I try to analyse different elements of reality, focusing on specific image features for each sketch.
However, my sketchbooks are not only a way of analysing the outside world. I also use it to explore my inner fantasies, doodling, creating characters and images, sketching ideas, etc.
Storyboard Research:
I've been researching image compostition, watching films and quickly drawing the frames I find more interesting.
This on-going research helps me when creating the storyboards for the project briefs.
Storyboarding:
Thinking about image composition, visual storytelling, layout and lightning is something that really interests me. Therefore, in both group projects this semester I was in charge of doing the storyboards.
On-going research and experimentation:
Each exercise and assignement that I developed during this semester was also a method to learn and develop my animation and design skills.
Secondary research: This past months I have been learning about movement, action analysis, gesture, timing, and other processes of animation and layout. Even though most of the research is done in an intuitive observational way, I find it also necessary to consult animation experts whenever I am struggling with something. Therefore, I read and took notes from some animation books (such as "The Animators Survival Kit" by Richard Williams, "Drawn to Life" by Walt Stanchfield and "Timing for Animation" by Harold Whittaker and John Halas), layout books ("Setting the Scene" by Fraser McLean, "The art of the storyboard" by John Hart), and storytelling books ("The art of dramatic writting" by Lajos Egri), aside from the continuous research for the Critical Perspectives module. I also found some interesting and helpful websites and video tutorials, such as Alan Becker's 12 Principles of Animation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haa7n3UGyDc).
Primary exploration: My sketchbooks are also a media to explore and translate every idea that I want to develop in a project.
For the lift assignement, I also decided to do, for reference, an animatic with life drawings of the key poses.
Its extremely important, as a student and a practitioner, to be in a constant process of evolution. In my opinion, the key to progress and development is research. It's impossible to create something from zero, every "inspiration" is based on fragments of reality, either conscious or uncounsciously absorbed by the author. Being aware of this, I try to absorb as much as possible, so that I can later play with ideas, situations, characters and visual approaches.