Amateur Hour

[brandon]

Here are a few sketches and drawings I've done, all in early, rough stages, so it will be easier to see my style (or lack thereof!). One is Brisby emulated from Mr. Bluth's tutorial, and the silhouettes are something I tried after reading about the importance of silhouette to your animation (mentioned in one of his wonderful books, 'The Art of Animation Drawing' or 'The Art of Storyboarding', I can't recall which). I'm still very early in my developmental stage, but I have a thick skin. Lay it on me friends, I'm here to learn.

P.S. -My current scanner is not the greatest, I apologize for the graininess.

http://www.stormythesea.com/images/animation/foxsilhouettesmallest.jpg
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http://www.stormythesea.com/images/animation/foxsilhouettesadsmall.jpg

[brandon]

And here is the collection of unpolished sketches. Brisby pose should look familiar, it's right from his youtube tutorial (Thank you Don Bluth!!)

http://www.stormythesea.com/images/animation/varioussketches.jpg

[CanAur]

I dont see your pics!

[brandon]

I dont see your pics!

They're fixed now; apologies, I'm not an experienced forum user, had to tinker a bit.

[CanAur]

The first one is perfect! wanna see more art!

[zanekohler]

I like the silhouettes. simple yet conveys emotion. I like the offset with the detail in the moon. Good stuff!
-z-

[jeremyhopkins]

Yep, I really like the first one too. You're doing the right thing by studying construction and drawing things from life.

[brandon]

Thanks for all the feedback! I've looked through all of the Gallery art posted thus far, and it's very intimidating. Keeps me working hard.

[Storyteller]

If you are an amatuer for only an hour, then you will be doing FAR better then me. ;)

I love your shadow work. Your lines on your color work are very well done and show that you enjoy what you draw. Keep up the great work!

[brandon]

Here is my first animation, a bouncing ball test with Marvin the Ambitious Penguin. Click on the 'HD' button below the video to view it correctly, as the regular video cuts out key frames.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NCqLkAjK9K8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NCqLkAjK9K8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[fanimation]

I saw it first with Don on Wednesday, but didn't get a chance to comment. I like it very much! I love the way the poor guy is trying to fly.:D I am going to work on a bouncing ball test and want to try to add something cool to mine like you did. I'll have to see how it goes! Can't wait to see your next animation test!

John

[lavallelee]

everyone is further than me on the bouncing ball!!! very nice penguin bounce, I like it alot

[jeremyhopkins]

You have a cool idea for your bouncing ball but I was a little confused when I looked at your timing. It looks like you have part of the action on 4's some on 3's and 1's.. its kind of hard to tell on youtube though. Your idea is cool and I like the idea of making the ball into a character but it might be easier to start off, for now, as a bouncing ball and then add on principals. I can't speak for Don and since I don't have the bouncing ball tutorial yet, I don't know what you're suppose to do exactly. If its close to the preview, I'm guessing you're learning about squash and stretch, volume, weight, timing, arcs, overlapping action, a bit about character and rotating masses in space. So it might help to get a feeling for the bouncing ball without the character first:
Sorry youtube cut off some frames at the end these:
jj3CoLEGJbM

Then add on basic overlapping action of the head:
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The cranium remains rigid but the cheeks on your bird can have flesh and squash and stretch:
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Then anchor the beak and eyes to the face:
savpCXkR654

Here's a link to a video without the end frames being cut off by youtube:
link (http://www.xsheet.net/pictures/portfolio2/misc/ball_head_cheeks_nose.mov)

This should make it a bit easier for you to maintain volume and you'll be able to rotate masses easier. Also if this was just a normal rubber bouncing ball, not a character, the ball would loose energy and not bounce as high for second bounce. Unless a force was exerted on the original drop that was powerful enough to drive it higher- more like a throw or a push than a drop. Also the timing at the bottom makes the ball feel more a live like its gathering moment to go back up so this timing works for your character.

[brandon]

Thanks for the pointers! I did do several of the drawings on 1's, in an attempt to create the illusion of potential/kinetic energy on the return bounce. You're right about starting with the basics, I have a tendency to want to run before I walk. I'll work on something for next week using the principles you've mentioned here.

[brandon]

A Caricature I did for a friend, just a quick affair so it's pretty sloppy. I was, however, impressed at my own growing ability to construct so shapely a head, these tutorials are REALLY helping! Thanks to all of you.

http://www.stormythesea.com/images/animation/DrZ.jpg