Newest Video: "Pareidolia" (Transformation) Animation / Animatic

Screen Capture From The Video

Hello,

In my last post I wrote about working on the second assignment for my MCC Art 202 class...a 1 minute minimum Pareidolia* Video (transforming one object into another).

Our instructor was covering the "motion and animation" capabilities of Adobe Photoshop and After Effects CS6.

He gave some quick but intensive lectures about the use of time-lines, puppet warps, rotoscoping, and key-framing etc using the software...and showed the class a variety of different animations and videos as examples and inspiration.

I was glad I had some experience already using Adobe Flash and Autodesk Maya...this gave me a toe hold on all those concepts...and that was very helpful.

As of that last post I had created the storyboards for the project and had just begun animating it.

I was planning to use photographs for the project...but when my instructor saw my hand drawn storyboards he encouraged me to draw all the elements I'd need.

Now I'm glad I did!

I ended up putting in countless hours for the final video...and was especially driven because I only had a 30 day trial of After Effects and it was due to expire several days before the project due date.

All in all I learned a ton and hope to be able use a lot of it in future projects.

Anywho...if you have a moment please give the video a look.  The video minus credits is just around 1:30 long.





Thanks as always for stopping by! 


---------------

*   A pareidolia...is when we perceive something recognizable in a random object....like seeing faces or animals in clouds for example...or the face of someone on burnt toast.

---------------

Visit http://www.jephyr.com to see many more examples of Jephyr digital painting and artwork.

Jephyr's Art 202 Photoshop Assignment: Identity Project

Image from Art 202 "Identity Project" - Copyright 2013, Jephyr

---------------------------------------

Hello!

Yesterday, my Art 202 - Digital Art Survey class had a critique day for the Adobe Photoshop "Identity Projects" we've been working on for the last three plus weeks.

A lot of students in the class are just beginning with Photoshop but I was surprised at how good many of the submissions were.  There was so much inspiring variety...and lots of cool, sometimes very thought provoking images.

---------------------------------------

As usual I really went into over-drive for my assignment and put in endless hours...and was generally pleased with end result...but you never know how it will be received by others. 

Sometimes what "speaks" to you as an artist...seems to completely miss the mark when you finally share it.

But in this case I was happy to find that there was a lot of positive feedback...and even a few compliments that would be wrong for me to repeat.  Let's just say I wish everything I did had this kind of response.

Below I'll post the full "Prospectus" I submitted to our instructor at the beginning of this assignment...but the summary will probably explain enough for most:

Project Summary: 

"This project will explore my own aging and its effects on my perceptions of life.  A series of self-portraits and other images will be shot with a digital camera and then enhanced and manipulated in Adobe Photoshop."

---------------------------------------

So If anyone is still reading...and didnt' just go straight to the images...here they are...beginning with the "triptych and quadtrych" I submitted as the Final images for the project.

 (click to see larger views):

---------------------------------------

(Triptych removed)

---------------------------------------

Lastly, as you age, you become more and more aware of mortality.

While I'm not morbid about it...the older I get the more I find myself thinking about my own exit from this planet.

Here's a larger view of The Skull Image from the first Triptych.  I took several high contrast portraits of myself and a reference skull that I have and composited them together:



---------------------------------------

And here's the prospectus I submitted for the project:

---------------------------------------

Thanks as always for stopping by!

Jephyr Posts Third MCC Declare Success Your Major Video

Hi again,

Working Towards Two Degrees

As you may already know, I've been slowly working towards both Fine Art and Digital Illustration Degrees at Mesa Community College, taking one or two classes a semester.  

Initially I was only enrolling in courses that interested me...and wasn't honestly looking for anything else.  I primarily just wanted to learn about computers and computer art, and study fine art techniques.

But more recently I've discovered that I had taken most of the core classes for those two areas of study and have gotten serious about finishing up, and from now on will concentrate on only classes that apply to those tracks.

It'll be good to put a period on both programs and then if I want to continue taking classes I can just go back to taking what interests me.

Video Competition:  Newest Video Posted At Bottom

Over the last few years MCC has hosted a video competition for enrolled students.  I entered in 2011 for both the spring and fall semester and won 1st and 2nd places respectively.

The idea behind the contest is to promote the school...which isn't hard for me to do because I've had a very good experience there and think it's an excellent opportunity for prospective students.

Here's my first place video from spring 2005:




Two weeks ago an instructor told me the contest was going to be held again this semester and sugggested I begin working on a video and so I started putting one together right away.

Last week I received an e-mail from the school saying that the contest was "officially" on.

I began working in earnest then and put in a number of hours...and was approximately two thirds of the way to having it finished.

Then on Monday of this week I received word that the school hadn't been able to secure funding for the contest and would have to cancel it.

I was disappointed...but they also indicated that they knew a few of us had already been creating our videos...and that MCC was willing to buy them.

But only IF they were finished by Wednesday!!

Now that was an offer I couldn't refuse...so I quickly finished my video...changing a few things I had planned (like a voice over) so it could be completed on time and had it posted late Tuesday evening. 

So far it appears I was the only one to take them up on their challenge. 

Here's the result of those efforts:




Wednesday, when I went to school I was paid in cash!!! 

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!  : ) 

Later I thought to myself:   “Any day I can make money from my art (including videos etc) is a good day”!

Thank you for stopping by!

------------------------------------


Stop by Jephyr.com to see more of my artwork and photography!

Jephyr: A New Life Drawing 7-16-12

Hello!

Yesterday I went to another Life Drawing Open Session at MCC hosted by the most excellent Dr. Gingher Leyendecker.

Even though it didn't start until 5 pm I was a little late.  But soon enough found a place to sit and got set up in time for the long pose.

At first, I wasn't sure I liked where I was sitting and even got up and looked to see if I could find something better but quickly decided to stay put.

I struggled to find my groove in the beginning...and early on it even crossed my mind just to pack it in.

But soon enough I was finding my way...and even started to enjoy myself.

As always I needed more time...and would've loved to keep working on this and really tighten it up.

But I'll present it here as a "quick" study...imperfections and all. 

: )

<  Click the image to see it larger

--------------------------------------

Thanks for stopping by.

Check out Jephyr.com to see more of my Artwork and Photography etc.


 

Jephyr Art: A recent Life Drawing (charcoal on grey paper)

Me again!  How are ya?!

I hadn't been doing any "life drawing" for quite a while (a year or more) and recently I've attended several open sessions hosted by the highly esteemed Dr. Gingher Leyendecker at Mesa Community College.

During the first 2 sessions (posted here May 4,2012) I felt soooo rusty...but last Tuesday everything felt a lot better.

I've taken 3 semesters of Gingher's Life Drawing classes and took her Art Anatomy class and learned so much!

I used to work very slowly but through the years I've been consciously trying to speed up and loosen up.  Tuesday I worked a bit faster and felt relaxed and comfortable...and was very happy for that!

As you might be able to tell, our model was a tall, very lean and muscular woman and so it was easy to see "life drawing landmarks" as I drew her.

Some models tend to slowly droop or shift in their pose.  I'm sure it is very difficult to sit steadily in one position for a long period of time.

But this model was rock solid!!

------------------------

BTW:  I'd be very interested to receive comments from you or have you vote in my poll (found at the top left...your vote is anonymous).

As artists we get used to drawing the human form.

But I'm aware that for some people these kinds of images may not be appropriate.

Do you think I should stop posting this kind of work on a public blog?

I don't really want to close my blog to those under 18 or label it "adult" because these studies are not mean to be sexual.

But I'm interested in your feedback about it and will certainly take into account your opinions about it.

---------------------------

Thanks as always for visiting.

You're welcome at my web-site anytime:  Jephyr.com


*   *   *