gamma ray and atom colliding (animation in progress)

This is early in the animation timeline, after the intro credits, a gamma ray makes contact with an atom:

"Turing Test" short film by Jaylinn Davidson / atoms to the universe

Been up trying to choreograph movement of my awkward, wonky 2d photoshop constructed little oxygen atom (the 2 inner electron orbit rings are hard to see, but yeah..that's what it's supposed to be if you're scientifically minded and pick apart such things). It will be at the beginning of the animation where a gamma ray passes through it and produces a loose electron and positron, which attract and destroy each other in a tiny bit of energy. After I finish that, I can echo some of the visuals in a bigger scale, when I skip to a scene in progress in the end where a universe and antimatter universe come together in a male and female form.

So anyway this is a mini motion test (sans background) for the atom:

Jaylinn Davidson, keyboardist for The Boxing Lesson (I animated two videos for the band several years ago) and Casual Strangers and also a dear, lovely, talented friend of mine has expanded her artistic reach into writing/directing/editing her first solo music video (for C.S.). Featuring Sara Eleta Reid as the robot:

Turing Test

An interview regarding her creative process is found here in The Austin Chronicle . One thing that I particularly connected with was that she discovered a driving concept of the story while deep in the process of editing it. I've tried to plan more work in advance (storyboarding, although mine can look like indeciperable chicken scratch to any other eyes than my own)  when making animations, but I've also found that sometimes the unplanned freeform random moments can lead to discoveries that can dominate and alter the course  of the project for the better.

I'm really proud of you Jaylinn! Hope we can collaborate and explore the universe further together in whatever creative form it can take.

Animation clip-pullout from planet to universe

Finished a clip (I might polish it a bit or maybe let the inadvertent shakiness stay as it might fit with the overall look of the video) using a new technique (for me that is) where I edit movement of objects in Photoshop's video timeline. My usual process is using Photoshop's animation timeline where I'm working from frame to frame, which is the more traditional approach to 2D animation.. Using the video editor allows for smoother movement in space and scale, and is ideal for the beginning and end of my video project. The beginning of my video has electrons and its antimatter positrons coming together in brief bursts of energy, and the ending will include pulling away from a watery planet, to a solar system, to a galaxy, to an entire universe.

Since I've started working on animation in 2010, I've always dragged my feet in learning new techniques and software, and have rationalized that it's more of what an artist creates with what they have than the materials used. Only when I'm desperate to create a movement or transition that would be overwhelmingly complex if I don't find an efficient alternative approach do I suddenly find the ability to focus on navigating through a new gobblygook looking foreign workspace.

Here's the clip of the pullout pov from a watery earth like planet to a universe:

Animation updates

(Steps out to the quiet inky dark field just past the witching hour, to the sound of crickets....)

Hello.

I've been working on what has turned out to be an unexpectedly long term project for a very short length video. It will clock under two minutes, but is the most elaborate animation I've worked on so far. There's lots of layers of movement in this. Sometimes it took a week for only five seconds in some clips. It will be paired with a song by a favorite musician I've followed for years.

As I had the pleasure of hearing this particular song played live, an idea began to take root, which branched off into more ideas, and I thought damn, now I have to do this. It hasn't been a practical direction to take with my visual art (not that "practical" is or should be linked with art, yet it asserts it's charmless presence too often when I'm trying to enter a creative mindset)  , but it is one that kept me excited and motivated, even if it takes embarrassingly long to do at my skill level. I enjoy the short storytelling visual format that animation allows me.

Part of the story is about the joy and danger of futile pursuits. Another is the attractive pull and destructive force of opposite worlds colliding, and the new creative elements that comes from all that. It starts on a quantum level and pulls out to whole universes, with two fantasy stories of elements from those different universes influencing each other, and making inadvertent and destructive contact.

I've wanted to make a work that isn't bound by deadlines, but to the best of my (admittedly limited) technical abilities with animation at the moment. There's so much to learn, it's overwhelming.

I'm hoping to have it wrapped up by this month. That's the goal, anyway.

Here's a few soundless preview clips:

                                          

                                          

and a few earthlike planets: 

and some stills.......

Update on the David Huntsberger project I contributed to: The DVD has been out and available for purchase, and it is also viewable on Vimeo. I recommend ordering the DVD as you have the viewing option of seeing all the animators work uncut for each standup piece David performed. That said, I also recommend seeing the stage/costume design, the standup and animator work cut and combined for the full collaborative presentation. http://www.davidhuntsberger.com/2015/10/one-headed-beast-available-for-pre-order/

Self Portrait -horizontal format in progress

Late night/early morning session before final leg of San Antonio gig this week. Oil on canvas--I don't have access to it right this moment, but I think it is around 12"x24" There is more to be done but I want to keep the energy and high color as I refine it. (later this week or weekend) I will be wrapping up lots of larger paintings while trying to keep a steady flow of smaller newer work until my moving date.

portrait of Skye (in progress) April 22nd

He

Here is my latest potrait session with Skye, my 9yr old niece. The light is dramatic but difficult. The light beam towards sunset changes rapidly over her body and the "sweet spot" of opportunity to capture her is too long (for her...the sun burns) and way too soon (for me -I'd like more time)-. I have one, maybee two more opportunities left before it is impossible to continue it any more (she and her mom are moving to a new apartment next week.)

two mini treescapes in progress

two paintings from life (in progress) from the same sitting pov but opposite directions. left 6"x3" right 8"x8" oil on canvas

3rd session -pear

 

may do one more session here. Or not. not sure... have to run errand & will work later today. 8"x8" oil on canvas

2/12/12 still lifes in progress

 

Here are my early steps in a  still life painting. . (No, I don't copy the photo. I work from direct observation when doing this sort of work. I'm just showing the source)  I do a quick figuring out on canvas with charcoal, then lose that when I put a wash of a neutral oil paint color down and wipe out the lights and intensify the darks.  Then the first color marks, a little heavy handed- but I can go for more subtlety later. The triptych is 3 wood panels of 3"x4" and the larger composition is 8" square canvas.

some purdier stills for the holiday (Four-Fur State-The Boxing Lesson)

A small sample of more stills. Have a great Thanksgiving!