Progress

There is great value to working on something slowly over time. Years ago I was asked to create a mural. As stated earlier, for various reasons this project had been sidelined (There is new hope that it will be seen on a wall). Despite the setbacks, I continued to work on it. I added a character here and there working on it a few minutes almost every day.  

Now, after years of small updates, the image is getting closer to being finished. Still not happy with the background colors of fall and summer and I still have a number of Vermont animals to add to the Fall section. but it is coming along.

I moved the grey fox to the winter portion and I am working on a new tractor to place in the Fall. I think it will be driven by a Labrador retriever. I am also trying to decide if the cow should be jumping over the moon (not sure if I want to go that cliche).

It feels good to have this much done.

How to get through challenging art problems.

Often in illustration you come across a very complex visual problem. In this case I am working on developing the visual for the Wampahoofus, a Vermont cryptid that is a mix between a hog and a deer with one side of its legs taller than the other. This helps it easily walk around a mountain. The challenge I presented myself is how to depict it walking on level ground.

The solution, draw and test things out in sketches. This is only one page. I am getting closer to something I like, but I am not there yet.

This kind of exploration is invaluable to a strong visual concept and drawing.

Delayed Projects

A number of years ago, I was asked to create a mural for a local company. They wanted Vermont animals clad in bowties progressing through the seasons of the year! It was a dream come true and I dove into working on it. 

I had never done a mural before so I started by doing a bit of research on pricing and different ways of making a mural. I have a friend, Breadwig Ballinger, that has painted a number of murals, so I consulted with him about the project. I worked on a color rough draft to present to the town and the project got stalled. At the time the town was not approving any permanent outside art. 

It was difficult news to hear as this had become such a joy for me to work on. In response to the delay, I decided to keep working on the project as if it was going to happen. So I have slowly worked on the final illustration. It has become a passion project for me. I work on it in-between other jobs as it has evolved into a very complex composition.

I am not finished yet. I have finished winter (to the far right). I am almost finished with spring and I have started refining summer.

I do not know that I will ever see this on a wall, but I have enjoyed working on it. The process has been a wonderful challenge and I hope that it will someday be seen by many more people on a wall.

OIAF Takeaways

As usual this years Ottawa International Animation Festival was incredible. Here are a few of the things that were said in the panels that really stood out to me.

During the Advice from Animators Panel Sam Gurry told us to not try to quantify our work or put a price on the work we do.

 

José Pou shared his experience of being a security guard when he couldn't find any animation jobs. He said it was hard, but he learned that there is no shame. We should not be shamed by the work we do. This was one of the greatest take aways from the event.

Chris Rutledge reminded me that we need to finish things. It doesn't need to be perfect just finished. I love that way of thinking.

In another session, I loved learning about the development of Wild Robot. Chris Saunders, the director, made the comment that “Abstraction brings believability”  He was referring to what they learned by trying to create a computer generated forest that was as beautiful as the backgrounds in Bambi. 

I also liked his insight as to why there are no mothers in Disney films. “Mothers keep adventures from happening.”

Latest Project

In between family time, I have been working on the illustration forThe Vermont Children’s Theater production of Elf Jr.

Still struggling with the hands.

Process

I have been slowly working on an illustration for Northern Vermont University's Lyndon Faculty Exhibit entitled North. As a colleague said, “You illustrated yourself into a box.” I gave my self a difficult challenge visually and after many thumbnails and roughs finally figured out a good way to compose the image. It was not easy and I wanted to give up and change my idea a few times. I am glad I stuck with it.

Now on to studies and the final.

This and a number of my past illustrations relating to “North” with the other Visual Arts Faculty work will be on exhibit in the Quimby Gallery starting November 27 at 6 pm until January 18th

100 Somethings: Blue logo 16-20

I am posting these in the order that I created them. I find it interesting to see the process of how one idea influences another. How in the design process we also pull from past ideas and create variations of a theme. The concept of pushing complementary colors and opposites and then reversing the letters to emphasize the idea would not have happened had I not initially thought of doing a logo for the color blue using orange as a color.

Bow Tie Gal of the Week

Hen (hen)

I am working hard on getting my work out to publishers again. I have found that you cannot wait for the time to do it. If you do, It will not happen. You just need to make the time and get it going. This was part of a submission to a publisher. I was working on the cover letter last night and Julia said I needed a chicken with a bow tie. Personally, I think chickens are foul, but I had to agree that it needed one. Despite my feelings about the bird, I loved drawing it (much easier than cows).