Back To Basics Day 7 - "Immediate Future Vlog"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts! 
Day 7- "Immediate Future Vlog"

A vlog to inform you of the immediate future of the series.

Back To Basics - Day 6 "Another Look At Arcs"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts! 

Day 6- "Another Look At Arcs"


Apologies for the look of the example, it is a new style I'm trying and haven't got the hang of it just yet.


This episode of Back To Basics takes a quick look at arcs when used with a character.

Back To Basics - Day 5 "A Brief Look At Arcs"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts!

Day 5- "A Brief Look At Arcs"

This episode of Back To Basics takes a very quick look at arcs of action. This is just a set up for tomorrow where I will look further into multiple arcs with a character

Back To Basics - Day 4 "Timing and Spacing"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts! 
Day 4- "Timing and Spacing"
This episode of Back To Basics takes a quick look at Timing and Spacing and how easing can make all the difference in the appearance of how something can move.

Back To Basics - Day 3 "VLOG"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts! 

Day 3 - "VLOG 1"

This episode of Back To Basics is a look at what I want to do with Back To Basics and also who I am.

A different form from the previous 2 episodes, this is something I want to drop into the mix from time to time, just to give that human touch to the whole project.

Back To Basics- Day 2 "Bowling Ball"

Back To Basics - My way of getting those creative juices flowing! And this time I'm showing you some behind the scenes behind key parts!

Day 2 - "Bowling Ball"

A look at the bouncing of a Bowling Ball.

Creative Block and me

Hey all! Creative block hits all kinds of areas, from writers, artists, animators, musicians and so forth. It's a shame when you really want to just make something and you have no inspiration or drive. It happens to me a lot, either I lose interest in my personal projects because I have no drive, or I just can't bring myself to actually start one. Right now, I have an idea for a Lore-Breaking Fallout video based around Cats and Deathclaws. I know what I want to do with it, I just can't find that push to do it. It's a shame, because I really think it would be a funny short, and would be instantly hated by the Fallout community, or loved by them for poking fun at the game we all like.
I have another project I'm slowly chipping away on which Alnwick North fans would enjoy, the successor to A Week In Barresdale, which I have created an Establishing shot for. I've got the episode planned out with sketches and everything, it's just sitting down to make them.
Then there is wanting to learn Toon Boom...

I've found that there are ways to get yourself into "the zone" through different methods. Sometimes just doing some exercise helps. It clears your mind for a while, lets you think solely on certain areas, like, if I'm on a treadmill or exercise bike, I tend to think about the progression of story in 30-60 second sketches so they don't drag on or end before you can grasp what's happening in the scene.
But on the flip side, I walk 2 miles to work, making a round trip of 4 miles, plus being on my feet for 8 hours. When I get home, I'm physically drained and just want to sit down for a while. Animating may not be physically demanding, but when you're tired, you feel mentally drained, too. I don't always feel like drawing. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. It's tough sometimes.

Music! I listen to a wide variety of music. From metal and rock to pop. Recently, I've been listening to a bit Hayley Orrantia (you may recognise her from The Goldbergs). When really getting into animation, I like to get some metal on. Epic guitar riffs like in Iron Maiden are great for keeping you going. Lighter stuff like Hayley Orrantia and a-ha work well when you're already under way. At least, that's how it works for me.

TV! Sometimes not animating and watching some TV works well. For A Week In Barresdale, I would watch The League of Gentlemen a lot, now I have that and the Scottish comedy Burnistoun, shows which are based around characters in the same town which rarely interact with characters from outside of their sketches, save for perhaps mentions in passing.

Even just cleaning your room can help. A tidy area leads to a tidy mind. Or play with your pets. It's a fun distraction which gives you mind a break, so when you come back to working on your project, you can feel a little refreshed.

I'll leave you with a little sneak peak at the establishing shot I mentioned earlier. It's a throwback to an old cartoon, so, can anyone guess which cartoon? It was towards the end of Alnwick North's run, so some of you may still remember it.

Be sure to follow the blog to keep up to date with what I'm doing!