Monday, 15 February 2016

New and Old technologies working together to make art

New and old Art

Last Friday, we tried something we've never done before on Cartoon & Comic Arts. That was introducing the students to a 3D programme called Mudbox by Autodesk. A vast amount of the students on the award have never used Photoshop let alone a 3d package. But undeterred by this we attempted to do it anyway. 









The aim is to get them to do something traditional and then incorporate new technologies to show them how it can help to improve their work.









Obviously some of them to to it like ducks to water - others it was a little harder. 

Portrait Drawing 





The other thing we did was to do portrait drawings, unfortunately I sprained my hand the other evening, which made the whole teaching task very hard. But I think I got the message over. 




More importantly, it was an opportunity for the students to do the Cartoon & Comic Arts Mantra - Draw....Draw.... Draw. 


The Idea is to get the students to build on their core skills that were developed in the first semester. Where we encouraged them to design characters then to build the models out of Plasticine.




From the images below you'll see that some of them aren't that bad an artist. 



This time we are going ask them to try and model their portraits using the 3d Software.

 

 

Now we quickly realised that between the drawing and the 3d modelling there is potentially a lot that can go wrong. But education at this level you don't always get the answer you expect. It is about taking the students out of their comfort zone and pushing them. So in the next few weeks it will be interesting to see what develops. 


 


It's already interesting to note that the students who haven't done any art foundation are the stubborn ones who wont push themselves. And see any 







 

 

 





Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Studio Redecoration

Studio Redecoration 

We thought it might be an idea to redecorate the studio space. With over 35 new students in September there was amply opportunity and labour to do the work. 


The 1st years were give the chance to do some research of comic characters from around the world. They picked one and painted it on the wall 


Sam (NOVA) Pye did...NOVA





Not sure what Charlie is doing here, but we caught her in the act 


This is the 3rd year area, where the geniuses of Rob Beiganski and Brad Sharples hang out 


The other corner is occupied by the Shy and retiring Nadia William, the not to shy Holly McCormack and Emily Moore 


2nd year area with Tony and Paul working on their project for sale at Londons MCM in MAY


Down the corridor towards my office.


Caught the labs Michael Leyland, Nial Conner and Rory Bond painting on the walls, or is it graffiti?