Where to go from here.

[Juvenilemike]

As I finish my current degree, I'm starting to think to the future. I really want to get into computer animation and effects, however my pencil and paper sketching ability is pretty poor. Ideally I want to do a course that incorporates elements of Advertising, Design, Film, Photography, Animation and Computer Imaging. I know it's a tall order, but most courses I've looked at include one or the other.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to proceed. It seems I have two options, learn to draw, or change my goals.

Mike

[Junkyard]

Learn to draw, man. Everyone has the potential, and your style may end up being the next big thing.

[dperceful]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juvenilemike:
<B>Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to proceed. It seems I have two options, learn to draw, or change my goals.

Mike</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

the basics are needed in whatever art direction you go. it's like i tell my students, i can teach you the application....i cannot teach you art.

if you want to go into 3d, i recommend find an area you are good at and then stay there. if your an excellent texture artist...then go that route. if your a great character modeller, then take the classes that get you even better.

the stronger you are in drawing the easier 3d is for you. it's easier for you to see the lines and imagine them in 3d. with that said, you can be a great 3d artist withour drawing skills....you just have to be able to imagine the finished product vivid enought to transfer it to you app of choice.

if you go 3d i recommend Gnomon (http://www.gnomon3d.com/). I have been to the school twice on seminars and really learned alot. you can even take a crash course of 10 weeks. this place will work you hard and let you know if you want to really do 3d work.

3d is a great medium to get into, it is highly competitive right now, so stay unique.

dan

[Electric_Chinchilla]

Hey, I'm less than a year in getting my BA in animation. My degree focusses mainly on 3D animation bcs well, that is the way of the future. Many Art Schools like mine (Art Institute of Colorado) require you to take pencil classes (like life drawing background and layout, storyboarding and painting/color theory), traditional animation classes (pencil tests, cleanup, and toonz), and 3d animation classes. it's set up like this for people who are interested in animation but want to refine their drawing skills first.

if you do decide to go to a school similar to mine, best idea is to partner up with someone who's skills you respect so that you can learn from them. I had set up a tutorial for basic drawing and tutored several people who felt their skills were less than par. So there are people within an art school environment that will teach you more than a teacher could.

ok. I'm done now.

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Visit www.electricchinchilla.com (http://www.electricchinchilla.com) for more EC Art. AIM me @ comixartyst

[localhero]

My manager's son has just finished a computer animation degree at Glasgow Uni's school of art mike. He's (my boss) currently away on his summer hols for a couple of weeks but I can try and get some details for you when he gets back (what the course was like etc).

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Cheers, Local
"Is it true what they say about guys with big feet? Yes they do need big shoes."

Comics Uncovered - The thing that makes comic books great, is often what happens beyond the pages. (http://www.comicsuncovered.com)

Livejournal (http://www.localhero.org.uk/journal/)

[This message has been edited by localhero (edited 07-04-2004).]

[Juvenilemike]

Thanks everyone for such a great (and constructive) repsonse. You guys are all right. I should just bite the bullet and learn how to draw. It's not that I haven't tried before in the past, it's just that I got dissatisfied with my early results, and I didn't take an agressive approach to learning. Hopefully by attacking it as I would any other subject I'll get a better grasp.


Junkyard: I'll let you know how things come along, thanks for the big boot.

d: That school looks awesome. I haven't had time to explore fully yet, but it seems like a real option. Most of the places I've looked at have been full four year courses, and I don't know how I'd be able to afford a four year in the States and also I don't know if I have the willpower to do another degree.

Ec: It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only person who wants to get into animation that doesn't have all the skills. The only stumbling block now is that most places require a folio before you begin the admissions process. I think that if I really want to do this (which I do) I need to start making some more active steps towards that direction. Especially moving out of the Superhero world.

Lh: That'd be really cool. I'm keen to know how good you have to be before you get in. My main source of info so far has been Rhythm and Hues studio (www.rhythm.com) who say that basically all you need is a good demo reel. Though, don't go to too much trouble.

Thanks again all for being so kind.
Mike

[dperceful]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juvenilemike:
<B>d: That school looks awesome. I haven't had time to explore fully yet, but it seems like a real option. Most of the places I've looked at have been full four year courses, and I don't know how I'd be able to afford a four year in the States and also I don't know if I have the willpower to do another degree.
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

oh yeah....the other thing about that school...it's in hollywood, and all of the major studios deal with this school in some capacity.

[localhero]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juvenilemike:
Lh: That'd be really cool. I'm keen to know how good you have to be before you get in. My main source of info so far has been Rhythm and Hues studio (www.rhythm.com) who say that basically all you need is a good demo reel. Though, don't go to too much trouble.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm sure the course he did was the MPhil 2D/3D Motion Graphics (2 Yr Masters Dgr I think). I found this link which might help ya. http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com/unitedkingdom/glasgowart_digital_studio.htm


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Cheers, Local
"Is it true what they say about guys with big feet? Yes they do need big shoes."

Comics Uncovered - The thing that makes comic books great, is often what happens beyond the pages. (http://www.comicsuncovered.com)

Livejournal (http://www.localhero.org.uk/journal/)