Monday, April 29, 2013

#4 D4M - Update!

"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." - Hee Haw

This past week has had some challenges. We weren't sure if we'd be able to get the auditorium this weekend, which is where we're doing the audio recording and filming. Thankfully we ended up getting the dates we wanted for that! But! We needed help recording the audio since none of the group was experienced in that. Luckily Lexie said she would be able to help us, but only on Sunday, which was our filming date. So this meant we had to postpone filming because we need sound first. By doing this, it gives me an extra week to work on the sets.

Sunday comes, and Lexie can't help us anymore and Beth lost her voice and the back up singers couldn't make it. However, Erlson Neba, the pianist is still able to record and Palmer saved the day by helping us record!

So even though these tough challenges are occurring, we're still pushing forward.

I've been nervous about the sets and how we're going to maneuver them around stage. Originally, I was planning on having a back drop and move the props around behind it. Props, like the sun would be hanging in front. I'm still working on a way to do that. The sets have been painted, but are warping terribly and I'm not sure the back supports will help very much.


Here are some more sketches!






Monday, April 22, 2013

#3 Final Project

For this week, some of the props and sets are being made. Beth and Karl and I have been making forward progress!

Beth and I went dumpster diving for some free cardboard all over the city. We had some standards when it came to cardboard picking. If it smelled weird or was kind of soggy, we left it. Kroger had the best dumpster full of cardboard because it was for recyclables only. We celebrated our cardboard haul with some Waffle House!

Now that I had some cardboard, it was time to make the sets. We have 4 scenes that needed sets, Egypt, Algeria, the jungle, and the ocean.  For Egypt, we made triangles for the Pyramids of Giza and have a setting sun. The market place in Algeria consists of boxes upon boxes. The jungle has elaborate trees with moss. And the ocean is basic waves complete with a silver plane! 

However, once we started making these sets, I felt they were too simple, even though that was the original plan. I tried to add more dimension by putting crumpled paper on the cardboard trees, but after painting a little to see if it looked better I started to get worried.

The sets looked like something for a 3rd grade play. They were a mix of simple shapes and some dimension, but it didn't look intentional. It looked like I didn't know what I was doing and that I was trying to make it look elaborate, but didn't know how. 

After an emergency group meeting, Beth and Karl assured me that all hope was not lost. We just needed to simplify things and make it look intentional. 

So now, the sets are still being worked on and hopefully they turn out! 







Monday, April 15, 2013

#2 Final Proposal - D4M

For the project with Karl Allsop and Beth DuBoe we finally solidified the song we will be using. It's You Belong to Me by Patsy Cline
As the head set designer, I sat down with Karl to decided what sort of look and feel we were going with. I expressed interest in using very basic theater sets like in A Trip to the Moon by Georges Melies. 

And Karl was interested in using stylistic shots like in Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson. 
For the set construction, I'm looking at using cardboard with wooden frames for the scenes. In the song, 4 places are mentioned, the Nile, Algiers, the ocean, and a jungle. Those places will be the main sets. Depending on how much cardboard or maybe foam core I can accumulate with out breaking the bank, will decide the amount of props and scenery we'll have. 

I have a sketch I've done of the basic layout of the scene. 



I'll be using very basic shapes to create the pyramids, waves, trees, etc. It will look very obviously like a theater set. 




Monday, April 8, 2013

#1 Final Project - D4M - Proposal

For the final project in my Design for Media class, we are given an open assignment. I've teamed up with Beth Duboe and Karl Allsop.   I wanted to do something where I could explore my interest in set design and prop fabrication. I know Beth is also interested in that so it made sense for us to team up together. I know Karl has been looking for a way to experiment with lighting and color in video and what better way to do that than with 2 set designers around!

We gave our selves a perimeter of making a musical for the project since open assignments can be rather daunting at times. After searching through and watching many musicals we weren't satisfied. We all wanted to create something where we can exercise our creativity and most musicals have a set look to them which doesn't lead to much room for creativity. That's when Beth threw out the idea that we could do a music video starring her and possibly another talented individual. Karl and I both loved this idea. I love that it makes the project more personal and that we can create something that we truly want to create.

Beth sent us a list of songs that she's comfortable singing. Here are the top two songs:

Billie Holiday - Stars Fell on Alabama 

The Mills Brothers - You Always Hurt the One You Love



Both of these songs have strong imagery associated with them, which makes me excited! Also, I think they could work as duets if we wanted to include a second singer.

I've created a schedule for us to follow to help us stay on task. The project is due on the 5th week, May 9th.



Here are each of our roles. Keep in mind, some of the work will be shared.




Here are some inspirational sets and scenes:

Moulin Rouge (2001) - Awesome costumes, sets, props!

Chicago (2002) - Great lighting, makeup, set!

White Christmas (1954) - Love the sets, choreography, and costumes!


Stay tuned for more next week!

Monday, April 1, 2013

And the Oscar goes to...

In my illustration class we were given an editorial illustration assignment. We had to look up trivia and fun facts that revolved around the Academy Awards and create an illustration to go along with that.

I made an inspiration board from artists that I recently found and admire.

I did some sketching:





We were supposed to try something new and step out of our comfort zones. At first I was just making things that were a straight up hot mess, but I refined it to make it into something that I liked. I'll show you my "failure" piece. I put that in quotes because it was more of a learning piece. I learned what not to do next time and got to play around with items. I didn't settle for my first solution. I kept working at it and came up with something I'm much more happy with. 


Here is the final which is hand lettered and inked then scanned in and colored in Photoshop:




#7 Pipeline Project - Snow White and Rose Red

So! This is the final week for this project. We're screening the film on Thursday in the Canzani Auditorium, CCAD, Columbus, OH at 9 AM if you'd like to join us! The other group will be showing their film as well.

For this final week, I've been primarily making sure my crew is staying on task and headed in the right direction as far as their illustrations are going.

We're making a supplement book to go with the Fairy Tale Book Trailer! Woohoo! So I did the type and layout for that.  I really wanted the text to look like an old fairy tale book.Due to much miscommunication, I ended up creating the layout for the entire book, photos included. Apparently, I was only supposed to do the pages with the type. Oh well! I just got to practice my InDesign skills more!

Here is a little sample:

Also, I picked out the typeface for the end credits of the film:


 I love typefaces and the feelings that they can provoke. I wasn't always a fan of typefaces, but lately I've been into hand lettering. A phenomenal artist who's main thing is hand lettering is Jessica Hische. She's great! 

I also learned how to print on fabric! You have to have special fabric, but it opens up another realm of experimental printing. 


They Draw and Cook! Avocado Bean Dip!

In my digital design class, we were given the assignment to illustrate a recipe for the website They Draw and Cook. We skyped the people who created the site and their sister site They Draw and Travel, Nate and Salli. It was a great experience! The class was able to talk directly to the client and learn exactly what they like and dislike for their site. 

My friend, Jessica Ahlers, created this recipe one afternoon! It's quite delicious AND good for you! So I've illustrated it here:



Here is the link to my recipe on their website. 

Give it a try yourself! It was very fun to make! 

Sailor Superstition 3-D Illustration

In my illustration class, we were given the assignment of illustrating a superstition three dimensionally. After much research on different superstitions, I ended up being fascinated with sailor superstitions. Oh boy! They're pretty superstitious. To narrow my concept even further, I focused on the tattoos that the sailors would have. A sailor's tattoos tell the story of their life. Different tattoos mean different things.

For example, a sailor would have a rooster and a pig tattooed onto him in case of shipwreck so that the God would think he was a land animal and take him safely back to land. Also, a nautical star, compass rose,  or North Star would bring good luck and enable the sailor to always find his way home. Dragons meant the sailor had served on a ship in China. A shellback turtle meant he had crossed the equator. A full ship meant he had sailed around Cape Horn. An anchor meant he had sailed the Atlantic Ocean.

Here are some photos documenting my process along the way:

 I started off with a wire armature which I nailed to a base. I added tinfoil to build up the bulk of the body so I didn't waste Sculpey or make him too heavy! I later switched the base out for a can of baking soda.




Here he is out of the oven for the first time! I baked him at this stage so I wouldn't accidentally ruin him when I was trying to do the details. I baked him at 270 for 20 minutes. I watched him in case he started to burn! 



Details of the paint before tattoos are added. It took me a few tries to get the skin tone I wanted.






The Final!