Conscious Stream

Figure Drawing For All It's Worth - Andrew Loomis - Book Review

2009-08-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Figure Drawing For All It's Worth - Andrew Loomis - Book Review

Everything you want to know about drawing human figures, from perspective to forshortening. He covers human anatomy (bones muscles). 197 pages of in depth studies by a master in his field. There are many illustrations in this book to study if you please. Someone once told me that if you want to improve your figure drawing skills or just your drawing skills in general draw every picture in the book. By then you will have improved a great deal.

But like Loomis says, its not formulas that the book gives you but the sheer courage to draw and redraw and improve your weakpoints. Very expensive book (roughly $100) and not many in circulation.

Check my other related book reviews:
Animation From Script to Screen
The Animator's Workbook
Disney Animation:The Illusion of Life

The Animator's Workbook Book Review

2009-08-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Book Review of The Animator's Workbook

Provides a variety of assignments such as walk cycles, run cycles, and takes. Highly recommended for people starting up in Animation. Extremely handy for people that don't know where to start off in their quest for animation. Great bargain since the book is quite cheap (no more than $6).

The book covers:

Inbetweening
Head Turns
Walks
Runs
Dialogue
Backgrounds
Various other effects

Check my other related book reviews:
Disney Animation:The Illusion of Life
Animation From Script to Screen
Figure Drawing For All It's Worth

Shamus Culhane - Animation From Script to Screen Book Review

2009-08-05T04:01:00.000-07:00

Book Review of Shamus Culhane's "Animation From Script to Screen"

Very comprehensive book on the Animation process, just like the title, "Animation from Script to Screen". Culhane has worked in many positions in the animation studio giving him alot of insight many animation directors lack. This book is definitely good reference for someone wanting to creating a Animation from writing a script to playing it on the screen. He does encourage readers to do 1-minute quick sketching assignments (very useful for concept artists, animators, all artists in general).

The only downside of this book is that some of the information and techniques are a little outdated, but it is to be expected since this book was written in 1988. We are in the digital/tech era.

Check my other related book reviews:
Disney Animation:The Illusion of Life
The Animator's Workbook
Figure Drawing For All It's Worth

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life Book Review

2009-07-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

Book Review of Disney Animation:The Illusion of Life

Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life is an essential book for all animators around and I daresay that it is the animator's Bible. 576 pages of Disney animation techniques history and methods are well worth the forty some odd dollars one might pay for it. Whether one desires to animate or head the production of an animation, this book gives insight to how Walt Disney created the illusion of life in his quality films and cartoons. Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life touches on literally every aspect of animating from story to character development.

The only thing that the book does not give the reader is a set of animation assignments to practice and exercise ones technical skills. The closest we get to that would be the extensive amount of pictures and examples given to the reader from animations done by Disney.

This book is a must whether or not an animator is going to animate for mainstream films. It can be purchased on Amazon for around $40, but if your tight on cash it is fairly easy to find E-books online for free in PDF form. The only reason I would want the book is so that I can take it to the restroom with me... What else is there to do while sitting on the crapper? Highly recommend buying the book rather than using an Ebook, it's not only easier on the eyes, but also much more portable.

Check my other related book reviews:
Animation From Script to Screen
The Animator's Workbook
Figure Drawing For All It's Worth

time to scrap up

2009-06-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

I have reached week 2 in my endeavor to create an animated piece but realized how mechanic the movements of my characters were looking, not to mention the already unrefined artwork that was giving me a great deal of head ache... i have found a copy of Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life and Animator's Workbook. i am currently working on developing a lifelike style ... why run with a limp when you can fix it as you walk... working hard to learn from the basics ....

here are my goals for this year..
- finish one animation that runs for at least 10 minutes
- get good enough to get an internship for Disney or Pixar

other goals..
- own an animating studio of my own with all the equipment i need
- financial independence
- learn a new language

i will do something every day that will get me closer to my goals for this year

Oscar Dent

2009-05-25T16:39:00.001-07:00

OSCAR DENT

main character of my summer project DENT: Ultra Rockstar Daredevil

If my pilot goes well i might make a series

2009-05-20T04:18:00.000-07:00

Im calling my summer project "Dent". Not sure yet what im gonna have him do yet... kind of have an idea... but im open to any ideas out there. its definitely looking good so far... methinks

Dad+pencil+notebook+20 minutes

2009-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00