A Steampunk Christmas: Speed Paint Challenge

Well not a lot to say about this one really. Other than I'm not sure how that tree machine is supposed to work but...it does here XD. Though I hate to admit this one frustrated me to no end. I think I need to re -learn the basics of 'Speed Painting'. I had to resist the urge not to simply delete this (as well as scream in frustration). Still, practice is always good and it gets me creatively working again :-)

Christmas Card Design

These are some Christmas card designs I painted a few weeks back. They're painted on pre-made cards which is why the tops of the images aren't as decorated and why there's a crease line through the middle. They were painted to be sent off for the even on Deviantart. The originals have been sent to the DA headquarters and they will then hand them out to people in hospitals. I'm pleased with the snowman, however I wouldn't mind some suggestions on what I could have added to the red and yellow with the swirl on it.

The Gingerbread Palace In The City Of Sweets

Not quite what I was hoping for it to look like, My original idea was for a post card look. I was going to try and have this as the main image with some squares to the side depicting certain sections of the palace. But once again I ran out of time XD. However rather pleased with this. Took roughly 2 hours (not including doing ironing in between working on it). Rather enjoying these quick speed paints. Feels good to use Photoshop after ignoring it for so long.

CGAA Speed Painting Challenge 19/12/2012

Ok this took me 10-15 minutes (I was determined to try something for this challenge) . I know it's not too good. I'm not entirely sure what I was aiming for. However I can now go in a push it further.

Edit- changed the sky colour to make it a little darker.

Pixel Circus- Work Experience

First of apologies for the lack of updates. My laptop has finally decided to give up the ghost and has a very funky looking screen when actually turned on

However on the plus side, I'm now doing a part time work experience for a company in Margate called Pixel Circus, more info about them can be found here Pixel Circus. Here I'm learning to use 3D Studio Max as the company uses this instead of Maya. 

Miro: Into Maya

Just to show I've not dropped Miro and that this project is still on-going, here's a screen shot of the first attempt at recreating my concepts in Maya. I've used the technique I learnt when re creating De Chirico to help place shapes and objects. I've used a camera with my image plane attached to it and a simple plane to help me calculate the horizon line. From there I can then position my geometry :-).

Bump In The Night: Stills for Leeds Castle Fireworks Spooktacular (Clever Projections and STL Lighting)

After a few late nights my work on a 1:50 animation for Clever Projections and STL Lighting is ready to be projected onto Leeds Castle and will be accompanied by their annual fireworks display. The music to be played alongside the animation is 'Bump in the Night' by 'allSTARS'. The idea was to have in the style of gaming things fly around in bobbing up and down to the music, as well as stick with the Halloween theme. also, anyone recognize the fleeing mortal from evil?

Work In Progres

Just thought I'd update to show I've not fallen off of the face of the Earth. Miro at the moment has been put on hold for a bit whilst I work on this side project :-).

Concept Cupboard: Guest Blogger

After responding to the an add in the newsletter about being a guest blogger for Concept Cupboard, the post featuring my interview with links to my blog is finally complete. It can be found at the link below.

 Concept Cupboard: Guest Blogger

Pushing Ideas Further

Started another concept piece. This time focusing on the barn.

My first attempt at creating the barn wasn't too great. So in an attempt to get the shape, like the dog I put a picture of a barn into Photoshop and traced over before cutting away into the block colours to get something which represented Miro's work more. I was also advised to try working to a larger scale. I've also aquired a book called 'Draw With Joan Miro' which has been very helpful in giving me an insight on how to use shapes to create my work. 

To also push my ideas, I've tried experimenting with different coloured backgrounds.

Miro: First Ideas Update

Another piece of concept art. This one I based upon a fence and a pathway. As well as either a dog or dogs I also can't shake the image of a 'farm yard'. I will try to get a short animatic up at some point as at this stage I feel it'll help more than more 2D pieces.

Miro: First Ideas

After listening to the music of my choice, I can't help but keep seeing dogs. Perhaps it's the barking sound which comes partially halfway through. So going with this lead I took a photo of a dog form the side and traced round it, using basic shapes. 

 I then randomized these shapes even further to make them more in line with how Miro paints.

Music Direction

After looking through Vimeo for music which I can use for free, I've fond a track. It's live and bouncy which I think will fit the style of the animation but will also help influence how things will move etc.

Coming Soon

Above is an influence map to help me generate some new ideas for a new project. As Phil usually says 'watch this space' :-)

The Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

Despite a rainy day, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant overall was a fun and memorable event. The team consisted of Senior Section and Guiding members from Faversham, Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Herne Bay who, having never met before, were sent to Battersea to work together. We were tasked with assisting those in the community with disabilities who had gathered to watch the river pageant... 

The Queen's River Pageant

On the 3rd of June Ella and I as well as a few other Guiding members from Kent and Medway joined up to assist at the River Pageant for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. There we assisted disabled members of the community whilst they watched the Queen go by on the river. Above is a write up of the days events which I wrote for the Guiding website. Apologies for making this post a little late but I completely forgot about it.

New Designers and Graduation

New Designers is the UK's top graduate exhibition. It was at this exhibition that some of us stood for hours on end trying to reel people onto our stand. The zoetrope's created pulled in a captive audience especially 'The Girl and Hoop (starting at 0:19)' which was filmed and photographed many times.



Thanks for Leo Tsang for managing to capture the zoetrope animations.

Shortly after New Designers it was time for Graduation. Was a rather exciting day (helped by the fact that the weather held). After 3 years of mixed emotions and having to deal with software which at times never seemed to want to work I finally made it to the big day :-). 

Charlotte Buchan: Portfolio

Contact Details

                                   

De Chirico: Realm of Dreams

Demo Reel

Stills from 'De Chirico: Realm of Dreams'

De Chirico Making of Final

The Mappa Mundi: A Knight's Journey

The Mappa Mundi: A Knight's Tale from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Bump In The Night: Stills for Leeds Castle Fireworks Spooktacular (Clever Projections and STL Lighting)

CASTLE COMP 2 from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.



Coton Club Mix from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.



Cotton Club Clip from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Animation and clips from the 20s themed Cotton Club evening. 

Fruit Machine from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Animation for the event Dom Pérignon.

Animation 3 Try 2 from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Animation 4 Try 1 from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

The animation used for the charity event 'ARK'. The event was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

VJ Clips from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Vsuals complimenting DJ performances at a music event called the Barn Party. Created for nananaMANIA.

De Chirico: Realm of Dreams Final Animation

Final animation

Demo reel
De Chirico_ Realm of Dreams
Making Of

De Chirico DVD Template

@ Phil Steam Effect

Is the steam effect looking better?

The Anxious Journey 1

The Anxious Journey 1 from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.

Rendered version of 'The Anxious Journey'. However need to re render it as when put into my pre-vis the clip is a little bit too short. However the more I get these renders out the more I look forward to putting it together.

Opening Sequence 2

Just realized that I put up the wrong video in this post. Changed that XD. Re rendered the opening sequence. The train now moves slower and the tower has some windows and also some flags at the top. The sky has a texture overlaid in an attempt to see if it improved the plain coloured background.

@ Phil and/or @Alan

The archway on the left is somewhat bugging me. As you can see when the camera moves it becomes obvious that the geometry simply 'stops' and therefore makes the archway seem rather 'odd'. I thought of mirroring it to extend the archway, however I'm not 100% sure on this idea. Is there anything I could do to improve this?

The Anxious Journey Pre Vis

The Anxious Journey Pre Vis from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.
Have gone back and refined the camera movement in the scene of 'The Anxious Journey'. It's now a lot smoother now and less 'empty' space. All that is left is to add bump maps and lighting.

Girl and Hoop controls

Above is another example of how the girl will be animated. This was simply created to show how the controls work. However despite needing to tweak the animation, she's now ready to import into my other scene.

Opening Sequence

Opening_Sequence_1 from Charlotte Buchan on Vimeo.
First set of renders for the opening of my animation. A few things need changing, such as the speed of the train and I hope if I have time to add some windows to the tower. However at the moment this little section can be put to the side as I need to finish of my other scenes for rendering.

Test Render

Another test render. This one is for the opening of my animation. Had some help from Tom getting the shot right and hopefully aim to finish the scene tomorrow. Need to tweak the texture on the tower a little bit as well as the flag. Add on bump maps as well and add in some background animation such as some birds in the sky.

Lighting Tests 2

Another update on lighting tests. Finally got it looking like De Chirico's painting with help from Tom. Few things need editing but I'm working on them.

Lighting Tests

Just uploading a few renders with some lighting tests. As suggested by Tom I've started using Maya Physical Sun to create a De Chirico styled lighting system.

Pre-Vis Update 2

Went back and refined some of the camera movements. Also added in the girl and her hoop. The image sequence at the beginning is an idea I came up with to use what I've already modelled as a way of coming to the three main environments. I've already modelled the tower in the background and I've already got some pre made archways so adding it all together wont take long. However I still need to think of how to round the animation of and end it. As well as my pre-vis, I've also looked up (as an idea suggested by Phil) De Chirico's signature to use in the title sequence. I'm not 100% sure if it is his writing, however it is a style of writing which would have been used in De Chirico's time.