Painting and A moment of thought.

In my last semester, I was pondering if i should take either Oil painting or Watercolor painting in the midst of my FYP. Both are heavy in workload, and expensive in materials. But definitely, the experience behind them gained will give me a new outlook on what I can do as an individual. 

But, due to my SUPER curiosity to Oil Painting and knowing I might not have the chance to literally touch Oil paintings in years to come (especially if i'll be working for a while to clear my school debts), I took that module up and went through it with a curious heart. We did 9 paintings, 3 portraits, 3 still life and 3 abstracts and thankfully they are in class done. TT I had difficulties just understanding color and mixing them, but glad I managed to learn some color techniques traditionally and the beauty of colors. Thanks Joan Kelly for teaching us about oil painting within the semester!

At least i had better views of abstract art after the entire module

As a person doing oil painting for the first time, I learn a lot about myself. I reconfirmed that I am rather Impulsive and Hectic, which is also what Hans Bacher and Hannes pointed out in the way i do my drawings, and to just Pause, Slow and Organize your heart, and Analyse what and why I am doing these works. 

And mainly not draw or create for the sake of creating, but to create Life *laugh* Indeed, these advice by my teachers are now constant reminders in my heart every time i pick up a brush/wacom/pen. Slowly, i am beginning to see myself doing better works/sketches, looking at works at a different eye and appreciating works that i never thought i can appreciate, Yes Modern Art you *laugh* 

Being exposed to various illustrators and works through lectures by Hans Bacher and Kelly too made me excited about the various possibilities of styles and art form but that is only the surface. Still, after everything is over, i hope to sink down into these worlds and learn from them more one day. *note to self* 

This new update is turning to a journal approach *laugh* Will post more on works than or words in the updates to come. So much so that an image says a thousand words that i wish to convey ;) 

Have a good remaining April!

Digital Painting: Taking Photos into something New.

Taken Digital Painting at my last semester, and today's the final lesson. TT Thank you Lord for pulling me through this and learn alot about techniques to improve/compose using photos and Photoshop from Andrew Lam, a digital artist. 

Here are my 3 main assignments and before/after images. Had lots of fun while it last.

Assignment 1 - Peace Within
*using a white background object*

I found my peace. Even if the world around me is decaying.

Assignment 2 - Soup Relaxation 
*Taking a photo and build concept around it*

Soup and soakin' = Awesomeness

Assignment 3 - Gods Seen 
*Go crazy with a concept* 
*Story - A world where you can send your wishes to the God above to be heard through mailing. The mails are then collected and sent to the mystical floating castle where the God lives by hot air balloons at certain times of the year. Every once a while, you will get to see the castle before disappearing into clouds once more, carried by a mystical whale-like creature.* It is a cool idea for a story backdrop :P

Til the next update and Happy April! :)

The Watch: Comic progress

The Watch is an on-going thesis project, a comic of a NEET called Xian, who finally steps out of his room to work as a Night Guard. But the Building he guards has something more installed for him. 

-

Currently in the midst of doing the pages and there are challenges faced in every single page. OTL But, it is an enlightening experience. One thing I always have to remind myself, not to let colors overwhelm the storytelling and its readability.

 To keep myself motivated, i listen to Pascal Campion's interview in Vimeo *laugh*. His philosophy of life and art is one that resonates within me. Here is his interview: http://vimeo.com/13387502  

Well, i will not be posting anything more of this project til after the final submission, but til then, I will post sketches and assignments done in the year whenever possible. :)

Til the next update, Happy March!

The Watch: Comic Process

The Watch is an on-going thesis project, a comic of a NEET called Xian, who finally steps out of his room to work as a Night Guard. But the Building he guards has something more installed for him. 

-

These are some of the process/page layouts made for the comic.

I did around 4 drafts to reach to the draft approved by my mentor, Hannes before heading over to color roughs, since i be doing in color (which is something I have not had the courage to tackle until now.) Under Hans Bacher in his Illustration for Designer and through this project, I have come to appreciate and enjoy Color. 

Nowadays, I am taking notice of the colors that i am facing in my own life and hope to put them in my future works to come :)

Some of the version to confirmed drafts

The process of the comic

 The color script of the entire comic- A guide

Examples: Some of the Color Rough and Page layout

Style exploration

Inspired by various artists in colors and illustrations. Particularly Pascal Campion, Lou Romano and Tadahiro Uesugi's philosophies and techniques. 

Thought about black and white/inking, but decided that the mood is best felt with colors.

Singing Drowning and the Disappearing city~

More Animation posting!

Well, been looking at my past works and these two i find are still funny to look at time to time. I hope to animate and post here in my free time after i graduate, slowly from little exercises to stories :)

Hogan singing Drowning

Disappearing City - my personal view of urbanization.

The Watch: Preproduction

The Watch is an on-going thesis project, a comic of a NEET called Xian, who finally steps out of his room to work as a Night Guard. But the Building he guards has something more installed for him. 

This is going to a super long post of some pre-production concepts and sketches done.

And now, introducing the characters involved:

Xian: The main character, the 25 year old NEET who has a cynic view of the world and life. He is a man who just gives up easily and unsure of what to do with his life, thus seeking comfort/satisfaction in the gaming world (especially MMORPG) in his room. It is until a drastic event overturn his entire world that leads him outside his room to become a Night guard.

 Character Turnaround

Xian's Development

Chen: The senior elderly night guard, who becomes Xian's supervisor. Xian does not like the old man the first time he meets him, somehow, the smiles on that elderly man just irritates him. Taking things at his stride, the smiling elderly oversees the security of the entire corporation building by himself for many years. Which to Xian, entirely suspicious.

Character Turnabout

 Chen's Development

Some of the Props used

The Others: The nightly inhabitants that 'haunts' the corporation building Xian is guarding for the first time. At day, they disappear. But at night, by some mysterious force, they materialize to a semi physical body inside the building. Consists of strong fears from the hearts of people, legends and myths (eg boogeymen, 'gods) and the spirits of the land the building is on.

Others: Some concepts

Interior Concept: 

some sketches of the locations seen in the comic

Next post: Of comic process

The Unlikely Interaction

I had fun doing this in advanced 2D module where i have to come up with characters and the expressions and movements for the duo to interact. It is a good practice on dialogue and mouth movements.

The most unlikely breakup in the zoo *laugh*

Knight Ret and the Catgon: Prologue Storyboard

Knight Ret and the Catgon: Cont'd

Storyboard of Prologue

This is a simple yet heroic tale of a Rat who is an outcast knight who seeks the evil creature Catgon, who held his kingdom's beloved Princess Elephia captive when there is no hope in sight. It is all for his beloved princess...

I did the script of the entire story, but as this is just roughly a 3 week assignment given by my lecturer, i did the concepts and storyboards of the prologue. An animatic was done for it with sounds but sadly, i lost the animatics OTL Still, it is a fun project while it last and learn what i can do and what i can improve in my skills in the future.

I really do enjoy storyboarding and comic, and there is so much i have to learn from compositions to action scenes to dramatic car scenes to love scenes to pacing. Let everyday be a learning day for the things i love and enjoy.