Who say's cartoons can't be educational?

When I was a young child my dad used to take me to Choices video shop where we rented out old cartoon series and we would watch them together. I loved the video shop... it was my version of a library only with videos! I do remember though, my dad once said that there was such a thing as watching too many cartoons (that was why we were not allowed SKY TV, he thought I would watch cartoon network all day... and I probably would have) Anyway I remember he said this to me when I was watching Hanna Barbera's Pixie and Dixie and my reply was, ''its fine dad it's educational...'' And to be honest it kind of was, as I am now doing animation at university. I am sure that my obsession with animated cartoons as a child played a huge part in my chosen career...

Any who...

Here is a mini character study I did of Witch Hazel, one of the forgotten characters of Looney Tunes. I have seen loads of people do art work and studies based on Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and all the other main characters. But to be honest Witch Hazel is one of my personal favourites from the Looney Tunes cast. I just love her personality; she is so funny and bubbly. She has such an infectious giggle and I love all of her outrageous and over the top expressions.

The Pink Panther original cartoon series was another one of my favourites. I like how every episode was set in a different place. There was no limit to the stories you could make with him. The Pink Panther is not a very complicated character, nor are his expressions too exaggerated. I like that he still gives a great performance without needing to be too extreme.  

This character is Mr Jinks from the Hanna Barbera cartoon Pixie and Dixie. The series was like a really really cheap version of Tom and Jerry. They didn't tend to put in as many key frames, but I don't think it matters. I would much rather watch something like this than any of the crap children watch today.

This cartoon did not have hundreds of expressions but they are so much richer than most modern children's animated characters.

 Then there's my character... This is 'Feeble' the fox, whom I shall be using for 3rd year final film. I really wanted to experiment with the expressions he could make. Technically I am a stop motion animator, but I have always wanted to make a cartoon. I was not confident enough with my drawing when I originally started uni. But now I am improving I would love to make a 2D animation with this character. I think his expressions would look so much better as a cartoon than a stop motion puppet.

With a few more tests I should be able to see whether my drawing is strong enough to produce my short film in 2D.

My first attempts at doing caricatures

                                  
The drawing above is my caricature of the lovely Lynda, and below is the the photo I used as reference.

       

The Drawing above is my interpretation of the beautiful Miss Evans! And below is the photo I used as reference.             

 

I have always been facinated with how cartoonists can capture someones essance with the caricatures they do. I have read that a good caricature is not achieved by trying to do a 'style' of caricature, but rather, observe particular features that define the person you are drawing, then your own style will come through. I don't think I have done them cartoony but at the same time they are not so realistic. I think with more practice I will be able to pick out and exaggerate more features so the drawing has more depth to it.

Stop Motion Traitor

http://vimeo.com/32754318

Here is the link to my attempt at animating in 2D.... I was fed up and doing this made me smile. The fox character will be the one I use for my main film next year. I just wanted to test if he could be a drawn character rather than a puppet. It's all good practice. :) Enjoy!

My sketch of John K...

It has been a while since I have done any quick portrait sketches, and as John K. did a picture of me... I thought I would do one of him :) All good practice.

Bristol Encounters Animation Festival 2011

Here I am with one of the characters from Aardman's latest animated film 'The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists'. I was really lucky to attend this workshop with Aardman's Amanda Darby, one of the lead model makers, as there were not many tickets. It was a real eye opener to see the amount of hard work and skill it takes to make these puppets. The film is a mixture of traditional stop frame animation and CG animation. I was so happy to find out from Amanda that they were thinking of doing it all CG but scraped it because Peter Lord (Director) thought it didn't have the same appeal as the stop motion look they are so well known for. The film is nearly completed, so I look forward to seeing this little pirate working his magic on the big screen!

The photo above is of myself and John K. Animator and creator of the crazy cartoon 'Ren and Stimpy'. I just managed to get my caricature done from him as there was such a demand for them. He was a really nice guy and I think he caught my 'pixar smile', as he put it, perfectly.
I remember a few episodes of Ren and Stimpy when I was a kid, but I have to say they really grossed me out. But the comedy element to them was fantastic. There was a viewing of the cartoons he had made and they were completely discusting yet extremely funny. I was in fits of giggles. The talk John gave on his love of the old cartoons was amazing and so valid. I completely agreed with him that the cartoons of the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's were at their best. I grew up on a lot of them myself watching the re-runs or the videos. He really inspired me to think about my animation as creatively and as imaginatively as I can before someone else has all the say in the creative input. He is a very funny, talented and inspirational man with loads of character.

These are the caricatures John K. did of myself and my fellow stop motion ladies, Emma and Lynda. We had a fantastic week!

Talking with Children's Illustrator Matt Buckingham

Today I had a good chat with the talented children's author and illustrator, Matt Buckingham ( http://www.mattbuckingham.co.uk/ ) . He gave me some valuable advice about how to become an illustrator. He was good enough to look through some of my own illustrations and give me constructive feed back on what I need to do to make them suitable for my target audience. One of the key things Matt mentioned was that illustrations for children tend to have a traditional look about them, even if they are done digitally. He suggested that I try incorporating more traditional mediums within the colouring process of my illustrations, that way I can add more texture and depth and then mess around with the colours in Photoshop . I really like this suggestion as I love traditional media and it is nice to be told that I don’t have to feel like computer images are always the way forward. It was wonderful talking with him and I now feel more clued in with what I need to do to be in with a chance of being successful as an children's wirter and illustrator.

This illustration was the one Matt liked best out of the images I showed him. He said that the colours and textures were lovely and added depth to the image.

Quick draw!

This is a quick 2d animation I did to test how I could animate my character for my uni animation. I enjoyed doing it but I think that for the time frame I have she will be better in stop motion cut out. I will come back to drawn animation to do some experiements in my spare time.

May it Be acapella cover

I did an acapella cover of May it be (by Enya) I do not own any of the copy right this is something I did as a practice for voice work...and I just enjoy messing around. Have a listen and I hope you enjoy!

Thanks,

Chloe.

Next job for 'The Creative Writing Society'

This illustration I did last week will be used for the Creative Writing Society's poster for Wednesday work shops. I look forward to seeing the posters around :)

Posters for ''The Creative Writing Society's Open-Mic Night''

My design on the open-mic night posters, it will be nice to see some of my work around the uni. All good practice for my design work.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Soundtrack for The Sorrow of War Brief)

This is the soundtrack for my individual animation project. The brief I chose was 'The Sorrow of War'. The animation focuses on a little girl named Edith who misses her dad who is fighting in WW2. I wanted to look at how war affected people who were not directly involved in the fighting. It is going to be an emotional piece as it is to do with war. But I will try and make some aspects more light hearted so it wont be too sad.

I re-wrote the lyrics to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, so that they were more suited to Ediths situation. I liked the idea of using a childrens nursary ryhme, as I think it will help bring out the innocence of my animation.

More updates coming soon.

My first task as cartoonist for the Creative Writing Society

This is a promotional illustration I did for the Staffordshire University Creative Writing Society's open-mic night. This image will be featured on the posters. I am doing cartoons and illustrations for them for free (as the society is free) I saw it as an opportunity to do some work to gain experience working for other people. I like that I can practice working to short deadlines whilst I continue with my animation work aswell. I am all for the practice!

Chloe

Street Sketch

                                     
This is a sketch I did using Staedtler pigment liner (0.1). This piece was done for my individual short film research. The brief I chose to do was 'The Sorrow of War''. It has been a while since I have done any sceneic work, but with a bit more practice I am sure I will get back into the swing of things.

Sculpty Sculpt

This is one of my characters for my main third year film (not due to start properly until after Christmas I think). I have yet to put up the character designs as they are in my A3 sketch book, my scanner is not big enough so I will have to scan them in Library or Uni. I will be putting them up soon. This is just a little glims at my character Febel. He will fall in love with Chicken... that is all I am telling you for now.

I also knocked up a quick sculpt for the very talented Miss Jacqui Davis. I made a reference model of her character Tafti. This is what he ended up looking like....

With any luck he helped her to doodle the 'turn arounds'. Thanks for letting me have a go Jacqui :)

More Uni related work on its way soon.

Bonne nuit,

Chloe

Bath time

Here is a little cartoony drawing I came up with (showing what we ladies must do to stay smooth) I think it would have been funnier if I did her holding a Cadbury chocolate flake... Anywho was just a doodle for the giggles enjoy!

Chloe x

Colour colour colour!

I have finally finished the colour version of my bunny sketch (based on a children’s story I am writing) I usually get bored with colouring, but because this one was so detailed I thought it was only right I should take on the challenge and be patient with it.

Now that I have done this maybe I will be able to do more detailed pieces :)

Will be posting more soon, Ta-ta!

Chloe :)

Out burst!

It hath been a while since I have posted anything... I have been drawing and sculpting and sketching and designing much more now I have the time to do it (as it is the summer holidays) Here are a couple of sketches I have managed to doodle.. They are both pictures of me to illustrate the creative mood I have been in. :)
I will be posting the progression of my idea for my third year film soon. But for now I'm just enjoying drawing what ever I like :)

Happy creating everyone!

Chloe

Barry Purves' Young person's guide to the orchestra

http://www.vimeo.com/23038138

This is the section I animated for Barry Purves' project. The sequence is animated with Tea leaves, we were portraying the sence of smell, hence using something that smelt nice while animating. The greenscreen still needs to be edited out when we have chosen a suitable background. Hopefully it will look amazing when its all edited and put together.

 

Chloe :)

Story boards For 'The Full English'

The storyboard for 'The Full English' I know that Emma and Sarah unfortunatley had some trouble with the sets, but  everyone pulled together and they are looking great now. Hopefully they will be ready to animate soon! :)

Drawing on Tablets...

I am still coming to grips with drawing in photoshop... this is quite basic but it is improvement to my other computer sketches. I hope with a bit more practice I will get it right. Though I can not help but prefer pencil and paper. Old habbits die hard. I know its good to do both but I have always been a bit behind 'techno' wise :S But anyway. I have made a start. Onwards and upwards!

Chloe :)

Assistant animator project

 

Here are some photos of the things I have been working on for our assistant animation project. I am working on 'The Full English' (By Sarah Lawence and Emma Bulpitt) as a storyboarder and voice artist, 'Never Smile at a Crocodile' (by Abi Lloyd) as a sounds and animator and last but not least 'The Money Tree' (by May Jay), I painted the backdrop for this with Emma Cosgrove.. I don't think we want to paint another leaf ever again! :)

Playing with photoshop

Hello!

Hi there! I'm Chloe and I am very new to this whole ''blog'' thing, but I am hoping it will help promote my art and animation work. This page will be personalised soon! I am just still getting to grips with using this site. Anywho will be posting something proper when I have finished ''tarting up'' my background and pictures on the page.

See you soon!

Chloe