progress report

I’ve not updated the blog for a long time but I’m still studying something every day.

The previous weekend I’ve finally watched a couple of documentaries I’ve been eager to see:

Disney’s Frank and Ollie.
http://animated-views.com/2003/frank-and-ollie-special-edition/

Ub Iwerks hand behind the mouse
http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Behind-Mouse-Intimate-Biography/dp/0786853204/


I’m also revisiting a lot of Disney animation as well as The animation podcast. This helps to keep me motivated. I am currently working through them again and I always seem to find more in them each time I listen.

Current Progress:

Structure of man: up to lesson 53 feet videos. I’ve slowed down on these videos as I’m now working through Maya fundamentals. I’m still liking the lesson as they are a great contrast to the Walt Stanchfield lessons I’m ready/practising.

Maya fundamentals: just started work on project 2 creating the space ship. So far I’m finding Maya pretty easy to learn and seem to be making faster progress than I did whilst doing the max videos. There are quite a lot of things I like about Maya (although I miss the right click undo you get with max)

Walt Stanchfield lectures and sketching: I am reading the first of the two volumes and finding the information to be mind-blowing, inspirational and thought provoking. I’m also trying to spend a little time everyday doing at least a few sketches. I’m mainly doing a few in the mornings as people are travelling to work. Hopefully I can start to see some improvement in my sketches soon.

Other studies:
Story by Robert McKee, lots of insights into story methods, film etc.
Eric Goldberg book. Excellent stuff , need to apply it to animation now!
also looking at alot of concept artwork. Glen keanes:pocahontas and tarzan stuff in particular. really liking this blog: http://theartofglenkeane.blogspot.com