I am thinking for the alphabet-themed short of the Kittypillar, to either keep with the original opening that there is already an animatic for, or adding in an additional sub-title screen. This secondary title screen will feature Kittypillar crawling across the screen, it’s body in segments, each of which having a letter of the alphabet on, or just ‘A, B, C’s’.
The general idea of this post, is to delve into different ideas regarding the aspect of this Professional Practice module that focuses on my future as a creative. I have one or two ‘5 year plans’ in the works, so I’ll upload various relevant pieces to that in this article ad further ones. Here are a few bullet points of some ideas and options that I have engaged in / will be going for, during this semester at University.
COMPETITIONS: First of all, I’ve recently entered a handful of competitions outside of the University, so hopefully winning the chance to have some gallery space in the Ferens Art Gallery (http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/ferens) in Hull will open up a few more opportunities. If I win the student award for my piece – even better! But just getting into the Open Exhibition (http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=221,702928&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL) would be nice. I’ve been trying for the past 3 or 4 years and I haven’t given up yet!
FURTHER HIGHER EDUCATION: It goes without saying that if I didn’t end up doing Animation or something else art-based at University, I would’ve continued on with my Japanese language for my initial steps into Higher Education. Having a look into the options available to me for actually getting on this course, where funding is concerned, has thrown a massive spanner in the works. Not being able to receive more student loans funding, and with that particular course being in the realms of about £15,000 a year, I am going to have to look at other options for that. The basic idea I am thinking of opting for at the moment is to enrol on the much cheaper Japanese language free-elective available at Hull University (https://www.courses.hull.ac.uk/modules/1314/59061.html). Then, with a bit of networking between myself and the contacts I made on an exchange trip to Japan in 2009, try to work out some possible employment and et myself a Visa.
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
I have been fortunate enough in a few recent years to have built up a network of fascinating and exciting individuals which I can potentially produce work with. As well as several graphic novel concepts in the works, there are also a few niche markets I will be collaborating on delivering cotent to. For example, having been involved with the local wrestling scene for the past few months now, I have found individuals which have expressed an interest in producing promotional content with me – tshirts, posters, merch along those lines. I have also been recently enlisted for an artistic position on a local documentary being made by a fellow HSAD student.
CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION
An aspiration of mine for many years now has been to create and contribute towards creating a childrens book. Towards the end of last year I looked into the options available for enrolling in specific Children’s Book Illustration courses. The main one that I looked at, which enthralled me the most, is the Masters Degree available at Anglia Ruskin University (http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/prospectus/pg/childrens_book_illustration.html). After general discussion with a classmate regarding the funding available for a Masters Degree, and the location of said University, it was felt that it would have to be put aside as a ‘possible’ option.I have looked into some locally based Childrens Book Illustration short courses as well for the time being. There is a Children’s Book Illustration company which is based in Hull that I may enquire with at some point soon as well: https://www.facebook.com/MyLittleBigTown
GETTING AN AGENT The good thing about having such musically inclined and sociable parents is that they themselves have grown to know a wealth of people. In particular, their long-time friend Chris Brown, who was for many years an illustrator, employed under the Apple Illustration Agency (http://www.appleagency.co.uk/illustration/index.aspx). Providing a wide range of illustrations for different purposes and requirements, Chris is one of the best people that I could talk to regarding experience in te illustration industry. There is a possibility that I could shadow him as an artist for (X) amount of time should it be possible, and he has even helped me with building up the contents of my portfolio. Should my portfolio end up meetig a sufficient standard, he is going to try and organize a meeting with one of the companies agents in the hopes of employment.
It was a very brief catch-up session this week. We relayed several ideas back and forth to each other about where we were in terms of research and project development, and then went on our merry ways! Definitely going to be back to the grind after this coming Reading Week! I think the first thing we are all going to get cracking on when we get back are storyboards. They come first and foremost. Once we have them then we will be able to get together a definite idea of how we will link each of them together.
So, in case you can’t really read my writing in this post (this weeks notes feature particularly poor handwriting) here is everything I’ve written down:
ALEX –
Doing more research + content
Looking at visuals for motion graphics
Looking to do tutorials in After Effetcs
Series of sketching of ideas
Art Nouveau – MUCHA
CALLUM –
Concentrating on CATS work
Research
Which historical people from Hull
Symbols of historical events
Aiming to be sorted after Reading Week
MADDIE –
Taking Pictures of architecture for research
ME –
Drawing lots of octopuses!!!
Looking at individual objects character can be wielding
FOR NEXT WEEK: BUMP UP ON EVERYTHING DURING READING WEEK AND DO CATS WORK!!!
Here are the session notes which I took down during this weeks group meeting, during which be had a discussion on where we each were at on our respective projects. Since being given our group-based client project, we felt that it was important to gather together for these discussions in order to relay ideas and criticisms back and forth between each other. Having an extra set of eyes on a project is often the best way forward!
Please excuse the scribbly effect of my speed-writing! It’s still perfectly legible in my eyes, I can assure you! There are also a few little doodles in there to illustrate a few points as well. I’m particularly fond of my Bee-Lady octopus…he looks incredibly dapper!
I thought that I would use this blog post as a reference point whenever I feel the need to look back at the voice recording which I have been sent by my narrator and in-house voice actor, Shaun. This was I won’t have to listen through until I find any particular phrases, and from this, I can then go on to make a proper dope sheet by which I shall animate.
“The Kittypillar is well known to be able to eat almost anything on the planet. However, the Kittypillars favorite source of nutrition, are watermelons…eaten whole.”
“All Kittypillars that are born into this world, will live a lifetime of exactly 100 years..and for each each year they live their life, a new segment will be added to the Kittypillars body.”
“The natural habitat of the Kittypillar, are that of the tops of trees. They sleep with their bodies wrapped around the branches, and curled into a ball. From a distance, a tree inhabited by Kittypillars looks as though it is bearing fruit the whole year round.”
“The Kittypillar mating habits are something to behold. The male Kittypillar, after first choosing their mate for life, will offer them a token of their undying affection. The most valuable token a male may offer a female, are shiny things, from the human world.”
AbbieSTABBY 