Personal Development Portfolio Reflection

Personal Development Portfolio Reflection

For the personal development portfolio three major weakens were identified although they were not all regarding the honour project.

problem one: regarding Timing: from previous experiences of animating my character would flow between each motion and action. This made them always appear to know exactly what they would do next. This problem was first addressed by doing shorter animations for other purposes in my project but as a source of practice. The first turning point of how I explored the timing of frames in my animation came from when I attended Abertay's Animation Jam, in which I performed acted out parts of the performance in which myself and Tabita were going to anime. At these times I got to the opportunity to test my theory work of my project toward preparing reference for animation. However,  My timing issue was also addressed from reading books such as Timing for animation, Animation: the mechanics in motion and acting for animators, These combined with the animation jam a had me considering walk cycles and giving time for the character to think. The concept of timing benefited most from the when I conducted case studies on Wall:E and Howls moving castle in which the importance and effect of timing really stood out it was also one of the defining factors which allowed me to improve my timing in animation.

This could have been improved further by performing more smaller animation tests which explored the movements of my characters and how they develop. If I had conducted such tests It may have been possible to build up an action, reaction and interaction archive for my characters which would enhance the submission of my project. 

Problem Two: Regarding character drawing: during my time at university I resulted in the habit of only drawing the faces to the shoulder of the characters. This was a major problem for my project as I was focusing on character animation and took an interest in story-boarding. My storyboards from the first semester took a large toll in my confidence of drawing as I attempted to draw the story performed by the character. The size I was drawing at being another problem. In the second semester I was recommended to do the life drawing classes held by the university. This pushed into drawing the body along with being aware of the forms and shapes created, This was also enhanced by taking out the  Gnomon DVD's on gesture drawing, Character mentor and Force Dynamic life drawing. However as I became more attuned to drawing the body I also lost my ability to draw the faces how I used to. This issue was identified but not addressed as my drawing practice began to decrease. By this time I was only required to draw when I had an idea for my exposition. Which in occasion I could draw the face but not the body while other times I could draw the body and not the faces. Below is one of the Images, I'm most proud of from this development of traditional drawing, because the characters drawn had been in my head for years. Of course this identify my need for the exploration of drawing clothes.

Problem Three: regarding Digital Drawing, Is one of my weakest area's along with the less progressed element of my personal development portfolio. Though it was not an requirement for my project it was focused to the display and presentation of it during the exposition and presentation. There were some advancement on  getting past the artists block when staring at the bank white screen. Along with methods that  allowed me to draw by accepting how sketchy my general drawing style was. The biggest advancement being the development of my business cards in which identified my interest in treating digital painting like charcoal drawings using the air brush tool to push and pull colours. However, in order to advance this area would take allot more time that originally dedicated. The process required to adapt to digital drawing from traditional drawing and then the progression into the same level as the traditional means.  As a whole I am unsatisfied with the progression in this area it will take allot more time to develop which will also require the resolution that drawing within this medium will take me longer than achieving the same result in traditional drawing.

Some minor issues explored during the progression of my project and provided useful information was drawn from rigging concepts. As my Project involved Actions, reactions and interactions the exploration of prop rigging was explored in the first semester, However when it came to implement this into my project I had failed to achieve the results I wanted. This was discussed with my supervisor in which I was taught exactly how the constraints and tools worked when used. another similar rigging concept came around from using the component editor to help skin solid objects during the animation jam. Other areas address were Topography and Drawing smoke/mist digitally this mainly revolving around the business cards again though the smoke and mist exploration allowed me to take a interest in my pushing and pulling technique used with charcoal.

With this I feel I am more confident in my technical animation & 3D abilities along with a brighter future toward my traditional drawing.  Though this being said I will have to re-evaluate and continue attempting to break into the barrier in my Digital drawing and Painting. By breaking past this barrier it will also spell a better future toward the methods I create textures for my models and environments.