Animated Still From "Czardas"

Writer's Thoughts,
I wanted to share this animated still from "The Heart Of Czardas" with you. This is my action-adventure story. This story has been "rolling around in my head" for quite some time. It went through some rewriting. I've finally captured a good amount of imagery during the drawing board process. I really enjoy graphic novels and "Czardas" has that look and feel.

'Image-catching,' as I call it, is the reason why I work on multiple music and animation projects. There are days when the imagery for one project is flowing like a river. I like to go with the flow because it means my heart will be there and ideas don't have to be 'forced.' That's an artist's sweet spot. Key phrase: In the zone.

I've also noticed, I have more of a leaning toward projects that have some sort of color scheme. Perhaps, because color sets the mood and tone of many visual stories. I think of many movies that have such a wonderful thematic color.

You might notice the same character from "Island." Actually, "Island" serves as a back-story to "Czardas."

I hope you like the animated still I wanted to share with you.

Video Posting Soon

Writer's Thoughts,
I spent most of the week working on the "Island" animated video. The animation turned out to be a bit more involved than originally planned. The animation is what I call Pop Art in motion, as it has many visual references to popular culture, and yet each visual is part of the overall story. I will be posting the animation shortly. Meanwhile, here's a still from the project.

In this scene, my character has to chase down her cat who often sneaks out when she opens the door.

Video posting soon.

I Built A House...Almost

Writer's Thoughts,
I started out the week with several things on my list. I got to most of them. Today was out of the ordinary, as my thoughts were on a major happening.

 Here's the "how it's made" that I wanted to share with you. It's a house I built in 3D. I must say, after I finished this project for an upcoming animation, I had a much deeper respect for architects and those who build. Not that I ever thought less of the professions. My new level of wonder of their work went...through the roof.

Each of the elements in this very realistic looking house started from basic shapes. That is squares and triangles. The most difficult part was getting the correct scale. I had a lot of 'do overs.' I began from the 'ground' up. The house is actually hollow on the inside, like a doll house. I was able to place lights inside which created a nice glow, adding to the realism.

On the other projects, the music video montage I will show next week, and the work on the island story is going very well. I am looking forward to sharing it with you. As I was working today, I had to laugh at myself because the story projects I'm working on are so different from each other. But that's how I roll.  I call it "image catching." When an artist envisions something, we try to capture it before it gets away. Ideas can be like butterflies, if you don't go after them now, look how fast they disappear.

I hope you enjoy this little look at "how it's made."

Animated Still From "Island"

Writer's Thoughts,
I wanted to share a new animated still from "The Island On Ocean Ave." The animated short is going very well and I look forward to sharing it with you soon.

In the scenes above my character has just started the first semester of college and is facing all the challenges of being far away from home. Suddenly she feels lost on an island that is quickly turning into a jungle. Will she find paradise and get un-stranded?

Stay tuned....

Thank You!

Writer's Thoughts,
I wanted to start off the new week with a "Thank you" to all of you who follow my blog and my work. It's hard for me to put into words my gratitude. I know, I've said this before, but it bears repeating many times more. "Thank you." I feel inspired to press on.

Coming up this week, I have a montage of some new music videos. Also, the current island story is still in the works. I also have some "how it was made" stills to share with you. I wear many hats, not because I'm an egomaniac, but because sometimes you have to just jump in until other pieces come. More on that later.

I hope you enjoy this animated still I created to share with you. Doesn't this picture give sort of an "urban island feel?" That's how my character feels. Stranded. Her car has died and she's new in town. This story is a one-clip animation. I have a fascination with rain, so you will see it in my stories from time to time. It's not a morbid fascination. I'm not into downpours, or violent storms. I think it's the reflections on the surface that I like so much, because they remind me of impressionist paintings.

Thanks again!

There Will Be Food...

Writer's Thoughts,
 As you can see, I use a lot of graphics in my work. In this short animated film project "The Island On Ocean Ave," I just wanted to let you know...there will be food. Since this clip takes place in very social environments, around people...there will be food. It would be very strange for there not to be. Right?

When I designed some of the scenes, I had to create signs, ads, and commercials with food themes. At the time that I'm creating all this imagery, I'm also reading about Pop Art. Ironic, for sure. I'm familiar with the mode of Pop Art, but as one who doesn't cleave to definitions, artistically speaking, I never realized how much I love the style. Described as a mode of art that derives its influence from mass media, comics, movies, etc. My interests.

Andy Warhol, of course, is the first name that comes to mind when Pop Art is mentioned.  However, it is not uncommon for artists to have 'overlapping' styles. Because even the avant-garde moment that came before, affected Pop Art. So, you can see how styles past influence styles present.

I had to think in terms of colors that 'speak' food. In this scene of the smoothie shop "Smooth E's," I feel these colors convey strawberry, orange, banana, and cherry. Because they are the colors of strawberry, orange, banana and cherry...Actually, creating the 'ad' was most of the challenge and the layout of the shop.

Art is creating something out of nothing. There are times when a blank page can be so intimidating. One scene can have a myriad of tiny things that need to be created. Which is why three minutes of animated footage could have taken forty hours to create. Sometimes longer. (Depending on the number of people in the process).

I love to read and rediscover things I thought I knew. Rediscovering the nuances of Pop Art, and other expressions makes me feel like a kid in a candy store...I mean, a kid in a carrot store...Like I said, there will be food.