...hello my name is bob and i am an animator.. apparently..

Oooh Self Reflexive-ness... pleased to meet you.

Eurgh. Do. Not. Want.

So, the handbook says thus -

"A self-reflective evaluation, both written and visual, of the students’ areas of interest, their strengths and skills, ideas and creative themes. By identifying potential themes that may have arisen from this self-reflexive folder and can be developed further, students will outline key concepts and preliminary plans for their final year."


Well doesn't that sound just peachy?


Obviously I'll go in to all this in more depth but I wanted to at least get something down that I can then build on and work from.. so here goes. I'll be writing incredibly clever and witty things about the second half of the task later.

Areas Of Interest - I came to this course adamant that I wanted to do paper cut out stop-motion animation. This is no longer the case. This seems to be because when you have no knowledge, you tend to be interested in that which you can do. You only need to look at Youtube to see how easy it is to create (an albeit crap by industry standards) stop-motion animation compared to having no hope in hell of being able to achieve anything at all as a teach-yourself Maya user. I have since had the opportunity to experience so many different forms and ways of animation that I had never considered. Now that I have albeit limited knowledge of these other forms, my interests have changed. I've found I'm really drawn to digital art.


I feel like I want to try working straight in to the computer as the break for scanning and uploading sketched tends to halt the flow of drawing whereas in Photoshop for example, I can sketch on one layer then instantly work over it in another. I also find myself drawn to the polished, clean finish and the fact no one can see your rubbings out!


Strengths, Skills and Weaknesses - I dislike drawing. I think this is mainly because I'm not instantly successful. Instead of see 'trying' as learning I see 'trying' as failing so would rather not try at all. This is something I have got to fix as soon as possible. I'm hoping that my recently discovered interest in digital art will go someway to helping this as the experience of working straight in to a computer will help me persevere with the 'trying' and thus succeeding. 


I think my real skill lies in storytelling. Being on an animation course I find it somewhat awkward to admit this but denying has yet to improve my work so admitting it can hardly make it worse! I'm not entirely sure how to progress with this in terms of animation but I feel that a more story led approach with minimal animation would suit - where the connection to the story and its characters is more important than grand movements every nano-second.


Ideas - Ah hah! Currently there are so many ideas in my head, the problem I have is how to execute them. This has always been my problem, not knowing how to do an idea justice so not doing anything at all. Several of my ideas revolve around installation, something I've enjoyed creating for previous courses and exhibitions but have yet to incorporate an animation theme. This is something I plan to look in to and trial soon. 


I love retelling popular stories from the other side, or in an unusual way. I've found examples of this in the book/musical 'Wicked' as well as several Tom Holt and Christopher Moore books. They, along with Terry Pratchet and victorian/steampunk themes provide the basis for many of my ideas. I like the idea of combining opposing themes such as new and old or childlike and gore. I like statements. I've never really liked the idea of just recycling that which is popular - I am not a Disneyphile. (sorry)


Creative Themes - Hmm, creative themes. From the last year or so I have definitely found my 'creative themes'. While I have yet to find a drawing style, which is apparently the holy grail of the art world, I don't think I care too much anymore. I don't think that drawing in one style, or over-trying to find that one style, is as important as just creating work that embodies 'you'. 


While my work may differ from piece to piece, there are definitely reoccurring styles and themes as these tend to be where I work best - why fight the tide? I love dark humour, especially in art, as well as the clash between the macabre and the overtly cute. I enjoy shocking people, but for a reason. I also love to go down routes that people tend to shy away from. Considering how quiet and reserved I seem to come across, I'm incredibly opinionated, broad-minded and 'quirky'.


I see no point in working against what is really me, it seems to defeat the point entirely. Not to mention, creates second rate work as the passion is gone.


Ta Dah!