Something I have only considered fleetingly is starting my own business - it's not because I don't feel I couldn't, in fact, I would love to. I just don't have any viable business ideas. Sure, I'd love a gallery/art shop/freelance illustration company but the way things are financially for me and for the rest of the UK today it wouldn't work - I'd need a really innovative idea to even consider it.
But, it was quite interesting to learn all the options we have at Coventry and the support we can apply for if we do want to set up a small business. Who knows, maybe one day!
Still working on Autodesk for one of my modules. It's slowly becoming much more clearer and much easier for me, although there is still so much more I can't wait to learn. I'm currently writing up my notes as clearly as I can for future reference, as well as exploring cities and towns from all over the world and other cultures for inspiration for my own city. I hope to do some more complex drawings with colours and textures in the very near future, and then import them into Autodesk and start on my final city design proper soon. Deadline is in early December, so I must keep at it as hard as possible.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Life Drawing and Creative CVs
One thing I love to do is go life drawing, although it scares me half to death walking home in the dark through the area of Coventry we live (especially as on Tuesday two guys kicked both our locks out and tried to rob us in broad daylight). Life drawing at Coventry University occurs once a week on Thursday evenings, and they always do a good set of quick poses - which are my favourite. I feel that life drawing is key to improving my skills, it keeps me drawing fast as well as really looking at an object, and learning about shape, shadow and anatomy is important to my chosen path.
In PDP we have been learning about creative CVs. When I worked in recruitment I was always told that simple CVs are best to look out for, and less is always more - don't waste time reading the rambling CVs with half a page about hobbies. It seems we are being told similar in PDP as well as the very basics (like checking spelling and not having rude e-mail addresses). I should update my CV, really, but I have no desire to look for another position currently. I am a little worried we will have to do a work placement this year - we keep getting conflicting information about whether we do or don't. Fingers crossed that we won't, really.
In PDP we have been learning about creative CVs. When I worked in recruitment I was always told that simple CVs are best to look out for, and less is always more - don't waste time reading the rambling CVs with half a page about hobbies. It seems we are being told similar in PDP as well as the very basics (like checking spelling and not having rude e-mail addresses). I should update my CV, really, but I have no desire to look for another position currently. I am a little worried we will have to do a work placement this year - we keep getting conflicting information about whether we do or don't. Fingers crossed that we won't, really.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Autodesk 3DS Max
One of our modules at university this year is on 3D Animation and Design, using the Autodesk 3DS Max software. At first I was terrified of it - a completely new experience with completely new software, but over the last few weeks I've found myself soaking up more and more of the lectures, tools and commands that 3Ds Max offers, and it's slowly slipping into place. I have ordered a tutorial book, and am writing up my notes as I go along to keep it fresh - I must admit, I've never found 3D as interesting as 2D design and animation, but I am definately warming to it now.
The best parts of the software for me so far gave been using the extrude tool, while grouping up the shapes and creating more complex shapes - before lighting them and setting up cameras to view it from different angles. I'm so used to almost instant results when I draw or paint, that the wait is strange, but worth it once something is finished.
I have been thinking about my USP, my "Unique Selling Point" in my PDP recently - It's hard to say, really. Learning so much at university has made me think and rethink what I do, as well as the fact that I really enjoy writing in my current job and believe I have the skills to take that further. When it comes to Illustration, though, I think my main selling points that make me unique and interesting to potential clients is definately my imagination and ability to sketch out designs and ideas fluidly and quickly, as well as expand on these in a variety of medias - not only using pens, ink, pencils, paints and washes, but also in photoshop or flash - even directly with a graphics tablet.
Character design is definately my favourite, and I love exploring other cultures, costumes and designs people wear, as well as thier unique surroundings. 3DS Max can help me with this - mainly just for the surroundings of characters and mapping out areas, homes, cities and the like, and visualising things both small scale and massive. I know I'd like to work in the gaming industry - but ideally for conceptual work, illustration, background painting, character design, weapon design, costume design etc, so bringing my ideas from pencil or pen sketch to exciting 3D models and environments.
Nest week I must remember to create some textures and flat images for use in my current ideas (either from my own photos or sketches), to import them into 3DS and see how they can be used successfully.
The best parts of the software for me so far gave been using the extrude tool, while grouping up the shapes and creating more complex shapes - before lighting them and setting up cameras to view it from different angles. I'm so used to almost instant results when I draw or paint, that the wait is strange, but worth it once something is finished.
I have been thinking about my USP, my "Unique Selling Point" in my PDP recently - It's hard to say, really. Learning so much at university has made me think and rethink what I do, as well as the fact that I really enjoy writing in my current job and believe I have the skills to take that further. When it comes to Illustration, though, I think my main selling points that make me unique and interesting to potential clients is definately my imagination and ability to sketch out designs and ideas fluidly and quickly, as well as expand on these in a variety of medias - not only using pens, ink, pencils, paints and washes, but also in photoshop or flash - even directly with a graphics tablet.
Character design is definately my favourite, and I love exploring other cultures, costumes and designs people wear, as well as thier unique surroundings. 3DS Max can help me with this - mainly just for the surroundings of characters and mapping out areas, homes, cities and the like, and visualising things both small scale and massive. I know I'd like to work in the gaming industry - but ideally for conceptual work, illustration, background painting, character design, weapon design, costume design etc, so bringing my ideas from pencil or pen sketch to exciting 3D models and environments.
Nest week I must remember to create some textures and flat images for use in my current ideas (either from my own photos or sketches), to import them into 3DS and see how they can be used successfully.
Monday, October 6, 2008
PDP
First PDP lecture of the year this morning. Hosted by a guest speaker, I believe - not the most gripping of fellows but lots of information to take in.
I must admit, I've never been the type to enjoy having a label stuck to my jumper and being told I'm "that person", out of a choice of several "types", so that part tended to irk me - especially when he rattled off the weaknesses for "my type". It sounds a bit boastful to say, but I am generally a really driven person. If I'm not working I'll be drawing or doing university work - so being told my "type" was prone to lack of motivation wasn't the best thing to say to convince me to learn more about my "learning type."
For the morbidly curious, it was agreed that I am a "Theorist", which makes me well-organised, factual and good at seeing alternatives and the bigger picture. The cons included putting things off, lack of confidence and several other even less desirable things. Not something one wants to hear first thing on a Monday morning!
Being told that when I have my first interviews I'll do this and that, and that I haven't had any experience of life, what with being a student didn't help. I left school shortly after my GCSEs and lived in Alta in Norway for 2 years, where I taught English and learnt Norwegian. Shortly after I worked jobs in the UK, including as a administrator for Churchill before moving on to be a recruiter for Thomas Cook. I realised I didn't want to be recruiting people to work as holiday reps my whole life, so I went back to college and took my A-Levels in Art, Photography and Graphic Design, and also won an award from the BBC and was published for my writing. Upon leaving the college with grades I was pleased with, I was awarded the "College Award for Creative Achievement" - an honour awarded to one student aloneeach year at Rutland College, and it made everything worth it. When I was accepted to Coventry it was a dream come true - people thought I could draw well and actually make something of myself with it! I was awarded with a creative scholarship, and it was a whole new different world for me.
So, what I'm trying to say here I don't really know. I just have this odd feeling about PDP, and about labels. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks we aren't all drones that can be boxed up, and I like to think I can't be.
I must admit, I've never been the type to enjoy having a label stuck to my jumper and being told I'm "that person", out of a choice of several "types", so that part tended to irk me - especially when he rattled off the weaknesses for "my type". It sounds a bit boastful to say, but I am generally a really driven person. If I'm not working I'll be drawing or doing university work - so being told my "type" was prone to lack of motivation wasn't the best thing to say to convince me to learn more about my "learning type."
For the morbidly curious, it was agreed that I am a "Theorist", which makes me well-organised, factual and good at seeing alternatives and the bigger picture. The cons included putting things off, lack of confidence and several other even less desirable things. Not something one wants to hear first thing on a Monday morning!
Being told that when I have my first interviews I'll do this and that, and that I haven't had any experience of life, what with being a student didn't help. I left school shortly after my GCSEs and lived in Alta in Norway for 2 years, where I taught English and learnt Norwegian. Shortly after I worked jobs in the UK, including as a administrator for Churchill before moving on to be a recruiter for Thomas Cook. I realised I didn't want to be recruiting people to work as holiday reps my whole life, so I went back to college and took my A-Levels in Art, Photography and Graphic Design, and also won an award from the BBC and was published for my writing. Upon leaving the college with grades I was pleased with, I was awarded the "College Award for Creative Achievement" - an honour awarded to one student aloneeach year at Rutland College, and it made everything worth it. When I was accepted to Coventry it was a dream come true - people thought I could draw well and actually make something of myself with it! I was awarded with a creative scholarship, and it was a whole new different world for me.
So, what I'm trying to say here I don't really know. I just have this odd feeling about PDP, and about labels. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks we aren't all drones that can be boxed up, and I like to think I can't be.
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