Sunday 10 February 2013

Tests and Experiments

I will be doing a semi-animated advert that will be between 30-45 seconds in length, showcasing dramatic scenes from my own comic series. The main program I will be using for speedpaints/panelling is Photoshop and for the animation itself will be After Effects. (I will go on even if it keeps crashing even if it's my nemesis! I won't let it defeat me!)

So for the little tests im doing a few speedpaints of personal characters to test out movements and effects. Currently having a look for tutorials to resemble flowing wind in hair, smoke, fire, breathing within static images. Not to mention dynamic camera movements to give off an action filled advert so this will all come in handy!

So here'll be a little (long) list of tutorials I can refer back to, think of it as a bookmark so I don't lose them in the future!

- http://irfanrasyid.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/fire-and-smoke-in-after-effects-part-i.html (For some reason the images aren't showing up, not sure if it's just my bandwidth playing up which happens when I have the net open and photoshop at the same time... So will have a look at it in uni.)

- http://irfanrasyid.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/fire-and-smoke-in-after-effects-part-ii.html (Second part, same thing is happening as the above.)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc-eU6FbAAo (Very helpful video!)

- http://ae.tutsplus.com/articles/news/creating-smoke-with-cc-particle-effects/ (Effectively, i'll be testing smoke first, as there's a quick shot of an explosion/fire!)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0chai-EkBY (This will be ESSENTIAL for the end where the title of the story appears. Well afterall the story is a branche from The Smoker's Syndicate: Mafia series.)

With the New Year comes new things!

2013, quite a big year for everyone on the final year animation course, as we're all doing our last final module, and you could say our most important projects! We're also going to finish university and go into the big world hoping to get jobs we've dreamt about!

So with the last module, I will, as per usual change my blog background and header to connect with  my personal project which will become both a pitch and hopefully project I wish to relay to publishing companies. So yes, in fact I hope to use this module to hone in on pitching skills to sell my skill and ideas to get a job in the comic business and one day publish my own stories!

Sunday 7 October 2012

The TOP 5

While doing research on my AoP I came up with a 'TOP FIVE' with the first artist being for my case study, here is a mix of comic artists and concept artists alike. (In no particular order!)

1. Alessandro Barbucci/Barbara Canepa:

Two Italian/French comic artists who focus mostly on Bandes-Desinées (French, or francophone), they collaborate regularly together creating the reknowned series called Sky Doll and even the Disney comic and animation series called W.I.T.C.H.

Warning, these blogs are in French:


-Alessandro Barbucci

2. Cristophe Arleston/Didier Tarquin

Arleston, a french journalist and writer, collaborated with Tarquin, a cartoonist and comic artist, whom both created one of the most well known series and compact world in BD history. A world called Troy (pronounced Troie), they specialised in several series with the main character named Lanfeust, of which, the Comic magazine was named after and sponsored by Soleil Productions.

Warning, this site is in French:

-A list of Works written by Arleston

3. Olivier Ledroit

An artist and also another French comicbook artist who focuses in traditional media (paints and inks) rather than digital. He has also worked for games companies doing concept work and cover art, a notable one being 'Heroes of Might and Magic V'. He has a unique style to his character, and detailed backgrounds and designs with striking atmosphere.

Warning, this site is in French:

-Olivier Ledroit (has not been updated in a while)

4. Ryan Church

A notable concept artist who has done pre-production for several  (many) big blockbuster films, such as: Star Wars episode II and III, John Carter, Transformers, Star Trek (new) and War of the Worlds to name a few. He focuses on object/vehicule and scenery concepts including diretcing and guiding Matte painters for films, his concepts tend to be the final design with hyper realistic detail. His sceneries all have that certain uniqueness that give the projects' worlds originality and memorable scenery. He is currently dabbling and using 3D media to do concepts for the more recent films (John Carter for one).

-Ryan Church Official Site

5. Android Jones

Co-founder of Conceptart.Org, Creator of Alchemy (Art program), concept artist and live art performer, he is one of the most well known digital artists in the professional world. His art has symbolic and unique style using shapes, lines and colour to bring out the focus and narrative of his works where his unique style is recognisable globally. His open and creative attitude gives his artwork, scenes and concepts have that little bit extra turning a detailed image into a more modernised form of illustration.

-Android Jones Official Site



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As  wish to work in the Francophone comic book industry, I've looked up several publishing companies who either have a list of what they want or guides:




Editions Bamboo

And countless others...

Friday 28 September 2012

28/09/2012 References (AoP: Concept work, Character design and Storyboarding *post-uni career: Graphic Novels*)

Digital Painting: Tricks & Techniques by Gary Tonge- Impact Editions
 -Matte Pantings and quick landscape concepts

The Art of World Warcraft: The Burning Crusade- DK Publishing, Inc.
 -Compilation of concept work, including landscape, characters, storyboard for ingame cinematics and other concept work

The Art of TES: Skyrim (Included in the Collector's Edition of the Game itself, mo publishing details)
 -Compilation of concept work, including landscape, characters, storyboard for ingame cinematics and other concept work

Making Comics: Storyelling secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels by Scott McCloud- Harper
 -The basics of Graphic Novel creation, including design work, proposals to publishing companies, tips on narrative and script.

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