Saturday, 30 December 2017

Studio brief 3- Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures

https://vimeo.com/250476424

Getting started
Animating images is a new process to me - the concept took a while to get my head around. Initially I couldn't even envision creating a sting at home, without an IT technician getting me back to my document when I double clicked or pressed a button. However, I created extensive notes from the After-Effect workshops, which enabled me to experiment with my imagery at home. 

My process
I found that I didn't chose to work with story-boards, as was advised. For me animating was a more experimental process (probably because it was developing a new skill set). The software was simple enough to use in reference to my notes. I now have a good understanding of the different transform properties. There was a lucky coincidence with the uterus which was visible when I imported the image so I decided to incorporate this. 

Areas for development
There are still some elements of the software I have no idea how to use (for example editing initial placements before key frames) but I managed to create a moving picture and work with what I knew. This meant that I have had to delete and start some imports again. I also struggle with flicking through files on the computer because I prefer to have things visually layed out. I found it difficult sharing the imagery with my In Design publication document. It meant that whenever I renamed in either programme, the documents had version alignment problems due to both Indesign and After-Effects working with links. To improve next time I should make separate folders with copies of the same documents and perhaps be more digitally/desktop organised. 

Reflection on output
I am happy with my sound piece. I think the quote really sums up the main theme I have been investigating and the timbre of the song is suitably mellow and eerie, as if one of the women in Atwood’s dystopian societies were singing. I have also tried to link the motion of the imagery to the song. The slow legato worked really well whilst having the mazes merge into one another. ‘Inside’ was a word where it seemed to work well to pause and freeze the imagery, allowing enough time to add the author’s name without it being too confusing, and then resuming to finish.

https://vimeo.com/250476424
Margaret Atwood final sting? (Converted) from Alex Fox on Vimeo.


Practice animations

Practice animations recorded on my phone (sorry for bad quality).
Trying to figure out how to successfully have one made merge into another maze.











Sunday, 17 December 2017

Study Task 6 - Presentation


Presentation



  • Packaged in a cello bag, containing contact details
  • Pages presented with clips -more professional that having hands in the image



  • Basic description of the commercial reproduction of the product 


  • Almost an analysis/evaluation... a lot more detail so people can know what to expect




  • belly-band tying multiple products together
  • belly-band in style of and holding the title
  • Containing the weight (quality of the products paper)
  • Hand made and to order
  • Lots of detail explaining the zine and its message (as this doesn't arrive as part of the packaging)

Saturday, 9 December 2017

Study Task 5 - Sound Task

I reeeeally dislike storyboarding.

https://vimeo.com/36011399

The actions shown visually really linked up to the found sounds of objects.
Action-Reaction.


https://vimeo.com/176606459

The soundtrack was an upbeat engaging song which fits well with promoting a camping weekend. The images moved into each other fluidly, broken up by human sounds which was clever and entertaining.


https://vimeo.com/1344776

This sound track was very eery and with out a doubt created a very dark and uncomfortable atmosphere whilst visually taking you to a creepy, dense forrest.


I have decided that I definitely want to create my sound piece as a song. Writing a song with the guitar is my normal way to create original music so it makes sense to do something I enjoy. 
I firstly just recorded it on my phone in my bedroom when writing it and then asked a friend to book a recording studio room and help me record my track more professionally.
I am quite happy with its outcome and think that song (especially the minor chords) really captures the atmosphere of Atwood's writing and the use of lyrics also adds a more vulnerable and relatable vibe (especially as it is a female singing).


Saturday, 25 November 2017

Study Task 4 - Animated stings

ANIMATED STINGS

  • Clever links, imagery morphing into/interacting with other images (action=reaction)
  • Mostly in the early development of animation technology (easily possible on After Effects now-a-days)
  • Very analogue drawn and illustrated
  • Simple is effective
  • Movement/actions link with the music accompanying
  • Tells a story about the film that is about to happen, gives clues 

Tommy Iommi: The complete history of heavy metal



Freaky Friday opening credits 1976



Pink Panther theme tune 1963



The magnificent men in their flying machines opening credits 1965



24 Hour Party people opening credits 1976

Monday, 16 October 2017

Study Task 3 - 3 Illustrators using print process


  • Find out about their creative processes - how do they work? What media techniques do they use?
  • How do they present and sell their work?
Jill Calder

  • blends traditional and digital image-making methods
  • worked on editorials first
  • got an agent



Harriet Lee Merrion

  • influenced by botanical engravings, surrealism and Japanese woodblock prints
  • Heart Agency


Hilke MacIntyre

  •  print the linocuts directly from the linoleum plates- classed as original
  •  high quality ink and acid free printmaking paper
  • works as pair with Ian MacIntyre

like a maze...


Sunday, 15 October 2017

Study Task 2 - 3 Editorials

  • EDITORIALS
  • sewing - women trapped within their distopian society role
  • unhappy - squished/uncomfortable position...  no mouth/freedom of speech
  • collage - multi-layered personalities
pear - house-hold objects (Marthas - green - kitchen maids)

cherries - desirable (Handmaids - red/objects for childbirth, walk in pairs)
prune - (Lady of House - blue - cant have children, dried up grape, "old prune")

Studio Brief 1 - Idea Pictures

IDEA PICTURES                   

Getting started:

The initial hard copy zine was a useful place to experiment with ideas and mediums to see which communicated well and to select a limited number of key ideas. This zine was a developmental sketchbook of collage, rather than a coherent product.

Despite this I struggled, as usual, with starting the editorials. I find it difficult initially turning the research and words into imagery. I experience brain overload and panic. I overcame this by forcing myself to draw, even if the sketches were ones I didn’t like, every day. This allowed me to develop an idea by drawing and re-drawing, tweaking each time. I found the character design module last year really hard and realized that was what I was now involved in. It was quite scary doing pieces that are as simple as these; not full bleed or busy. I am glad that I challenged myself to pursue this as I want to develop simplification in my practice.

The messages:

I tried to ensure that the body language of the fruit-women portrayed feeling uncomfortable, confined, squashed, trapped and pregnant. The designs were deeply led by my research; there was reasoning behind my decisions. Quotes and themes directly inspired the images and I just needed to work out how to portray this through media.

I tried to create a balance of light and dark as, per image, I decided to focus on one colour. I like how the trapped element can be emphasized through sewing, an intrusive technique, which goes all the way through the paper. Compositionally I also wanted to fill the content to the size of the boxes even though I chose to leave them as vignettes.
I chose the different fruits to reflect societal roles portrayed in the Handmaids Tale:
  • Pears (Marthas who work in the kitchen); less sought after fruits, household objects, dull colour
  • Cherries (Handmaids); sexual connotation ‘pop your cherry’, desired, a treat, come in pairs, bright red
  • Prune (Lady of House); old prune, dried up grape, unattractive, changed purpose, dull colour

In conclusion:

I feel like the results effectively communicate the theme of women being trapped in the role of reproduction as in Atwood's literature. These offered a lighter, less dark response to the zine produced later. The fruit-women are accessible, possibly being able to be held and therefore show my warm response as a woman to their situations.