Bottle - Layouts

Examples of background layouts for Bottle - each element is on a separate layer so it is able to be moved around in the scene. Especially if it is an element to be interacted with.

Some of the shots are not regular 1080/920 format due to the changing screen size in bottle & also to be able to move the frame around the layout if required.

The Director will later make animation notes on this, sketching key positions & details within the frame to aid animators in understanding what is required.

Getting Back to It!

I have gone MIA since summer started due to work & all manner of other things...

BUT I've been working on my Ancient Family concept, deciding that I would like to develop it as a full bible as opposed to a short film.

Some of the feedback I received, mainly from the tutors, were that the character styling were too harsh & pointy. So I've started to experiment with different character styling concentrating on the four main characters initially.

A more cartoon like simplified approach to the family, which I also think allows for more personality to be conveyed in a way due to the simplicity of the features.

First Real Attempt at a Digital Painting...

Photoshop & maybe 2 hours altogether?

I call it, Seeing Red...

Used a Kat Von D image from Instagram as an initial reference.

Backgrounds.

Another fiddle in Photoshop playing with techniques for more simplistic backgrounds...

Practice makes proficient & all.

Based on Toronto skyline from Pinterest. 

Backgrounds Design.

Experimenting with a technique shown to us my John Gosler! 

Simply using the lasso tool to create shapes, need to work on the clouds & adding further texture... but I am very fond of the effect & would definitely work in this way. Also need to work out to create a more water style appearance...

The image is based on Patagonia, Argentina from my Pinterest.

Animation Backgrounds - Layout

I chose to base my animation background adaptation on one of Nathan Aardvark's illustrations, looking at a natural yet surreal world.   Looking at the main details - & my favourite details - of the layers of foreground & background in Aardvark's illustrations, I exaggerated & repeated the forms in order to created separate layers. For example in the foreground I used a collection of mushrooms & fungi in order to create the layer. The layer behind that incorporated the plants & more surreal details in the swirly patterned & shapes plants & flowers. The background layers consist of more simply mountainous regions & a cloud/sky layer.

I created a hand drawn version on tracing paper to give me some kind of idea & concept of how the layers would look like once incorporated - though some layers aren't quite visible.

The image to the left is the layers together in Photoshop. I think the layers work effectively together but it appears slightly busy on the right hand side, so I may need to take out some details. Probably the flower above the mushroom on the right, as most of the flower is lost anyway.

The next stage will be refining the line art & then thinking about a colour scheme for the layout. Taking into consideration the light source & how areas will be illuminated & in shadow.