Influences? Where to start?

Somewhere modern, in this case, Yoji Shinkawa. Ever since a read the Metal Gear Solid manual, I found the character composition just breath taking. I couldn’t articulate at the time but his characters have just the right mixture of abstract and realism. Faded colours, bold outlines and care free brush strokes.

There is just a small sample of his work here. His success began with Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear Solid and he continues to work for Konami as an art director.

Important to note his influences Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and Yoji Shinkawa.

 

Just lovely

Environments with Scott Robertson

IMpressive stuff using MSpaint

Attempting to draw with the paint program is pretty hard, so when you go through the effort to make it look this photorealistic you deserve some kind of medal, this one took the fellow 10 or so hours.

You can look at the actual link here and maybe subscribe to his stuff.

If you ignore the weird eggplant dance person at the beginning, the video goes on for greater detail.

Richard Williams… Saul Bass… timeless advice.

Learn to Draw he says.
In the Animator’s survival kit. Richard Williams has a drawn picture of a statuesque human with Roger Rabbit’s head. With it are the quoted words “I just can’t stress the importance of life drawing in animation.”

Moral of the story… Draw more. Draw loads. Draw whatever, draw this, draw that, draw whatever is in your hat.
Don’t be afraid. Failing is learning. Whether progression is visible or not. It will happen, be patient but don’t be complacent.

Should I feel disheartened with my skill. Get over it. Keep at it.

A return to Ferens Gallery.

Washer Women at the foot of the Torre Delle Milizie

1640’s

Thomas Wijk (Beverwijk 1616 – Haarlem 1677)

I think I saw this one at the Wakefield Gallery, but never took it down. The tower doesn’t quite dominate this picture as it is not placed dead centre. At first our eye is drawn to the foot of the tower and who we see there. The faded orange hues make for peaceful sunset look… or sunrise.

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View of the Het Valkchof (Falcon Court) 1650

G.W. Berckhout 1650’s

A fantastic landscape, but it isn’t just the fort itself. We see this picture is full of life, fishermen are going about their daily business while commoners clean and wash in the river.

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An imaginary Dutch Church Interior 1655

Daniel de Blieck (Middleburg 1630 – 1673)

Not architecturally accurate according to the description, but beautifully designed anyway. Again, it’s not just the setting, a lot is happening within this picture. Can’t really see in this resolution, but a dog wanders about while a grave digger is hard at work.

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The Menagerie of Versilles 1670’s

Adam Frans Van Der Mealen (Brussels 1632 – Paris 1690)

A beautifully painted landscape of Louis XIV’s garden, he is even in the picture on the far right

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Interior of Antwerp Cathedral by Night

Picter Neefs Senior (Antwerp 1578 – 1656)

Hauntingly peaceful in it’s design. Those that dwell within stay within the light, or close to it. We can explore that meaning, as only those in the white robes appear to be within the darkness. Perhaps some religious overtones are present, about the tried and untried. Only those with iron faith might wander the dark without fear of loss.

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Vanitas 1664

Cornelius Norbertus Gilsbrecht (Antwerp 1659 – 1678)

Many many remakes and interpretations of this picture as I understand, the linked image isn’t the one that was in the gallery, but close too it. The picture itself is about how we concern ourselves with material pleasures while time goes by. It is important to note the semiotics within this painting. The skull next to the burnt out candle indicates death and the passage of time. Their proximity implies they are connected. The empty wine glass indicates worldly pleasures, somewhat dwarfed by the deathly message. The morale being, don’t invest too much time in world pleasures, time is short and there is much else to do.

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The Press Gang 1858

Alexander Johnston (Edinborough 1815 – 1891)

A fantastic example of a picture that tells an entire story. Press gangs were navy men that were able to draft other men without warning into the navy by royal order. It’s fair to say they were hated. We see in the picture that the man in red is to be drafted, torn away from his love and into navy life within the same day. A couple flees in the background, and concern of the citizens is evident. We can’t see the entire picture here, but I think there is a book and rose that has been dropped on the ground, we could assume the draftee’s love probably dropped them in her shock. A fallen rose represents so much more though…

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Daphne

Arthur Hacker (London 1858 – 1919)

Not much too this one, I just think it’s a good example of human proportions and the female form. The Nymph Daphne (a minor figure of Greek Mythos) was attempting to escape the Apollo the Sun God, and she was turned into a laurel tree to escape him.

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Princes Dock. Hull.

Atkinson Grimshaw (Leeds 1836 – 1893)

A like the sheer depth of this picture, our eye travels smoothly from foreground to background. We see the way the street lamps glow against the soaked streets and the looming silhouettes in the background.

Some Ren and Stimpy looking stuff…

So today, a second year student introduced me to someone named Felix Colgrave. Not literally, he’s a youtube animator and from what I’ve seen, he has a really exaggerated style. REAL over the top, and yet… somehow, he has completely adhered to all that animation principles, it is just some real pleasant stuff.

The styling is simplistic, yet the movement is so organic and fluid and it just completely works, I wish I knew this guys secret.

If you wish to subscribe to his stuff you can do here.

ARTgerm… Stanley Lau

Someone to bloody look up to. His work makes for great references when it comes to poses and positioning.

A few bits from the Gobelins

Pyrats, made by the students of the French animation school Gobelins in 2006. There are a few of the same video on Youtube and I’m not too sure which one deserves the actual credit of the people whom made it. At least, I’ve Talantis Film Distribution to thank for… I’m not sure, distributing? Hosting? Something…

Un pirate est en train de se faire pendre quand une attaque de la ville survient…

Réalisation : Yves Bigerel, Bruno Dequier, Ben Fiquet, Nicolas Gueroux, Julien Le Rolland
Production : Gobelins

And we have the making of. It really is humbling to see the hours of dedication and hard work required for minute and a half clip, as well as the different design process including hand-drawn, 3d rendering, concept design and… Sculpting?? Was sculpting necessary? I’ll have to ask someone about that.

Finally we have the crash test dummy. I couldn’t embed this one so fair enough. This one seemed to demonstrate use of seemingly 3d AND hand drawn animation combined. It’s a classic of example of how animation can be used to achieve the impossible. For those that haven’t watched it. It follows the story of a crash test dummy that fulfills it’s dream of becoming a world famous magician. He’s able to perform tricks not humanly possible because it’s an animated feature… also, he’s a sentient crash test dummy!

This thing I saw.

So I happened by this on the Youtube Front page and it blew my mind.

(On the about bit)
Check out more at http://www.aniboom.com/animation/feat….

In a destroyed world, the only glimpse of hope is the memory of a forgotten past. But be careful not to let your dreams control your mind…This is Replay an amazing animated short film.

Animation by anthonyvoisin – the film is distributed by Talantis Films.

http://www.aniboom.com/animator-portf…

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Artistic inspiration from yester-week.

Benjamin Haughton (Cheshire 1865 – Devon 1924)

Babes in the Wood 1898

Oil on Canvas

Presented in 1937

Another helpful use on background featuring low view of tree bows in a dusk setting indicated by the orange hue of the sky. Despite it’s apparent ‘lost in the wood’ theme, the picture brings about a feeling of serenity.

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Follower of Richard Wilson – (Penegoes 1713 – Colomendy 1782)

Italian Landscape with stone pine 1750’s

Oil on canvas

Most distinguishing feature of this landscape is how the sun is not visible but very clearly behind the pine tree.

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Herbert Draper

1864 – 1920

Oil on Canvas

Homer’s Odyssey

Odysseus/Ulysses himself tied to the mast of his ship whilst his sailors ears are plugged with wax to resist the sirens calls. Really does well to capture the woe in the faces of the sailors. Odysseus’ expression indicates the sirens calls has rendered him catatonic. Whereas the rest of the sailors are immune to their call. (Don’t understand why Odysseus himself didn’t stop up his own ears with wax.) Body proportions are perfect along with the moisture of them rising from the ocean. The skin is slick and wet, droplets are visible. The nature of the location allows for a minimalist background. A particular favourite of mine.

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Gillian Wearing (Birmingham 1963)

Self portrait as my uncle Bryan Gregory

Incredibly hooded eyes and waxy features. The general synthetic appearance of the subject indicates use of prosthetics. Gillian made herself up to look like her uncle, ain’t that some s***.

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Edgar Bundy

(Brighton 1862 –

London 1922)

The Night School 1892

Oil on Canvas

Picture depicts good use of learning by candle light, the frustration is evident in the face of the most prominent student. Signified by him being the only one who’s face is directly visible to the viewer. More subtle orange hues to dress up the low light/candle light.

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Jacob Kramer (Ukraine 1892 – Leeds 1962)

The Rabbis

Oil on Canvas

Dark colours depicts two cubic/humanoid figures stood side by side, the blocky features are apparent but masked somewhat by the dark setting.

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Mathew Hale (1852 – 1924)

The drums of the fore and aft

1895

An untried british regiment sent to the front of a border war during the 2^nd Afghan War (1878 – 1890). The regiment fled at their first encounter against bands of tribal muslim fighters. Two drummer boys, Jakin & Lew are stranded. Fuelled by naïve courage and rum, they marched up and down the alley with drum and fife. They shamed their regiment into returning for them. They were victorious against the tribes by the boys perished in the combat. I just think that is an awesome tale.

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Seamus Nicolson (London 1971)

Photos are carefully orchestrated, set at night in everyday urban environments. The brightly lit shop windows glow in the dark lending a cinematic edge to the images.

Helpful for a urban background reference.

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Peter Howson (London 1958)

Mr Great Heart

Oil on Canvas

Lived in a gym, dropped out of art school. Met a lot of bouncers, boxers and solidiers.

Might make a good friendly giant character.

Or big boss man.

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Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934)

Perseus Arming

Bronze

I found this fascinating. In Greek mythology, Perseus was one of the first heroes and was viewed as a demi-god. His exploits include and are not limited to; Slaying of the  Gorgon Medusa, founding Mycenae, claiming Andromeda.

It’s safe to say he is something of a legend. In any bronze work or statue he is depicted as  broad-shouldered and defined in musculature. However, Alfred Gilbert took a different route. It is noted that in the Leeds Art Gallery, he purposely modeled Perseus to be youthful in appearance by reduction in muscle tone as well as the dainty posture. He is donned with the hades helm of darkness and putting on the winged sandals as well as carrying the adamantine sword. Though he is carrying in a non-aggressive manner, holding blade down and not by the handle either, it seems.

This side of Perseus allows us to view him as more human, maybe not a demi-god. Maybe just a human that had responsibility thrust onto him. He was in the wrong place, in the wrong time, but prevailed because he was bloody lucky. Maybe he just wanted to skip stones and wrestle… or whatever it was Greek youths did to pass the time.