Andy's Online Scrapbook

La Queue de la Souris (A Mouse's Tale)

2012-01-30T21:42:00.000Z

This is an excellent example in how a limited colour palette, when rendering the final 3D animation, and violin music, can make an effective mis-en-scene for such a simple premise for an animated short. This is stellar stuff.

23-30th January 2012- More Figure Studies from Loomis and Action Man figure

2012-01-30T21:07:00.000Z

I'm starting to find the photographs having more volume and depth to the figure then my actual pencilled studies of them... oh well...

In Fact - They Might Be Giants (official video)

2012-01-28T10:14:00.000Z

I couldn't resist reading the news that They Might Be Giants have been going on for 30 years... so here's some jazzy goodness from them to mark the occasion.

Within Temptation - The Howling

2012-01-27T17:32:00.000Z

I have enjoyed melodic metal for quite a while, and whilst everyone will praise the likes of Nightwish and- ahem- Evanescence, I don't note much love for this group. Shame on them. Within Temptation are an excellent group of this superb sub-genre, and I can thoroughly recommend their 2005 album, The Silent Force.
This track is one of their later tracks, in my working knowledge of their music, and whilst I'm not big on the fantasy-video-game music video, I just adore the song as a song.

Loomis' Fun with A Pencil Studies- Doohinkus Manikin and Action Figure Studies- Last Week's Batch

2012-01-23T22:22:00.000Z

Same drill as before from last week's epic entry, but this time the drawings and photographs were done during last week.

How (and why) to rescue HMV | Blog | Design Week

2012-01-20T15:10:00.000Z

How (and why) to rescue HMV | Blog | Design Week

From someone who has, and always will, enjoy going through music shops for the sake of physical browsing, I agree with this excellent article addressing that HMV's existence on the high street should be saved by all means necessary. So, whilst the Internet is good for selective preferences based on your tastes and choices (Google, Facebook, Amazon, et al), there is still a need to be able to explore other options as well, which you cannot achieve on the World Wide Web, and must be achieved in a physical environment. HMV is the only high-street entertainment chain store left in the UK, that offers the opportunity to browse to your heart's entertainment for all things film and music.

Graphic Design Blog | The Design Oven | Ministry of Sound Animation

2012-01-19T15:10:00.000Z

Graphic Design Blog | The Design Oven | Ministry of Sound Animation

Although my skills on 3D animation packages was at best limited, it is not everyday that I find something that wants me to start playing with all the tools you get in those programs. This breakdown is a fascinating look into how this designer/animator works, and is pretty inspirational work for anyone that has dabbled in 3D animation.

Loomis' Fun with A Pencil Studies- Doohinkus Manikin and Action Figure Studies

2012-01-16T18:17:00.000Z

Just to explain why there are photographs, drawings that look like, and do not look like, the figures in these photographs, I am currently at the chapter in the book, which encourages me to learn from a movable figure. Hence, why there are shots of an Action Man figure in those positions, and a live drawing of that figure, to understand this position the other manikin- the one with the moustache and markings on their torso and hips- has been placed. All of these drawing were done between December 2011,up to the present day, being January 2012, and I was encourage to start posting again on a Facebook group that encourages you to draw something everyday. So this post will keep me up to date with that for now.

#The50 Things Every Creative Should Know

2012-01-14T14:56:00.000Z

This is some of the most valuable, simplistic, and efficient nuggets of weath that every creative person must read.

Comics, illustrations and music | Blog | Design Week

2012-01-13T11:46:00.000Z

I can't help that this is history repeatng when a graphic artist collaborates with making album art for a musician, but I can't resist not getting curious to hear of this musician's work, as this graphic artist's work gives a grim, and edgy, impression to their music. So can anyone, who has listened to their music, concur with such an artistic assumption?

Group cognitive behavior therapy for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and anxiety: a randomized trial - Reaven - 2011 - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry - Wiley Online Library

2012-01-11T17:55:00.000Z

Group cognitive behavior therapy for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and anxiety: a randomized trial - Reaven - 2011 - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry - Wiley Online Library

Tony Benn -- The issue is Thatcher

2012-01-09T15:12:00.000Z

When people bang on about British politics, they go on about the prime ministers over the years, rather then the Members of Parliament that never got to the top, but has had enough of an influence to make him a household name. Tony Benn is one of the MPs that has made his mark to make him a living legend. Enjoy this speech before you go and check out The Iron Lady in cinemas, and think why no one has made a film about him instead.

Graphic Design Blog | The Design Oven | Pencil v Camera Part 2

2012-01-09T14:18:00.000Z

Graphic Design Blog | The Design Oven | Pencil v Camera Part 2

This is a really creative and imaginative way of using two mediums to make one image. I'm inspired, and impressed too.

Bamboleo - Gipsy Kings

2012-01-03T09:29:00.000Z

Here is a catchy classic tune to get you in Latin American mood, whilst the weather outside is primarily European- well, for where I live, it is certainly the case.

Imagery done in AS Art (2003-2004)- Object Photographs

2012-01-02T18:55:00.000Z

Your guesses are as good as mine into why I was taking photographs of random objects during my time at college. All I can guess was that there was some 'homework' which involved trying to draw objects. So perhaps I took these shots on my now-rather-rubbish camera I have at the time to use to make some art out of it. At least you can see the actual sketchbook, in which I probably did this in it on one of the pages.

Imagery done in AS Art (2003-2004)- Pieces Done on the Theme of 'Home'

2012-01-02T18:05:00.001Z

These are some of the pieces, done digitally and traditionally, that I did whilst on the theme of 'home'.

These two are just two classic examples of how not to use a simple filter facility in Photoshop .

This is only page I have scanned from my submitted sketchbook for assessment. It just show some photocopied images with some colour slapped on with some paint.

So from trying to make art out of photocopies, here is an actual painting, based on studying the works of Tracey Emin. So I really wasn't making that much original art during my time at college.

Imagery done in AS Art (2003-2004)- Lego Parody Poster

2012-01-02T17:46:00.000Z

Have you ever wondered how to obtain an Advanced Subsidary (AS) in Art? Well doing this kind of work was one way of doing it.

This parody poster was actually done as part of my studies at college, based on the theme of figures, and finding out that the Little Artists were doing stuff like this at the time. So I thought I might give it a go.

I tried out all kinds of layers in a new program for me at the time- was it really nine years ago that I started using Photoshop?- to try and recreate the actual poster for the film The Matrix. I thought I was able to pull it off, even thou I tried several methods of capturing the Lego figure.

I ended up scanning the figure as I was able to get the necessary detail into the final poster.

Recreating the numbered background was fun, but not as challenging as adding a cape to my Neo figure.

Another method of capturing that Lego figure was trying to take a picture of the figure.

But as the actual camera wasn't giving me the detail I needed to render my figure into the final poster.

Pioneering black radio broadcaster Barry Clayton has died at the age of 80

2011-12-30T09:08:00.000Z

Pioneering black radio broadcaster Barry Clayton has died at the age of 80

I was aware of Clayton's work through being the narrator for Count Duckula, and for the short film Junk Food. But I feel I should revisit Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast, because I forgot about his intro to the album. He certainly had a distinctive voice-over voice.

Gone But Not Forgotten 2011 | Billboard.com

2011-12-28T11:02:00.000Z

Gone But Not Forgotten 2011 | Billboard.com

2011 would be remembered for the tragic head-liners about the death of the likes of Amy Winehouse, and Steve Jobs. But what about the deaths of musicians from such groups as Weezer, or the Coasters? This gallery gives equal justice to these loses as well. As a British music fan there are some absences to some of the deaths I was aware of- Andrew Gold, or the cellist from ELO- but this gallery does mention some of the British musicians to make an impact state-side, like Gerry Rafferty.

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

2011-12-25T10:03:00.000Z

This is subliminal send-up of all the plot in the biblical story, done in a manner to appeal to the Youtube generation. So I will certainly 'like this' in the manner of Facebook.

The Christmas Card

2011-12-23T08:58:00.000Z

It is the season to be watching animated e-cards, being flooded into your email inbox. So do you think you will get anything so well-animated, or as entertaining, as this classic animated sequence from Terry Gilliam?

Animation Magazine – JibJab Says Buh-Bye to 2011 in Grand Style

2011-12-23T08:36:00.000Z

Animation Magazine – JibJab Says Buh-Bye to 2011 in Grand Style

I have been a fan of JibJab's send-off to the new year since 2007, and I'm glad that they have done another puppet video, but this time in the cut-out approach, rather then in the excellent felt-like 'Muppet' approach like last year.

Elton John, Mary J. Blige Challenge the Muppets in Oscar Song Race

2011-12-22T07:57:00.000Z

Elton John, Mary J. Blige Challenge the Muppets in Oscar Song Race

I find it interesting to see the scope and range of musicians being illegible for the Best Song Oscar.

THE HOBBIT Trailer HD

2011-12-21T09:43:00.000Z

From someone who was bowled over by Jackson's adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy from a decade ago, I am glad to see that this has all the elements of that gives this prequel the edge that has been offered in previous versions of the book. I have seen an animated TV film, and an excellent stage version of this story, and the Hobbit was my first impression on the works of this renowned author. Now if I can read the book before the film comes out, I should become an educated purist on this film.

Animation Magazine – Effects Animator Dorse Lanpher Passes Away

2011-12-20T16:24:00.000Z

Animation Magazine – Effects Animator Dorse Lanpher Passes Away

I always have an appreciation for effects animators, for being able to create whatever effects are required in a feature film out of the blue. So reading about the death of this effects animator, whose work ranges from Sleeping Beauty to Home on the Range, makes we wish I have learned the basics of effects animation during my time at university. At least I should be able to read about his experiences doing such work in his brilliantly titled memoir, 'Flyin’ Chunks and Other Things to Duck: Memoirs of a Life Spent Doodling for Dollars'.