Saturday, August 29, 2009

New Cat in the Bag


Look at what breezed through the door today! Why it's none other than Apple's lastest OS or Operating System - Snow Leopard. Named so because it's mostly refinements from the last OS - Leopard (out in 2007), pushing Leopard to its best! :O) What a pleasant surprise to have received it earlier than expected through the mail!

I'm personally looking forward to the innovative chinese character input and the all new Quick Time X. We'll soon see if I get smoother workflows!

Growl...!

Friday, August 28, 2009

The Bouncing Ball

Today, I created my very first 2D animation! How egg-citing!! Titled the bouncing ball, this exercise teaches about time and space - how the spacing between each illustrated ball is so important to creating the illusion. I also practiced the concept of squash and stretch! Will continue to refine this piece next week!

On another note... I spotted two people within a 1 km radius who have the exact same Mickey Mouse ID lanyard as me! How interesting!! :O)


I don't know how to create a loop in Blogger, if you do, let me know...

Thursday, August 27, 2009

One week

It's been a week at ESDAS!! I'm beginning to see trends.

Firstly, ALL classes complement each other - Maya class will remind us how important anatomy drawing is, Anatomy lessons points at the basic construction in Sculpting session, Art History is a prelude to Design Fundamentals and yet we can draw references from the past, etc. The clear fact that everything is so intertwined with one another makes learning more fun, knowing that you're doing it collectively! I so love it when I see connection to everything. :O)

Secondly, which is also similar to part one, but a more important discovery is that I might have taken all these classes before. They might not have been at the same professional level, but at some point growing up, I am beginning to remember what I did as a kid. From cartoon drawing classes at the local community centres (now known as community clubs), to clay sculpting, water colour painting (I see this as the precursor to the modern digital illustration on the drawing tablet), etc. Almost as if what I took back then was preparing me for now.

Instead on dwelling on this for too long, I shall just enjoy the unfolding of the next two years. Below is from the concept part of my aptitude test. A scene was staged and I was asked to add in 10 specific objects. Let this be the "before" image that will benchmark my progress, if any... :O)


The used car salesman's office

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Stage

It's been three days since lessons proper began and am absorbing the atmosphere and calculating and figuring out how to maximise the next 19 weeks. It's a little early to comment on the instructors and my fellow classmates, but I have a feeling it's gonna be one heck of a ride, especially when the projects start flowing in.

Tomorrow I will begin my drawing lessons, both still life and anatomy. It's great that I'm slowing getting into the routine of sketching again. Yes, that's been awhile!


This is The Stage. It is where most of my lecture base classes will be held at... and YES! We get to sit on the floor! :O)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

RRRingggggggg...


Cohort 6 at Eggstory Digital Arts School with CEO, Nickson Fong

Lessons proper begins today! Last two days were spent on getting to know our way around the school, meeting our wacky instructors, crazy faculty, fellow mates on the journey.

This picture reminds me of the kids in A-113: Cal Arts Animation Class, 1976. We're no were near where they are now... but definitely aspire to get there! Recognise anyone in the picture?
Check this out! http://www.flipanimation.net/FLIPcoverissue16.htm

Sunday, August 16, 2009

From mouse back to pencil

"All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go..."
It doesn't make sense to continue the song so I'll leave it as is.

In awhile, I begin my life as student of a craft. It was fitting that I just completed my last official project - photographing an 80 year old birthday party! It was indeed a very happening celebration with a jam-packed entertainment programme, from opera face mask changer, to an award-winning chinese flutist, a mobile caricaturist, watching a nine year old pianist play Allegro Assai... just to name a few of the not so common birthday or wedding performances.

What an honour to be able to get my caricature done! I've NEVER seen anyone sketch with two pencils simultaneously before! Not only that, the caricaturist did a silhouette cut-out for me! I think I was the only one who had the privilege of having that done! How neat! I've always admired the silhouette cut-outs at Disneyland Silhouette Studio at Main Street! :O)

And even more fitting is the notion of me going back to the basics in the next few months... literally back to the drawing board! :oP Tomorrow begins a new egg-citing chapter so keep me in your prayers!


Sketch by Welles

Friday, August 14, 2009

Big Toys for Big Boys


The Singapore Toy Convention 09 in on again at the Suntec Singapore! This year's star of the show would unmistakably be Brian Bolland, known for his famous Batman: Killing Joke! Maybe he did bigger things, but what do I know about comics? I was there to support my friend Dominique Fam. He has a couple of art pieces on display and is a fantastic illustrator!

If you have the time, go check it out this weekend!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Disney's Rapunzel

Last week, Walt Disney Animation Studios released these conceptual artwork of their Christmas 2010 release of their 50th animated feature. The style is based on Jean-Honoré Fragonard's The Swing and animators at Disney will be using CGI tools to create the traditional hand drawn look like how it once was in the 1950's.



In the Animation process, Conceptual Art is at the very beginning. This is where style, feel and look are brainstormed and anything from pencil sketches to full blown artwork are rendered for the rest of the crew and team to have a direction.

My days back at school will probably begin with the basics of animation: figure drawing, still life, sculpting, etc... all of which will allow me to create my very own conceptual art pieces some day!

T minus 5 more days and counting... :O)

Monday, August 10, 2009

Andy pee bunga api



This is my first time within a 1 km radius of the NDP fireworks!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Happy 44th!



What do you expect from the 2009 National Day Parade Song called "What Do You See?" Nothing more than our local brand of humour by Mr Brown and his band Electrician. :O) Thank you for the laughs! We need more laughter in our lives!! ;p

... And thank you Lord for this young but awesome country!!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Table Fellowship


The past few mornings began with beautiful sunrises! Today is no exception, and especially since it's the Feast of the Transfiguration! My my, lots of feast days to celebrate in the last week!!

On another note, I spotted a monkey roaming freely at the East Coast Parkway today. I mean what on earth is a monkey doing at the East Coast Parkway? Where did it come from? A stow away from the Mandai zoo maybe? Could it be someone's lost pet?? I was curious enough to detour from my regular bike route to trail it. How exciting! Wished I had a camera with me then! :P

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Old School


This is the chapel at St Francis Institution in Malacca and it is by far one of the most beautiful chapels belonging to a mission school in South East Asia. This marks the last location shoot of the De La Salle documentary I've been working on for the past 10 months. More pictures of SFI at http://imaginativedarkroom.blogspot.com/.

On a separate note, I was blessed to be able to celebrate the feast of St John Mary Vianney with the Brothers, some Sisters and the locals at a smaller-than-chapel meeting hall at the nearby Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus School. I love being able to join the locals in whichever part of the world I am at to celebrate the Mass. This helps me look at different parts of the Mass from different angles and cultures.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Baba Charlie


No black sheep here. Just a big huge kitchen with a room next to it filled with only one of the finest nonya kuehs in Malacca. There were blue ones, round green ones, rice-stuffed ones, red layered ones... all of them mostly sweet ones... yes, even the fried ones! :O)

This was last monday on a random trip with the Cana gals! The journey there took a little longer than usual so there was only time for a Peranakan lunch, Baba Charlie and the Mall. Oh, the rain didn't help either. But I bonded so well with all the aunties, that when a bump swung my box of kuehs onto the ground of the van, all of them offered some of theirs! I wasn't paying attention, but in the end I got so much more than I what I had bought. Ah... Aunties! You've gotta love them! I had to share the kuehs with my friends because I was home alone and impossible to finish them within the day.

More to come! :O) Like tomorrow!