LAUAN 603 - Extended Practice Post 4

This week I was planning to wrap up Petra's backdrop and start on layouts for Tamara but I totally underestimated how long the designs and prep for the laser cutter would take. This was due to the dimensions of the backdrop, 90x55cm, ie, massive. Tracing each individual layer with the pen tool on Illustrator took all week. This has left me marginally behind schedule and despite being ready for the laser, I will need to push to catch up this month with Tamara and Devon's projects.
However, the plus side of this is that I am now extremely friendly with the pen tool- a mysterious beast that quite frankly, previously I was scared of. It is completely necessary for the laser cutter and so this practice has been useful.

This week I will be pushing to complete layouts for Tamara so they can begin animating. Likewise, I need to complete Devon's cardboard sets asap so they too can start. I feel I could have used my time for practically in January and taken the time for development and experiments. Nonetheless, I will amp up the drive this week to complete tasks.

Development for the backdrop: 

LAUAN 603 - Extended Practice Post 3

This week I spoke to Petra and clarified what she requires exactly. I will be making her a paper cut out backdrop for her stop motion set, set in a forest. I'm predicting this to be a quick, simple and effective task that will contribute nicely to my portfolio. I will make a layered silhouette backdrop, lit from the back. Inspiration coming from animators like Lotte Reiniger. I've booked the laser cutter for a weeks time to make sure I work quickly.

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Also, I mostly finished my initial theatre model for Devon's set this week. After running it past her, there a few changes that need to be made eg, adding steps, a roof and a couple of walls inside. We discussed paper colour choices and so I should be ready to start experimenting this week. Also concerning Devon's theatre, I opened Maya and learned about modelling tools, UV editor, CV tools while re-familiarised myself with the interface. The learning curve is steep and can be hard to grasp but it is extremely useful to learn how to marry digital and analogue- as I learned from COP.

-pic of cardboard theatre
-pic of maya lamposts

LAUAN 603 - Extended Practice Live Brief (2): Window Art Brief

The Barker Proud Love window art brief required an eye catching illustration to be feature on a window of a diss-used shop in the Queens Arcade, Leeds. Its purpose would be to promote shopping in Leeds and attract potential retails to the empty lot. Set design can extend to retail shop front displays and therefore I thought this brief could supplement my practice by potentially giving me the edition of another employable skill. Although I have never illustrated on a window or made a mural before, I felt that this was something I would be capable of. I also chose this brief as the prize money was £300, therefore partially a financial decision. 

After having read the brief carefully and considering my audience, I began developing a design. To implement this design I would use window markers and therefore kept my colours to a minimum. Through exploring with a chunky marker and black pen I developed a final design idea. I hid Leeds retail based imagery within the design and thought about which businesses the lot is being advertised to: potential hair dressers, coffee shops etc. I aimed to create something expressive, fun and busy that would not only catch the eye but also force the view to move around the image in search of the shapes and forms- slightly like an optical illusion. 

The design and illustration took approximately two days to develop and finalise. Therefore, if I were to charge for a similar commission I might charge for three full days, two to design and one to translate onto the window. Therefore the £300 prize money was roughly correct for my time spent.

However, my submission was not successful. Despite also submitting design variations, perhaps I created something that was too busy, verging on being unclear. Additionally, to elevate my submission further I could have presented the images in a more appealing format such as a well designed PDF book. This could have encompassed a concept of how the design may look on the window by superimposing the image. Perhaps this higher level of attention to detail would have won me the breif. Regardless, I am very happy with the outcome, enjoyed the process and explored drawing in a new style. It was great practice working to a brief and creating ideas surrounding a specific topic. 

From this brief I have learned about pricing my work. Estimating prices is something I struggle with greatly therefore this exercise proved that my rough estimation was correct. Additionally, this brief helped me realise my interest in design for retail. This could be a great addition to my set design skills and expend my employability options. It helped me notice a skill that I feel capable of.

Words: 456

Sketch Book Development 

What I submitted: 

Design Variation Sheet: 

Final Concept: 

LAUAN 603 - Extended Practice Post 2

The first week of term, the first week of the decade! I took this week to unscramble my brain, get back into the creative spirit and get organised. Here's how my extended practice is looking so far:

1. Tamara's music video, Due : End of Feb 
I spoke with Tamara about exactly what she needs: a selection of 2D under the sea backgrounds, featuring lots of textures and different plants with a dreamy, flow-y feel. I'm going to get creative and scan in some textures of fabrics and learn how to make photoshop brushes from them. I think this will be a great bit of learning for my background design development.

2. Devon's short film, Due: End of Feb 
Devon's short is set in an old theatre which I will be making for her out of paper. I will make the sets out of cardboard firstly to understand the shape. Then, I'll experiment with different colours and textures of paper to correctly portray the decaying building. I'll work closely from Devon's concept art and will try to be as resourceful and sustainable as possible in my execution.

3. Petra's short film, Due: TBC
I am due to have a chat with Petra next week Thursday to get clear on what she needs but so far I understand she wants a paper backdrop for her stop motion short. Initially, I'm thinking all white paper cut out (which I'll laser cut), layered to create depth with the silhouettes, possibly lit from the back?

4. My own set (& atmospheric short, maybe) Due to start: Beginning of March 
Although this is taking a backseat for the time being, I will still quietly generate sketches for my own set during Jan & Feb. Currently, it'll either be a supermarket or a nature based scene. I'm aiming to have this wrapped up within two months and will be making a time plan ASAP to be sure this is possible. I do know however (from COP) that I've got to get familiar with Maya for this task.

For the time being, I emailed all the best stop motion studios I could find to ask for a studio visit: McKinnon and Saunders, Factory, Animortal, Passion Pictures, A+C, Aardman and Loose Moose (who were to first to reply, with a no, unfortunately). So hopefully at least one will confirm!

Overall I think I'll have a good 2&3D environment design based portfolio by the end of this module, featuring work on other projects and my own. There's some interesting learning to come too which hopefully will give me employability points. (thumbs up)(for now)