Self studies

6/5/2024 - 28/5/2024
Tan Jian Xin
Self studies

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Sketchbooks drawings
Reference

As I was at a shopping mall doing some shopping with my friend, I came across this numbered painting which caught my eye and I've took a picture of it to draw.

Figure 1.1: Numbered painting 

Drawings / Illustrations

Figure 2.1: black and white 

Figure 2.2: Perspective drawing

Figure 2.3: Anatomy

Figure 2.4: 2 point perspective

Figure 2.5: Hands practice

Figure 2.6: Line practice + 1 point perspective

Figure 2.7: Black and pink illustrations

Figure 2.8: Random sketches

Figure 2.9: Sketches

Figure 2.10: Mutated plant

Figure 2.11: Sketches around my house

Figure 2.12: Process of sketch

Figure 2.13: Sketch and wolf illustration

Figure 2.14: Feet sketch

Figure 2.15: Line practices and sketches

Figure 2.16: Animation principles

Character designs

Tips

https://youtu.be/8wm9ti-gzLM?si=V_OPJTberYVA9zB1

Figure 3.1: Tips for character design

Character designs

https://tanjianxindesign.blogspot.com/2023/04/illustration-and-visual-narrative.html 

Figure 4.1: Shape motif practice

For the character below, I wanted to make her to look like a college student at first. Then, I realized I could draw her as a short college student with anger issues. 

Figure 4.2: Student 1 sketch

Figure 4.3: Student 1 grayscale

Figure 4.4: Student 1 turnaround + expression

For the character below as well, I wanted him to look taller as well (have to practice proportion more). 

Figure 4.5: Student 2 sketch

Figure 4.6: Student 2 poses

For the expressions shown below, I think I can improve more on the size of the character as it seems inconsistent.

Figure 4.7: Student 2 expressions

Background design
Tips
- Composition
- Staging
- Perspective

Advantages of 2D backgrounds is we can play with
- Composition
- Colour
- Shape
- Style

Biggest background tip: Observational drawing

Figure 5.1: Types of perspective

Figure 5.2: Perspective sketch

Figure 5.3: Background sketches

Figure 5.4: Background sketches

Figure 5.5: Stone wall

Figure 5.6: Reflection

Figure 5.7: Stone wall (improvised)

Figure 5.8: Pink mountain

Figure 5.9: Pink mountain variation

Figure 5.10: Night view of building

Life drawing and observational drawing

Figure 6.1: Observational sketch

Figure 6.2: walk cycle sketch

Figure 6.3: Bird and cat sketch

Figure 6.4: Rings

Figure 6.5: Sketches

Figure 6.6: Camera + fire animation sketch

Figure 6.7: Sack animation

Figure 6.8: Texture

Short animations

As I just started to learn the foundations of animation such as stretch and squash, speed, timing, anticipation and many more, I tried to make some simple and short animation as shown below. I created this animation using the ibisPaint X app on my phone, then I created a gif as shown below. 

Happy emoji symbol (GIF)

https://tanjianxindesign.blogspot.com/2023/11/video-and-sound-production-final-project.html

Animation exercise

Animation exercise 2

The Silent Killer

Walking exercise - Rough sketch (12 fps)

Walking exercise - Rough sketch (8 fps)

Walking exercise (12 fps)

Walking exercise (8 fps)

Storyboards

Storyboard tips

1. Screen direction (maintain the general screen direction when a character is moving. Unless he changes direction on-screen)
2. Whenever you "cut", place your character in the same general screen position (especially useful when a character is moving)
3. Watch out for tangents in storyboard

Rough sketches storyboard

Figure 7.1: Storyboard 

Figure 7.2: Compositions in storyboards

Figure 7.3: Storyboard for short animation (The Silent Killer)

Reflection on why I’ve chosen animation as my specialist subject

After I’ve started watching anime, I've been wanting to know how animation works. As I start to learn more about animation, I realized that the story is more important than the animation/illustration. However, it would add points to the overall animation if the characters are relatable, interesting, engaging and many more. Other than that, I find animation is challenging as it requires the animator to be a lot more observant as it requires more than one pose for only a second of animation as it usually has 12 frames per second (fps).

Why I chosen BA animation course at Middlesex University 

I’ve chosen the BA animation course at Middlesex University as I would love to improve my skills in creating various engaging, interesting and fun animations. Besides, I would also like to be more independent by studying abroad and making more new friends.