New addition to film

This is the replacement for the last layout

Conclusion and submission

Soundtrack - Folklore OST (edited)

I feel that this project has ended up pretty ok.  At the beginning of the year I wasn't very sure about how many paintings I should produce or if I should put them in Maya.  I still would have liked to put them into Maya, but I realised the focus should be on the paintings and so concentrated on those.  I found I was spending too much time trying to figure out methods of setting up image planes then there being problems with rendering or crashing etc.  What I really wanted to do was paint and work on improving and so I have spent quite a lot of time studying techniques and going back and improving my work.

At the beginning of the project I was wondering how three or four paintings would be enough to fulfill the criteria...I didn't expect to improve as much as I feel I have.  I started leaving paintings for a while and then looking back at them to find I could easily see areas I could improve on.  The most challenging part was trying to get into an autonomous mindset with composition, because at the beginning I became so preoccupied with the 'rules' and it gave me a bit of a block.  This got a lot easier with practice.  Because of this there are a few paintings I haven't included in the final piece.  I did a lot of sketches also; these where mainly composition and perspective tests.  My only real regret is not working in a group because I missed the advantage of being able to develop ideas together.  Although I had a couple of talks with friends and a bit of time towards the end with tutors, which helped. 

It's a shame I have had problems with the issues I explained in my 'production' post.  looking back, I still feel very disappointed in the way things were carried out.  Although, ultimately, I am the one responsible for my work and am pleased with what I have achieved- I guess these things happen sometimes.

For the degree show


Altogether, I'm happy with what I've done and the weeks leading up to the degree show I want to perhaps work on the sound (there is a definite skip), put some extra elements in that move and I still need to credit a few people at the end!
1) On the first painting I would like to clean up the light on some of the shapes.  I would also like to cut up the layers to create a parallax.
2) On the second painting, I think I need to add some more rock surfaces in the middle of the painting.  Something for the light to bounce off because I think it looks a bit bare.
3) On the fourth painting, I feel there needs to be something more in the top left- perhaps birds flying past in the distance.
4) For the fifth painting, I want to create a parallax on that as well.  As well as adding some more detail on the rocks
5) For the last painting; I want more contrast and a possibly of a whole new composition because I feel it's quite weak as it is.  I think there's something not quite right with it.

Film test 2

After effects
I have been thinking carefully about how I want the particles to move, rather than just sticking them on for the sake of it.  For the blue cave near the end, there are lava pits and so I want to give the impression of particles that look like they are bits of ash rising up.  This will be on the next render.

Sound
I'm also going to use adobe soundbooth to edit a piece of music.  I want it to sound like fairytale music, to add mysticism.

Film test

This is my current version of the paintings i've chosen to put in the final thing.  What I really want to do it put them into Maya and build a 3d set around them to add depth and atmosphere.  I think it might be something to do for the degree show, rather than the deadline on the 9th.  Need to focus on the quality of these first and of course, sound.
I put them together in After Effects, added some particles to create a fairy tale atmosphere and some fog add a bit more depth in some of them.  

Changed inside layout

Still a more more things to add to this until I'm happy.  More contrast and the floor needs a bit of work.

Transition Piece (W.I.P)

This will act as a transition between a couple of the paintings.  Needs another colour in it somewhere.

Hell again!

I'm adding blue to increase temperature contrast, but I'm trying to find the right type of blue to use.  It is difficult!  The man needs more work...at least a shadow!

Hell colour change

This is still in progress, but I'm happier with dramatic colours on this version.

First Layout- Cave

At this stage the layout is still a bit rough and there aren't currently any layers to it.  This will be a problem for me when I come to animate it, so I'm taking steps to cut some layers out.  Another problem arrises when I do this, as there will be cut out shapes all  over it, so I'll have to fill them in afterwards.   Below is the image as it is now.

To be able to cut out the layers fairly quickly and accurately, I duplicate the channel which shows the greatest level of contrast between the lightest area (the back of the cave) with the darkest area (the front).  In this instance it was the red channel, so I duplicated it and then went into the curves level editor and increased the contrast to gain clear definition between the background and the foreground.  All though not perfect,  it creates a mask I can use to separate the major layers 

Now I'm left with this:

I have to fill in the background again.  

Post Production and update on confusion

Since January I have managed to get a couple for great bits of useful feedback from Neil and Peter.  I've feel slightly more on track and confident about what I'm doing...but still feel disappointed about not getting as far as I'd hoped to.  It's a shame the year got off to such a bad start, but think it's resolving now.

I am now going to start cutting out any layers that I need to animated the layouts.  Some already have them, but there are a few more to add.  I'm also using this post production stage to had details and clean up the layouts.  I'm also thinking about not putting much of a storyline in and it just being paintings.

I think I will possibly have a few different layouts after now, as I'm not too happy with the ones I have at the moment.  I'm also spending a lot of time coming back to older paintings to improve them.  I have found it interesting how when I've not seen painting for a while, how easy it is to see what I can do to improve it.

Hell and tree

New interior environment

This isn't finished yet!  I'll keep posting updates...with demons.

Images to support painting development

I've found some interesting images of some demon-like mummies!  I think I may just have to place some similar looking creatures in my paintings :D.

http://wtf.thebizzare.com/offbeat/science-and-technology/monster-mummies-of-japan/

http://wtf.thebizzare.com/images/monster_mummy_10.jpg

http://wtf.thebizzare.com/images/monster_mummy_2.jpg

http://wtf.thebizzare.com/images/monster_mummy_6.jpg

http://wtf.thebizzare.com/images/kappa_mummy_3.jpg

More inspiration

I think I've been at a loss for inspiration, or at least I felt as if something had sapped it at the worst time.  However, I'm not one to wallow in self pity...too much, so I've been thinking of themes I can use.  I am now creating images of a hell, changing the previous image to add more colour because I think it looks washed out and isn't what I like.  Below is what it looks like so far:

I'm interested in myths, folklore and religious iconography such as the concepts of Angels and Demons.  So the next few paintings will be something of this sort.

Finished layouts

 For now, I am happy with saying these layouts are finished, albeit I am going to come back to them in the post production stage to polish them.  I realise there are a few things I could add to them to enhance their quality, like more detail on the rocks and perhaps adding some small light bounces on the front of the rocks in the cave to break up the darkness slightly.

 

Outside layout update

Updated storyboard

This is the updated storyboard...however I'm still slightly clueless as to what to put at the top of the tree.  Plan is to have something by the end of the day.

Formative

layout changed

Below is a painting I've changed, to help improve perspective, colour and layout.    

Original 

more layouts

Stage one