Reflection

Strengths
I plan. Maybe that's also a problem area, but I make sure that everything gets done in a timely manner. I also make a lot of thumbnails.

Compared to last semester, I feel more comfortable with After Effects. Last semester was all about learning on my own, trying to understand the program. Now, it's interesting to see that I can actually show people what I did in After Effects. I can actually see myself growing from using this program.

Storytelling is, I feel, one of my strengths. I have a lot of fun creating stories and ideas that it feels like a strength. 

Problem Areas/Improvements
My problem area for right now is trying to manage my time in a way that I also benefit. I know I'm at that point where I get so stressed that I feel myself getting physically sick. I know it's possible to be less stressed, heck maybe even not at all, with school and life. I remember last semester, I was working at an internship, but I was so calm. But right now, I feel like everything is in chaos.

I also feel like that I need to actually be quiet during critique. Not because I don't feel like what I say is invalid, but because I feel that other people might have something to say and I'm disrupting their thoughts.

Even though I make a lot of thumbnails, I wish they were more "complete". They're really rough; it would be difficult to show someone my thumbnails and for them to understand right off the bat. I wish I did more complete storyboards.

Process, Discoveries, and Frustrations
I continuously find myself to be awed by After Effects character animations. I prefer drawing out a character repeatedly that makes sense rather than rigging a character.

That being said, I still have fun rigging a character. Especially when it comes to reference footage.

I have a lot of fun messing around with After Effects.

I panic at short deadlines.

Thumbnails and storyboards are my jam.

Also I liked doing stuff like the audio spectrum video.

Final ideas?
I don't know. My first thought was something that involved storyboards. A short story, definitely. OR maybe I could do something with really cool effects? I'm not sure. Have some cool videos instead.

[Project 2] Let's try again

So, I panicked. I wasn't entirely sure what to do when I was given the assignment "create a portfolio piece". The possibilities are endless that I wasn't entirely sure what to do. Should I make a character animation? Should I do something with amazing After Effects effects? Should I do something for my BFA, even though I'm not 100% sure what it could be? I mean, it was really daunting. And it still is! It was like this high expectation of a good quality piece that affected my mind.

I don't know why I decided to do type. I mean, I was interested in typography, but I'm not entirely sure why I decided to go this route since I feel that my type is one of my weaker points. I was really stressed at what I could do.

And I think it shows in this video. I can see the errors in this video. I'm not sure about the circle border, I didn't like how it panned up at the end, but maybe that's just it. Maybe it is a good thing to just do something and get something out there. But I still have no idea how it will fit into my portfolio.

[Career Services] "Building a Freelance Client Base Pt 2" Notes

FREELANCE
-using artwork as a communication tool

Non-profits excellence
(communication helps spread message, but it's usually thought of as the last thing. It needs to be the first: in order to spread awareness and gain aid)

Turn your art to serve other purposes

Different non-profit organizations:

• BRIDGES: empower youth to make a change
• ADV MEMPHIS: for adults to acquire knowledge 
• "A human being always want to make honest money"
• MIFA
• OPERA MEMPHIS
• BADDOUR CENTER

Art assets for collateral (prints, etc.)

• infographics (data rich society, visually rich)
• artist illustrations
• keep and use (prints and web)
• concept stock photos that aren't THE WORST

Examples: Pollen (thisispollen)

Overton Park partnership?

Tiers for alumnis and current students?

"doodle with direction"

provide opportunities for teams

[Project 2] Video Test Cont.

Tutorials: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/planet_explosion/
http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/shockwaves/

Planet design by Amanda Millman

I was really excited to make a shockwave explosion. It's really cool how you can make an explosion with polar coordinates and fractal noise. But once I made it, I realized how I could also incorporate it into the exploding head that Elyssa did. So I combined the two techniques into one video. I also realized that when using the CC Sphere, it's a smart idea to precompose the image so there isn't that odd line when you rotate the planet.

[Project 2] Video Test

Video tutorial: http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/playlist/motion_design/advanced_spin_fx/

While looking at the tutorials, this one really caught my eye because I was interested in how videos synced up to sound. I didn't realize it was really simple (Effects > Generate > Audio Spectrum). This tutorial is actually a cool way to show how effects being multiplied several times can make the video look more complex than it actually is. I think the coolest part was learning about the glow panels. Making the panel itself is pretty simple (having a solid then duplicating it, applying the fast blur layer on top to make the light effect). Overall, it was a way to apply masks, paths, and blend modes in a really creative way.

Skype Interview: Evan Cagle

Art Director of King's Quest

Background

• No school (self-taught)
• parents thought art style wouldn't be unique if he went to art school
• Moved around a lot (journalist dad)
• born in Houston, TX
• went to high school at Austin, TX 
• last two years of high school, did an illustration advertising program
• no desire for advertising
• early days for computer art
• later interned in Oregon for 3 years
• cobble stone digital art

Portfolio = Pen/ink work; watercolor

Moving = GOOD; part of industry?; tied to work better

Art Director

• works with 10 artists (evenly split between new artists and experienced artists)
• when looking at hiring, interested in
• how people do it
• their curiosity and willingness to experiment
• mess around with different softwares
• no committed style
• generic stuff can give you jobs, but how does it make you stand out?
• think of balance
• mix it up; tired to see repetitive art
• wide range
• helps with productivity
• some don't draw, but he dislikes that; he also creates art for games
• leads, don't prevent him from drawing

Interested in stories, not so much puzzles

MODELERS

• low poly work, for game aspect
• what you envision; what you want to see in a game
• reality and functionality

ALSO, when doing art, if you're doing medieval work, don't just look at medieval armor and things related to medieval times; look at the most unlikely source for context and mesh them together

• the contradictions makes the piece interesting

[Career Services] "Internship Orientation" Notes

INTERNSHIP
What do you want to learn? (keep the objective in mind!)
Work environment? (big = single task, small = broader tasks)
Benefits?

• Exploration
• Experience
• Connections
• Professional Skills
• Builds up CONFIDENCE 

Criteria

• 2.5 GPA
• Career Exploration (what do you want to do?)
• Job Manager
• Talk with Advisor
• Faculty Recommendation

Career Connections (Sell yourself)

• still can use as an alumni (recommended to use after 1-2 years after school)

Resume Workshop (2/11)

3-5 Sites 

Social Media Clean up

• Grandmother theory
• engagement and integrity

Ferris Scholarship

• $2500 cover expenses
• 3 hour studio
• High Profile Intern Outside Memphis

[Project 1] Jesse - FIGHT ME

[Career Services] "Building a Freelance Client Base" Notes

Licensing - outlet for artwork

"Think of the end in sight" - think of the end goal as you're doing the work

Think about usages for images

• typically think of them for a single purpose
• consider multiple uses
• contracts?
• limit what the image is used for?
• consider the amount of time that it takes to create a piece of work
• can't be a constant machine, can only crank out work by so much
• multiple uses will help get more money to you (i.e. putting stuff on mugs, posters, t-shirts, etc)
• sites like this are RedBubble, Society6, Etsy BUT they're aimed at a small audience

Licensing, selling rights to images

• typically character licensing (Batman, Mickey Mouse, etc.)

SURTEX SHOW

Buyer Market Place

Licensing firm

(Overall, it was discussing the benefits of licensing to the artist as they haven't built up the trust in their consumers as other market brands have. By having the brands redistribute the work, the clients buy the artist's work because they have a trust system with the said brand. It benefits both parties.)