Line Animation

A while ago an artist friend, Brian Piana took a masking tape piece I posted on Tumblr and turned it into a quick Gif animation. (I chose not to post the gif itself because it’s jarring on the same page as the Gif below.)

That, and some other artists I’ve seen on Tumblr playing with animation have made me want to learn about it. As such, I’ve been experimenting in my free time with some basic tests.

This is the most successful so far, made of 9 individual 4.5″ x 6″ cards of masking tape.

I still have a lot to learn to help myself automate and simplify the process so that basic animations look more smooth and don’t take an inordinate amount of time, but I have some ideas I’m slowly working out that I’ll share as they’re ready.

The idea is to create the animations, then bind the individual frames into their own books to get the experience of sequence in 2 different states.

-JD

I Just Feel Like Sharing This

When I was out in California I saw William Kentridge’s Magic Flute video installation. I usually don’t have the patience for video work but it was mesmerizing, and soothing to my Stendhal Syndrome tummy. I thought about posting it here but since an integral part of the piece is the 3D structure it’s housed in it doesn’t seem to translate effectively for the internet. I found this piece instead, Wanting…And Weighing (1997), I hope you like it.

Disturbing Secrets of the Old Masters

Ok, yeah, this is an ad of sorts , but its entertaining and I got nothing right now.

Friday Morning Cartoon: Marine Painter with a Death Wish

Winter in the City is for Polar Bears

Saturday Night Hallucinogenic Cartoon Fest

I only realize now that the Betty Boop character was based on a D’arteboard author. Listen carefully to her giggling and exotic New Jersey accent. Catch Cab Calloway singing a brilliant cameo.

Saturday Early Morning Bestiality Animation

Winsor Mccay was an early animation pioneer and he was apparently experimenting with horse tranquilizers here.

Kunstbar

Let the Rabbits Wear Glasses? No!

I’m a big believer in the importance of color theory as applied to diet.  If dinner includes something from both the red and green sides of the color wheel, I feel I’m doing alright.  Lately, I’m all about getting my red from the delicious, snappy, sweet carrot.  I’ve been buying 5 lb. bags of organic carrots when I’m able to find not too rubbery ones at the supermarket.  Of course, nothing beats absolutely fresh produce straight from the ground, but Stop & Shop will do until farm share season starts again.  After a particularly divine dinner of carrots, squash and beans this evening, I found myself daydreaming about the possibilities of the fine orange root.  I hit google and was surprised to find a World Carrot Museum online.  What a gem!  They feature carrot recipes, history, trivia, musical instruments and even a section of carrots in fine art.

I also found this fun animated vid posted by sweetspuds on youtube that uses the “Let the rabbits wear glasses!” intro from the song “Disgustipated” by Tool. The volume is a little low, but if you turn it up enough, it’s funny.

-Steph Gerolimatos

How NPR Ruined My Art Career aka “Crayon Physics Deluxe” Is Awesome!

NPR doesn’t usually interfere with my art making. but tonight, i’m blaming Melissa Block for curtailing today’s studio session. her interview with Petri Purho sent me almost immediately to my computer.

Purho, a 25-year-old independent games designer from Finland has released for sale this week what i’m predicting will be the biggest time-eater i’ve encountered in a good long while. it’s a computer game called “Crayon Physics Deluxe”. the object of the game is to find a way to send a little red ball rolling or flying or bouncing into a golden star. you do this by drawing objects that are then animated and behave according to the laws of physics. you’re presented with ever more complex problems that you must solve with the aid of a crayon and your imagination. the game was inspired by Crockett Johnson’s children’s book “Harold and the Purple Crayon” in which Harold, armed with a purple crayon, draws himself an adventure that comes to life.

the game is downloadable for only $19.95. oh, and i forgot to mention, it won the 2008 Independent Games Festival grand prize. not convinced you want it? you can start by downloading a free demo.

here’s a vid to make up for my poor explanation.

The animated life

I rediscovered Jeff Scher again recently. His animated drawings and paintings choreographed to music are mesmerizing.
From the NY Times:
Jeff Scher is a painter who makes experimental films and an experimental filmmaker who paints. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and the Hirshhorn Museum, and has been screened at the Guggenheim Museum, the Pompidou Center in Paris, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and at many film festivals around the world, including opening night at the New York Film Festival. Mr. Scher has also had two solo shows of his paintings, which have also been included in many group shows in New York galleries. Additionally, he has created commissioned work for HBO, HBO Family, PBS, the Sundance Channel and more. Mr. Scher teaches graduate courses at the School of Visual Arts and will be joining the faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Kanbar Institute of Film & Television’s Animation program in the fall. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.

Jeff Scher’s Website

His new films and paintings can be seen via his website above,
this is an animated film from several years ago:

Links Du Lapin #8

I am not exactly sure how to describe this but you should click it because it is very enjoyable. Trust me.

-Toni “bunnie” Tiller