Dadu Shin

I really admire the illustrations of Dadu Shin and really enjoyed reading this interview where he talks about the process of making his work. I enjoy looking at artists' work in process. Things are still unrefined and the emphasis is just on putting down an idea.

Looking at Dadu Shin's sketchbook pages made me realise that I haven't used a proper sketchbook for a very long time. I find them quite intimidating since often I feel like I am ruining nicely bound sketchbooks. Usually I prefer working on cheap A4 printer paper. Working this way has it's advantages since I can then spread out all the sheets of paper which I find particularly useful when I'm working on ideas but often I end up loosing them. I also miss working on bigger surfaces (not massive, maybe A3) and also doing observational drawing. Something tells me that I will soon be making a visit to the Seawhite of Brighton and buy some cheap (definitely less intimidating than Moleskines) sketchbooks.

Shiva and Vishnu

I've been doing some research for a narrative I am writing and found these beautiful images. The first one is Shiva and Vishnu as one being and the second one shows the Trimurti (Hindu Triad) - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - with their wives. In Hindu philosophy Brahma creates the Universe, Vishnu protects and Shiva destroys it.

I've also been looking at beautiful yoga poses to animate and have to admit that the handstand scorpion is one of my favourites. I have asked my yoga teacher whether she knows anybody who can perform this pose so that I can observe how one gets in and out of it and it seems there is nobody in Brighton. I could always use Kino's videos as references but it would be nice to see it from different angles. I definitely find it one of the most impressive and visually interesting yoga poses.

Website update

I have updated my website with new work. Still need to add my show reel but I think I will create another section for it. Take a look here.

I've spent most of today doing a storyboard for an animation I want to create. I thought I finished the storyboard last week but I realised I'd have to spend at least a year animating so I am editing it at the moment. Animation and interactive stories need so much planning. I want to do an illustration before I start such a big project.

Planning

Still working on this interactive project with a friend...it is getting there though! Usually I don't plan everything but I haven't got a choice now since I have to explain to my programmer friend what my ideas are and how I want things to work.
It is so rewarding to see my work becoming interactive!

What is missing?

My friend Raissa sent me a link to this amazing website called 'What is missing' about our impact on other species. I found it incredibly inspiring since I am working on a narrative on a similar issue for an animation. One of the most useful links on the website is the 'What you can do' so do click on that. Beautifully made and incredibly informative.

3D Max Robot tutorial

I feel like I am doing 1000 things at the same time. One of those things is  this 3D Studio max Robot tutorial. It's taking me ages, mainly because I do it between other things and usually avoid it because I find it tricky. I find all these 3d software words like lathing, lofting, splines, vertices, polys etc very entertaining!

I am also working on a narrative/storyboard for a new animation while getting rid of a lot of my unnecessary stuff since I will move to London soon. I love giving away my stuff. It's one of the nicest feelings in the world. I used to keep everything, decorate every surface, but after moving a couple of times I realised what an amazing thing it is to own very little.

But for now I will finish spline modelling the robot's head.

Showreel 2012

And here is my 2012 Animation showreel...Enjoy!