Oh my, how to start this one, let me see…
It really is a very fitting day to reminisce the past month as it was the last busy day of me working at the International Festival of Animated Film. The last week went smooth as butter and it hardly felt like a week to me, even though I wasn’t doing anything but working there ^v^
In any case, up to this point I am very happy with the job I got there. Even though it is not really the work I would like to be doing for a much longer period, the setting, the work environment and to be working towards this festival and then seeing and feeling it go well, really is all the payoff I ever needed.
And as a plus, I got to see some super cool animation short films! Pretty much all of which I admire for their style and execution, some very much for their story and emotion and then some for just making me smile and laugh đ
I felt more, how this new challenge with its new tasks and responsibilities helped me grow personally. So much so that I feel fully integrated into the team, which is even more saddening to know I won’t be with them anymore at the time I will be writing my next reflection and it gives me even more incentive to visit the festival again, though – as it probably will be – as a guest this time. Probably a thing for the better considering just how I underestimated how much work had to be done on my part. My hours piled up leading toward the festival and an unfortunate railway-rerouting soured the first two weeks of the month with some additional travel time each day, which took a toll on my energy. I still haven’t had quite such an available day as in the first weeks of starting my internship and it is showing in my gallery quite a bit.
While I was able to work out and finish a single project this month, it wasn’t quite as elaborate as you’d expect. Interestingly, I got struck with a very healthy dose of inspiration for a story on my first long bus ride and managed to piece it all together in a short script, which I then held back for my animation project for school. The aim being to reduce the story to a shorter and more thoughtful piece with atmosphere and a theme I identify with… which wasn’t the case for the former idea I previously wrote out and even storyboarded.
The new story focused on Zalumnee’s earlier life, how she travelled the desert on the lookout for her bodily treasures and confronting her doubts to find a new meaning in life and the path she should take.
A figure appearing in a dream of hers is this avian chimera I named Huriye – who, despitet their freakish appearance, is rather harmless and even amusing. The portrait of her preceded my intentions of her character, which is why this would be too dark and determined than I would have then found out.
It was the first full project I did on my tablet – sadly though without a successor as of now. Procreate lets me be very fruitful with detailed brushes but I have yet to find out some more blocky and clean brush sets for my more cartoony style.
The real odd thing though is that I scrapped that story in a matter of weeks and if this new one is the way I’m going for, Huriye’s character won’t even have an appearance. Which isn’t to say they won’t appear at all, frankly, I quite like them and would like to experiment more with them…
While not productive on projects, I have been filling out quite a few sketch pages and even succeeded in trying out new styles for me in more expressive speedpaintings that I can show-off here:
Sadly, I don’t have to say much about them.
The process of each was just to fill out the canvas with simple hues and deviate a bit to find a nice composition with shapes, then play around with values and layer modes until I was satisfied.
I’d really like to go more into figures with these excessive colour schemes but do not feel quite as ready yet. Will aim to divert into this direction soon though.
And there’s not much more for me to say for my plans concerning my creative doings. What’s left to address are my plans for following projects:
The next immediate thing is to finish a commission piece to be done hopefully soon. Then work on this year’s fruit hat piece – I do not plan to work on it on my tablet yet, though I already have a good concept and have been sketching compositions and poses there. The full piece will be worked on with my main system and CSP.
Simultaneously, writing my new (and hopefully final) script is in order and I will leave project needs with these priorities as I can’t quite say just how much time I’ll have on my hands.
One thing left to say is that I am aiming to be more expressive personally, especially in how I look and behave. So long have I procrastinated to figure out my appearance, the style of my clothing and accessories and I am doing it for myself, not how I think others would think of me.
I think listening to Brown Bird and Man Man the last couple of weeks while thinking of Zalu’s story and how I see myself in her, helped to unearth a part of me that I can support and shape at the same time.
I will end it here, as I am quite sleepy and in need of some good rest and relaxed routine.
Though keep your head’s up and focus on the days to come, we’re merely beginning the year and there’s much to look forward to.
With love,
~Souvillaine