slack off, or not draw at all) .
Ive compared this experience to boot camp since I was being shipped away from my buddies, and it's even more apt as I learn to slow down and do things right. Learning to measure twice and draw once.
As you can imagine this makes it a lot less fun. I've had my share of warnings of structure killing the passion from art school casualties. While I understand that now more than ever, I think it's nothing but another decision. What doesn't become less romantic with further study? Deciding to stop is falling in love with the praise and not the process.
Because there is no end, there is no good enough, there's only struggle. Whether it's art or anything else.
A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Three
After my massive "work in progress" post, I haven't drawn one cartoon image, and while it's only been one week, it's very uncharacteristic of me. The benefit has been massive, and in many ways rejuvenating.
Cartooning is in many ways a form of handwriting, at certain times a persona, and in the very least a voice. It's also "everything you do wrong" as Chuck Jones would say. For the past 6 months every piece of new information had to be adapted to my cartooning style, because too much new info would betray my style. In a weird way, betray my place in the world.
Also, holding on to work that I financially can't finish, is a bit soul crushing. What I thought was only artistic blue balls was a self induced pressure which prevented me from moving on to the task at hand. The very simple sounding, but insanely difficult-quasi zen like task of learning to see.
Which causes my current work to look like exactly what it is: An art student trying to figure things out, and maybe it's always looked like that, but this week for the first time in years, it's how I perceive it. Without any style, and without any persona.
I feel like it's the only way I can fix it.
A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Two
(Go on, touch it. It get's bigger)
My figure modeling professor told me not to worry about my sculpture, but instead focus on the sculpture that I'm making in my mind.
I really feel like that was the case this week, or maybe I'm making excuses for watching Battlestar Galactica re runs.
A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week One
This semester is all about the figure, figure drawing alongside figure modeling (in clay). It's the perfect time to hold myself to the fire, and finally learn to draw. The Academy Of Art offers a free life drawing workshop almost every day, so I'm hitting every one I can.
I thought it would be fun to follow openly.
I'm not posting every workshop I attend, just the highlights. Just enough to show progress (hopefully), and to silence anyone that thinks this is some sort of mystical gift.
I'm going to do this every week, using my Saturday figure drawing class as the bumpers, and showing the highlights in between.
I've got a lot of work to do.
(click on these guys to make em readable)
Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks.
RandyCrider@Gmail.com
I thought it would be fun to follow openly.
I'm not posting every workshop I attend, just the highlights. Just enough to show progress (hopefully), and to silence anyone that thinks this is some sort of mystical gift.
I'm going to do this every week, using my Saturday figure drawing class as the bumpers, and showing the highlights in between.
I've got a lot of work to do.
(click on these guys to make em readable)
Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks.RandyCrider@Gmail.com
Shady Pines
More than a month of work, and more money than it ever should have cost, and my experimental animation final is done.
The credits are wrong for that reason.
My comic book running buddy: Mark Crnolatas wrote the thing like we always do, unfortunately it was over the phone instead of over cigars this time.
My girlfriend: Roxanne Anzelc made the costumes, and let me break her hair dryer while I dried the latex on the puppets.
As with most of my first semester at AAU, I really feel like I leveled up. Understanding the process soup to nuts now, I think I could put together something much better next time.
I don't think I will, though.
It's not so much the process (as much as I love spending ten hours on 30 seconds of animation) as it is the cost. I spent a lot of time in the art store for this project, spending money I don't have. It's really hard to justify props when you're wearing the same pair of jeans, and freezing without a hat. Stop motion is charming, but it rarely enhances the story you're trying to tell. This is the same reason I started inking digitally.
(nevermind that it's lots easier)
So, you'll for sure see A LOT more animation from me, it'll just be digital as much as I can help it.
None Of Them Knew They Were Robots
My experimental animation final has me teaming up with Mark Crnolatas, my old running buddy from comic book days. It's about an old folks home, and if you've ever found our stuff funny I think you'll be happy with it.
It's coming along nicely, even If I would prefer to do it in After Effects (I hate any art form without an apple z option nowadays)
Here's a walk test:
Notice how 2 steps in: I remember that he's supposed to be old. The fingers need to be toned down, and i could use some recoil on those steps.
(all things I could fix with apple z)
Here's his costar:
I'm really trying to push the contrast between the two, which is difficult given the limitations in my puppet building skills.
I've got two weeks to build a set and get this thing filmed for the final, but it feels really great to be working with friends again.
Even if it is across the country.
It's coming along nicely, even If I would prefer to do it in After Effects (I hate any art form without an apple z option nowadays)
Here's a walk test:
Notice how 2 steps in: I remember that he's supposed to be old. The fingers need to be toned down, and i could use some recoil on those steps.
(all things I could fix with apple z)
Here's his costar:
I'm really trying to push the contrast between the two, which is difficult given the limitations in my puppet building skills.
I've got two weeks to build a set and get this thing filmed for the final, but it feels really great to be working with friends again.
Even if it is across the country.
Lord Send Me A Mechanic, If I'm Not Beyond Repair
My very first (un-tutored) After Effects animation.
I only had one week to pull together 3 seconds of animation, and my Jack Kirby collection was in Cleveland, leaving the Captain America cartoon for another day.
(providing I can ever afford a computer that's not broken)
(which is why the number of posts have dwindled, don't worry so has my music downloading.)
Since I have no new ideas (scotch took care of that), I went with a reworking of the banner at the top of the page.
(Which for some reason: every time I drew it the guy looked overly Asian. Fearing coming off the wrong way (I'm not sure if enlightenment is a negative stereotype) I went with the most "American" guy I could think of.)
Anyways, hope you like it.
I'll take my comments of the air.
Level Up
Experimental Animation assignment number two.
I can't sculpt, my hands are too clumsy. I usually can't reach the last few Pringles either.
But I think I'm beginning to understand timing.
Which is one of the 12 principles of animation, which is how I like to refer to it.
I'm studying the twelve principles of animation. Like I had to traverse a gauntlet, and defeat a minotaur to capture yellow scrolls where it was all written down.
Makes me sound important, like I've discovered the Wu-Tangs secret.
Maybe one day I'll be like Doctor Strange. Meditating in an incense filled room on the twelve principles of animation.
Wearing a Bugs Bunny shirt.
I can't sculpt, my hands are too clumsy. I usually can't reach the last few Pringles either.
But I think I'm beginning to understand timing.
Which is one of the 12 principles of animation, which is how I like to refer to it.
I'm studying the twelve principles of animation. Like I had to traverse a gauntlet, and defeat a minotaur to capture yellow scrolls where it was all written down.
Makes me sound important, like I've discovered the Wu-Tangs secret.
Maybe one day I'll be like Doctor Strange. Meditating in an incense filled room on the twelve principles of animation.
Wearing a Bugs Bunny shirt.
Starship Troopers
Stop motion project number one (with a group) with found objects.
He is an army man, and giant bugs attack him, then he dies.
No, that's not what the assignment sheet said to do.
Begin Training Session
Conte work from my very first workshop as a student.
Yes it's a pirate.
I seriously was waiting to draw the turtle for the second half of the session.
Yes it's a pirate. 
I seriously was waiting to draw the turtle for the second half of the session.
Probably the worst life drawing work I've done in years (also the first time I've been yelled at in years), but let's use this a sign post a year from now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)