TARGETS

Time Management

I think with the last few projects - this one I've been working on especially, I have struggled to manage my time. With the festive period over I would like to show an improvement in my future projects. When I am issued work I will start working as soon as I can. Furthermore, I will begin putting in 30 hours minimum in to all my work outside of college. I feel this will benefit me and reduce the stress later during the deadline.

Work Flow

Work flow is something that I definitely need to work on. As someone who is very easily distracted I need to concentrate on the order of my work and generally absorbing advice and criticism to achieve my goals. I work particularly well with tasks being listed and crossed off so I will start taking notes of what I need done and when.

Research

I feel I can be a lot more involved in my research and not see it as such a chore but to look back on to expand the variety of techniques I could use. Honesty in my research and how it could benefit my work. If I am finding it boring, explain why. I do find research to be easy since writing is something I enjoy however, I will start putting in more effort to make it more structured and less choppy.

Motivation

Motivation is definitely something I struggle with. Mental health considered, I really struggle to find inspirations and generally the ambitious will I had when I was younger. I would like to overcome these issues that burden me and bring back a more positive outlook on my work.

Confidence

I struggle to find the confidence to speak up about any issues I'm having in class. I know that on occasions that I am behind I won't ask anyone for help. I want to work towards being honest with my work and start receiving help to better my work.

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Sequential Imaging - Evaluation

During this module we had to create display illustration skills and make with three A3 sequential images.

 

We first were instructed to join the college on a trip to the Great North Museum to find three objects to take inspiration from. I decided on an elk skeleton, a spoon and the butterfly wall. I went with the butterfly wall to help further my skill in insect anatomy.

 

I sketched a few rough ideas around the object and branched off from there. The idea I settled with was to have a big bundle of butterflies on the wall before fluttering away to reveal something hidden underneath. I decided to make the first portrait would be of the butterflies sitting upon flowers then have a face amongst the flowers and lastly the butterfly woman shown from head to to hips. I did my sketches photoshop for all portraits, lined each with the pen tool and coloured it using the paint bucket and magic wand. The most attractive technique in the piece for me was the shading and lighting.I used the luminosity and overlay settings. I wanted to achieve a very shiny, almost blue vibrance coming from the butterfly wings. Looking back on it there were a lot of things that did not look how I wanted. The piece looked very flat, and especially on the last piece looked unfinished due to the white skin. 

The second piece would definitely be my favourite. There were mistakes I forgot to correct before I printed however I think it is one of the more impressive pieces. The last piece was felt very rushed and incomplete, I wanted her hair to have a gradient effect to be darker at the bottom a lighter blue on top however it made the shading on the lower half barely visible. It always seems to be a case of liking my sketch more than the finished piece and I would like to work on that during future projects.

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Principles of Animation - Evaluation

For this module we had to make an animated loop. The style I went with was very illustrative. I had three initial first ideas and went with my ‘Lazy Sundays’ idea. The piece involved the character of the loop is swinging her legs in the back and forth whilst looking at the screen of her laptop.

 

To begin with I made some rough sketches on paper – terribly drawn with pen to test the different poses and scenery I could make before sketching it out on photoshop. I then used the pen tool to clean up the line art. I did consider using illustrator for my line work but the pen tool was uncomfortable for me and therefore scrapped it and started again. When I coloured the frames, I copied and pasted the coloured layers then redid spaces that moved. Once finished I placed each frame in to after effects and placed them in order in the timeline. I also made a three-framed animation blink which was a very last minute decision which may have given it a rushed look.

Due to how badly I handled time-management I feel like this piece could have been improved with certain aspects. I should address the fact that I had completely forgotten to have the character cast a shadow on to the bed which made the piece look very robotic. There was very little animation that went in to the piece that I wanted such as different facial expressions, hair twiddling or even just typing on the laptop.

 

For the curtains I animated 3 frames and revered the order to have them going back and forwards. I found that there were a lot of things discouraged me in the last minute such as the perspective and angle on the character was wrong and it was too late to start making massive changes.

I had recently learned I should be putting at least 30 hours in to work outside of college where as I did not and I will use this as a learning curve for future projects.

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SMART targets - 1/12/17

Academic Study Skills

• Write up evaluations for each module to date
• Produce images of my work
• Conclude research in to artists and techniques

Practice Enrichment

• Attend classes and workshops
• Research a minimum of five artists
• Finish up final piece

Animation Production

• Research a minimum of five artists
• Develop initial ideas, detailing strengths and weaknesses
• Finish up final piece
• Write up evaluation

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FdA Personal Development

My name is Nicole Nicholson, otherwise known as Witchita or Witchita Draws! I am an nineteen year old student at Newcastle College's FdA Animation and Illustration course. 

I will be using this blog to document my process, development and inspirations as well as uploading my personal work and projects. I'd like to think of this as a diary to all my creativity and be able to show you the work flow from start to finish. Although I am studying animation and illustration I feel myself personally leaning towards illustration, it's one of my big ambitions to be able to write and illustrate my own graphic novels and have them published in my favourite shops.

My house style changes between personal and commercial. Whilst I enjoy horror and psychedelic themes in my own pieces, I can also adapt my style to appear more safe for work and family-friendly for brands. I am very experimental with styles, shapes and proportions and will often change these to suit themes.

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