Category: Weekly Studies

In week 4 we studied colour theory. The terminology of colour consists of the hue (the colour itself), saturation (intensity of the colour), and value (lightness and darkness of the colour). This terminology applies to any kind of scene, piece or shot that colour is included in. Combining colours together can also make emotion. Colour theory is very important in animation as colour can determine how a scene is portrayed just by the hue, saturation and value. I completed a few exercises on colour theory; about colour schemes, colour emotions and colour palettes.

Source: Week 4, Colour, Lecture video and slides, Lecture – colour-theory Part 1.mp4

 

In one exercise we were to use colour to portray this particular landscape (Image attached below) in two different emotions. To prepare for this I had to choose two emotions, and think about what colour do they portray; what colour resonates with this feeling. I picked the emotions, ‘Despair’, and ‘Hope’.

Source: https://imgur.com/h1HtIp1

This is Despair. For this piece I picked out dark, gloomy hues. I wanted to include the sense of losing all last hope, which is the redness in the sky being covered by the gloominess of the clouds. The sadness and failure feeling of despair is represented by the darkness of the scene and the subtle blue hues.

This is Hope. For this piece I picked out multiple colours that portray a positive feeling like success, freedom and joy. So I used deep yellow hues, blue hues and green hues. I wanted to picture the scene as a sunset afternoon as if its looking forward to the future with all hope. The yellow is for the joy of having hope, the green is for the freedom it leads to, and the blue is for the uncertainty/possible outcomes for the future.

For this exercise we were to use one of the thumbnails we have drawn the past few weeks, and use one of the four colour schemes to colour the simple environment. I was to think about the colour scheme I wanted to work with, and pick out colours that reflects this environment and its emotion.

I chose to work with the complementary colour scheme. Although reds and blues are quite close to each other I thought their contrast would suit the environment I was going for. It is an environment from another world based on the Constellation world, so it was meant to have a distinguishing, vibrant look to it.

My last task was to pick out images/stills from films or animations I like and create a basic colour script using block colours and discuss what kind of colour scheme was used and what emotion it conveys. I completed this in a PNG below.

Still from ‘kipo and The Age of Wonderbeasts’

Still from ‘Steven Universe’

Still from ‘Gravity Falls’

 

In week 3 we looked at Tone / Value. Tone / Value refers to the lightness and darkness of an area captured in an element. There are multiple value changes in this fundamental, such as depth (objects appear further away/blend in with the sky etc.), range (the band between light and dark colours), and texture (detail in a scene/cross-hatching, black-white tone, line-work). This aspect is very important in animation as it has the opportunity to change the form of a scene or element. This can make a scene look believable in many ways depending on the light and dark sources. I was given exercises to practice this fundamental before I continue with my world project. I was to make use of the cross-hatching and two-tonal techniques to practice with.

Source: Week 3, Video lecture – Value/Tone, Value lecture Part 1, 2.mp4

I used the example given in my lecture to help grasp the idea of making cross-hatching and two-tonal studies. picked out three interesting parts of the piece and made my studies. These were interesting to do especially the two-tone study. I have a fair idea of how the tone works in different views of a single setting; where the light shines in front and where the dark forms in behind.

Source: Atmospheric perspective – quick technique.mp4            Source of Image: https://youtu.be/VIPx-81Ll28

I tried out some more studies this time using the campus as a reference. I attempted both cross-hatch and two-tonal studies. These were fun to experiment with and really improved my skill in tone/value looking at a real life setting instead of from a drawing.

In week 2 we looked at composition and perspective. Composition is the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture, and perspective is the technique of creating an illusion of depth and space (three-dimensional) on a flat surface (two-dimensional). These aspects are very important in animation as it can make a scene more realistic and logically correct. I was given exercises to practice this fundamental before I continue with my homework. I was to take multiple photos with composition and perspective in mind. These include rule of thirds, symmetry, geometric views etc. Taking these photos had shown me that there is infinite perspectives around you and that there is composition in everything you see and use.

Source: Week 2, Lecture, Composition and Perspective, Lecture – composition and perspective part 1, 2.mp4

I made use of the rule of thirds grid to take my photos. This helped me compose them into different views, such as: my dog, Lexi on the right takes up majority of the bottom space of the image, making it the most noticeable object.

I took notice of symmetry and geometric views too. when taking images of my flat room, I noticed how its mostly made up of squares and rectangles – which represents an unnatural, manmade environment, or stability and strength. This realisation helps me understand the kind of views that are portrayed in movies – I can point out these views more easily now that I have acknowledged them.

Source: Exercise 1, 2, 3.mp4

For homework, we picked out three of our favourite animations, and drew one, two and three-point perspectives over the suitable screenshots.

I drew one-point perspective line-work over a shot from Moana. It’s easy to point out the view from the back of Moana in comparison to the view Moana sees of the sea. It’s also a nice visual of where Moana is right now, to where she wants to be.

I drew two-point perspective line-work over a shot from Spiderman-Into the Spider-verse. It was quite hard to get an idea of how this perspective worked as its shot from a low birds-eye view, though I managed to capture the building, path and road in the perspective lines. It’s a very quick shot in the movie but so much is happening in it. Etc. the crowds, the traffic, the lights.

I drew three-point perspective line-work over a shot from Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. This was also difficult capturing in perspective but I managed to get an overall idea of it. It’s a really nice framed shot using all basic shapes. Circle for the moon, square for the lorry, triangle for the tower.

In our first week of lectures we learnt about shape and form. Any kind of drawing starts with basic geometric shapes, then it develops into a life-like object with the help of shadows, lighting and contour lines to create form. Shape and form is important in animation as it is the most important fundamental to practice – it is how any kind of drawing comes to life. I was given exercises to practice this fundamental before I continue with my world project. I followed my tutors warm up exercises to bring us back to basics and improve our skills for our next tasks.

Source: Week 1, Lecture – Form and Shape, Form and Shape part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.mp4

I practiced some line strokes to see how stable my hand was when drawing, switching from looking at the screen vs looking at my drawing tablet to compare my results.

Similarly, I practiced with how I drew curved and ‘s’ lines. I moved on to the basic shapes and their developed forms. In addition, I drew in fitting faces.

I experimented more with freely drawing circles. To combine the basic shape of a circle and a rectangle, we can make the shape of a flour sack. I experimented with how a flour sack behaves relating to its weight.

For homework we were to practice studying and understanding underlying forms. I took three of my favourite cartoon characters and studied their forms. At first I traced over their constructive forms with my phone screen. I then found the characters overall shapes, whether it was circles, rectangles and triangles. Next, I brought in the shapes with contour lines and re-drew the body. This practice allowed me to familiarise myself with the character and draw them in multiple poses.

Here I have drawn Marcy from the show Amphibia. Her form consists of irregular, rounded shapes and proportions are very cartoon-like. Her shape can be described as round and bouncy.

Here I have drawn Eda from The Owl House. Her form consists of sharp, diagonal lines and her proportions are long and thin. Her shape can be described as realistic and fine.

Here I have drawn Amethyst from Steven Universe. Her form consists of regular, rounded shapes and wide-body proportions. Her shape can be described as a mix of a cartoonish and realistic form.