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Gold!!!

Gold Process by eloel AKA @the-designs

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Animation techniques and effects from the classic era. For more vintage movie geekery, check out my Old Hollywood Special Effects, and my Early Color Film Processes posts! (And while you’re at it, take a look at my art blog, why don’t ya?)

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Water Tutorial by lisiCat

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Gorgeously inspiring face for ANY character design I can think of :P

Millie Bobby Brown for W Magazine

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What never to do!

CTNx is using my guide with no permission or credit

If any of you remember my CTNx survival guide… My guide is, word-for-word, posted on the official CTNx website… with NO credit… No link. No mention of my name. They didn’t even change the wording. Seriously.

It is advertised directly on their homepage:

Their site:

My blog:

As you can see, apparently CTNx can’t even come up with their own summary for their own event.

Them:

Me:

Oh, and they also have this disclaimer in the footer of their website:

HMMM. I guess they would feel kinda bad if someone took their content without permission??

Had CTNx asked me for permission and posted a link to my guide with credit, I would have been happy to oblige! But here we are!!

@ CTNx what’s up???

EDIT: For anyone who has noticed, there is currently a small link to my blog on the page - it was added after this post was made. It was not there previously, just for clarification. I have been contacted and will keep you updated. Thank you to everyone for the support!

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This article is not animation related per se, but the tips and advice in the article is pretty extraordinary, and can be related to your animation goals and career. 

Here is a brief take from the article, and you can read it when you have time:

1. What You Do Every Night is Important. Will you spend more time watching tv/videos/video games? Will you take time to working towards your future position/job? Take time to practice what you want to do for a lifetime.

2. Do More Reading. Take time to read (offline if possible). Read about science, history, technology, things that you are intrigued to know, but have yet to venture in. Then, transfer your new knowledge into your work and group.

3. Do Some Projects. Do not wait for someone to give you a chance to work on a project. Create one yourself, and apply the knowledge you just learned or currently learning. Create deadlines for those projects, to keep your activity sharp. 

4. Build Your Network. Connect with those in the area(s) you want to be in, and build your network. You cannot achieve your dreams/goals alone.

5. Start Making the Change Tonight. Begin finding at least 30 minutes to an hour of your time to focus on what you want to improve on and change. 

I do hope this inspires you and motivate you to continue practicing and achieving your goals in animation. Don’t give up, there’s just one more frame that can take you to the next level! 

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❤ Give love! Spread love!  ❤

Go and tell your favorite artist something nice about their art! Go-go-go!

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Hey I'm just starting out in the world of animation and I'm trying to find a sense of direction as to where to start! I want to pursue a career in animation and am ready to start wherever I can as a freshman in college. Would you have any helpful tips or advice?

Hey there, it is a pleasure to meet you! I first want to let you know of our Advice Page, where we reblog advice from animators who are in the animation industry, and students who are currently in the animation program learning the medium. This will give you more information in how you can get into the animation game. 

Here are some pointers:

1. Always Draw: No matter if you start animating in 3D, hand drawn, or even cut puppet, strong draftsmanship is essential. There are many difficult and challenging poses (and subjects) to do, and if you can nail it down by drawing first, the other media you would use will follow soon after, It will help your observational skills too if you decide to do acting, so do life drawing (class or off campus). Even if you go to the grocery store, restaurants, coffee shop, always always draw when you can. Be adventurous in your studies, try to draw multiple poses and subject matter if possible. 

2. Learn the 12 Principles of Animation: Knowing the 12 Principles of Animation will help you plus your animation skills and reel - especially when it’s time to show the world what you can do. Getting in there to animate and start is what’s necessary, at the same time, understanding why you choose those decisions can help or break your performance (animation). The best way to get started is to try the Bouncing Ball. Already, you are learning nearly 9 out of the 12 Principles of Animation in that exercise alone! The Principles, and other Principles, will come into your knowledge, to where it becomes second nature. Take a look at the 12 Principles of Animation page we have. :) 

3. Analyze and Study Animation: Take time to find a favorite scene you like, and see how the animators are performing their characters. Learn Staging - while it’s great to animate anything, Staging is essential, it allows us the viewer to know what is taking place, and why focusing the camera shot a certain way for the animation. See where the other 12 Principles show up, and then, see if you can animate like your heros. Best animation to look for the 12 Principles are classic Looney Tunes (like Chuck Jones), anything Walt Disney feature animated films, even anime. And then, look for your favorites to see if they’re using the 12 Principles and other methods for animation. 

4. Understanding First/Software Second: Many animator beginners ask what software do animators use. There is nothing wrong asking that; however, start to ask animators what Principles they had in mind to make the animation the way they intended. The software part will come second, in understanding how to use it - but the knowledge of knowing how to animate is definitely more important. Because with that knowledge, you can use that in any media you desire. 

5. Animate!: Even if you can get a few seconds done a week (like 3-4 seconds), that’s better practice than having done no animation at all. As you animate, have fun and be encouraged that every step forward will have you become better. Don’t be discouraged if things take a little more time to get it right - it’s happened to the greatest of animators. What makes them great is that they stuck with it, it is a very tough medium to master. And when you do animate - SHARE! :D Let the world know what you have done. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, it will help you grow faster! Believe me. 

6. On the Sharing Work part: This is crucial. Believe it or not, people get spotted by companies like Disney because they post consistent strong work and the potential for progression. @danaterrace can’t stress it enough to post work online, that is how she got discovered for Gravity Falls. You never know who you might catch someone’s eye after all your hard work, they might want you to be part of their team! So display your work, get stronger, and network. Also, be sure you let others know what is your participation if you worked on a collaboration project - if misunderstanding of your role comes up, or if someone believes you’re showing work that is not yours, that can hurt your opportunities to collaborate more. 

7. Networking: It’s not Who You Know, it’s Who Knows You. If they know your work ethic and your personality, that is a better shot for you to get your foot in the door. It’s just like being invited to someone’s house - no one invites someone they don’t feel would be appropriate. So do your best to be humble, to provide your best attitude forward. Animation is a small community, and if you decide to burn bridges, word grows quick. We love people, especially awesome humble people. Reach out to your heroes, but also to those who are growing in animation as well. You never know who might come back to reach for you as a collaborator. 

Also, go to animation events if you can in your area. Or see if you can plan to attend an annual event out of your local area so you can be more acquainted with other animators and storytellers (like a comic con, or a film festival). 

8. It Takes Time: Sometimes it takes time to get into the animation industry. So please don’t let that discourage you - while you wait for your entry, continue to create and update your portfolio, find side work (even if it’s not art related) so that you can use the time off work to continue growing and networking. It will happen before you know it if you keep working and letting the world know what you can do. 

9. Decide Which Role You Want to Play: Many of us would like to be the creator of the show we see on networks; however, that is not always the case. While that opportunity will come to you by invitation or taking initiative (create your own show on YouTube or other media outlets), decide which role of production you want to do. Then show that in your animation reel. 

There are a lot of roles to fulfill on the production line for animation, not just animators alone. There are writers, storyboardists (in high need for them in the animation industry right now believe it or not), character designers, background designers, art directors, etc. Decide what you would like to do mostly, and show your best work in your demo reel and your portfolio site. And finally… 

10. Stay Healthy: We always hear about the animation side, but you cannot animate or stay in the art game long if you don’t take care of yourself. Eating healthy and exercise will help your body in the long run, so that you don’t run into problems down the road. It’s easy to snack on junk food or have fast food as lunch and dinner…but please, take care of your body - your dreams will shorten if you don’t do this. Have a game plan to find what healthy quick foods you can make so that you stay fueled up and energized. as well as to exercise. You don’t have to be Superman or Wonder Woman, but exercise will get rid of the extra stress and pressure you might be feeling from animating. We want you to succeed, and to continue to for the future. 

I hope this has been helpful to you, and by all means, keep on asking if you have more questions! We look forward to seeing your skills change the animation game, and the world. Blessings!  :) 

P.S. Books like Cartoon Animation by Preston Blair and The Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams are truly helpful in getting started too! :) You’ll learn so much from them alone! 

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Very good advice for not just non-artists :D

We artists have noticed something: communication with some of our clients (new and old) has not been very good, of late. While there are still many art directors, creative directors, and business owners who efficiently and effectively communicate with us, there are seemingly just as many who are in need of important tips on how to properly assign work or manage projects. Please note: I do not blame these individuals — not one bit; hiring artists for projects is not usually something you are taught in school, and there is no Communicating with Artists for Dummies book, as far as I know.

Therefore, here is a guideline that will lead to improved communication, fewer revisions, better artwork, and fewer headaches for all involved.

1. Your first email to an artist should not read: “Hey, are you available for a job?”

This kind of email is a waste of everybody’s time, because all of the important information is missing: description of the job, timeline, and budget. In order to reduce the back-and-forth between the individual requesting the creative work, and the artist, simply take a moment to include the important information in the initial email request. For example: “Dear Ms. Granger, we are publishing a story in our magazine about the ongoing conflict between hedgehogs and walruses. We will need a cover, a full page, and two spot illustrations. The deadline for sketches is March 1st, and the final artwork will be due March 8th. Our budget is $3750. Are you available / interested in working with us on this assignment? Please let me know by 5pm today. Thank you.”

With one email, you have now given the artist all of the info needed to decide whether or not to accept the job. As an illustrator, most of the emails I received ten years ago read just like the above. Lately, this has not been the case. I’m not sure what happened, but let’s fix that.

2. Please do not expect artists to read minds.

Details are very important. When sending emails about your job, give as many relevant details as possible to an artist, if the assigned artwork has specific requirements. Artists are great at solving creative problems, but we cannot guess what you are looking for if we are not told up front. For example, if you tell an illustrator to draw “a car on a street,” then the illustrator will assume the make and model of the car are not important. The illustrator will also assume the street can be any kind of street. Therefore, it is not fair to the artist to reject the final art because you expected a vintage Porsche on the Autobahn. Please be sure to communicate all required elements of the art in your earliest correspondence with your artist, and it will be smooth sailing for all.

If you tell an artist you need a mural of a vineyard painted on a wall in your restaurant, do not wait until the artist is half finished with a stunning, 20 foot scene with bright morning light casting cool shadows over the grapevines, to tell them that you need the time of day to be sunset. Not only is this a problem for your timeline, but the artist must be paid for all the changes that need to be made because the communication was not clear from the beginning.

Sometimes, you love the portfolio of a certain artist and you wish to give this person artistic freedom when commissioning a piece of work. Let us not confuse this wish for unbridled creativity with a lack of relevant information. For instance, the recent recipient of the Richard Gangel Art Director Award, SooJin Buzelli, is famous for giving her editorial artists a lot of freedom. But, when she assigns work, she actually has spent a good deal of time figuring out a way to distill a complex article down to its essential message or theme. She then sends this one or two sentence summary to a carefully selected illustrator, providing that individual with a perfect launchpad from which to create a unique visual solution. This is good communication. The artist comes away with enough information to be creative and daring without producing a piece of work that completely misses the mark.

3. Please Don’t Leave Us Hanging

This is just common courtesy. I often get asked if I am available for an illustration and I then respond in the affirmative with some questions about the assignment or the budget or some other detail. Then, no reply ever comes. A week later, I will see another artist blog about completing the very same assignment that was initially emailed to me. While I understand that everybody is very busy, and emails are flying around at the speed of light, I urge you to please remember that it is unprofessional and rude to simply leave an artist hanging. We often will put other things on hold or rework our weekly schedule to accommodate a project that we think is moving forward. A simple email to let us know that you will be working with somebody else, the job is cancelled, you need to consult with a coworker before moving forward, etc. is all we need to move on and stay on top of our other jobs. There is a popular misconception that artists are free spirits, day dreaming on a hillside and waiting for inspiration to strike, checking emails from paint smattered laptops touted around in burlap sacks … or whatever … but hey! Artists who make a living making art are working. They’re working all the time. Keeping an artist in the dark about the status of a project upsets their productivity in a major way. Please don’t do this.

I welcome comments. Please be polite. Thanks.

- Kyle T. Webster

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How to get a job as an artist/ animator

Getting a job in which you can draw and animate is as challenging and as time consuming as creating drawing and animation.  Whether you are new to animation or extremely well educated, it is a challenge because it is so sought after so studios have the ability to be choosey. 

 So where do you begin?

1.    Do your homework

 I’m not just talking about your literal homework…that was all practice for the real world.  Your assignment…find as much out as you can about the industry you are going into.  Know the difference between a work for hire, salary, temp to hire, freelance, and hourly work.  There are several outlets for animating/design/ and art besides the entertainment industry, two of the most expanding being in education, interactive gaming, social media, and medical fields. 

Do not limit yourself to just working at Pixar or Dream works, because you will find it difficult to break into any of those fortune five hundred companies without some serious experience and everyone has to start somewhere. 

2.    Get constructive criticism

 Everyone is so afraid to show their work now a days, especially if the person has a reputation for being a master at there craft.  However, no matter positive or negative, you need to take every word into consideration that they say, because they are experts and know what they are talking about.  I once showed storyboard artist at blue sky who had over 25 years experience at Disney prior my portfolio, which I had spent most of my college life building…he flipped through all ten images fairly quickly…replied I had talent but he would rather see 100 sketches than 10 fully rendered paintings because the only thing he could learn from ten paintings is that I could paint, but to be a storyboard artist you must be able to draw anything, and quickly, vs. a painting which could take several hours and the viewer has no way of knowing how much effort went into it.  So, go seek these people out.  They are almost always more than likely to respond to message or email.  If at all possible, find them in person.  Always better to make a real personable connection.   

3.    Get to know companies and their culture

If your heart is set on animating, really do your research about not only what is thriving currently but which companies within that field are doing the best, which are making a comeback, and which are falling behind.  It is important for your progress to note this as well. Also talking to people within the industry will give you fast insight as to how you might fare in similar shoes.  I was told by a woman who worked at blue sky that it became difficult during there weeks of overtime during the summer where sometimes the workload was 80 hour weeks in which she would arrive at work around 4 am and leave at 6 pm and would only get a few hours a day with her kids and husband before having to do it all over again the next day.  If your not a hard-core fast paced environment person, that doesn’t mean you can’t be an animator or an artist, it just means there is a different job for you.  Other design projects take months or years to produce…maybe you rather do something that requires long term developing as opposed to fast turn around times.  But you won’t know that until you get to know people and see what they say, and than ask yourself “could I do that?”  “do I want to do that”  “how good would I be with that”

 4.     Think outside the box when applying to jobs

Everyone that knows me knows I am creative, but they also know my creative ways of getting jobs.  How do you ask?  Call it being open-minded and unafraid of rejection, but I choose to look on craigslist and linked in every day.  Why?  Word of mouth often travels faster than ads; because ads usually cost companies money and the second they go up they are bombarded with hundreds of emails.  Look not only in the creative classifieds, but in other ones that are related such as television/ entertainment, or art/design…you will be surprised sometimes you will hit gold. 

Linked in also is huge!  If you are impatient with waiting to be discovered as I was, you will start recruiting recruiters and headhunters yourself.  If not just them, you will also recruit people within the industry you want to be a part of.  It is really important because in entertainment especially, it’s all about who you know so name recognition may help you, either by being associated with people or by being a big deal all by yourself.  You will be surprised sometimes when an art director or a big shot producer sees your stuff and likes it.  It is possible; you just got to get out of your shell and show them your serious!

5.    Sell yourself

 Sounds like this is a negative thing right? Not really…because lets be honest, if you can’t tell someone with full confidence why you are going to make them money, why would they invest in you and your talent?  Put yourself in there shoes…if you were hiring an artist or animator…what would you need to hear in order to consider them?  What would you need to see? What is of value to you in your employees…? Once you answer that, become those things…present yourself like you fell out of the sky as the answer to all there artistic needs.  #1 out of everything though, let the work speak for yourself…and than when asked speak about the work.  Don’t mess up the order because these guys can quibble about how great your art is with you all they want but they are there to find the most profit with the least amount of risk.  And nothing refutes risk quite like a badass portfolio and a great track record of completing assignments. 

6.    Portfolio evaluations

 Every two years, you should be creating a new portfolio.  You are not the same person you were when you were in college, and the only way your work will evolve is if you push yourself further. But this is a little bit different than that.  So make a new portfolio, and keep in mind what others are submitting.  There is a blueprint as to what these companies look for and they are all different.  Find out what it is and get to work.  If you wouldn’t frame it on your wall it probably shouldn’t go in.  It’s okay to be picky and if you are unsure ask a stranger. 

7.    Wear more hats

 Companies want multi-talented employees because it saves them money and it makes it easier to have in house people solve problems than to further recruit assistance because they know you are capable.  So be sure to advertise that you are not only a master artist but you also learn programs quickly and you are good at writing.  You will make waves and spark more interest and admiration from your coworkers if you take on multiple tasks outside of your job description.  The extra brownie points won’t hurt you. 

8.    Social media

People can’t hire you if they don’t see you.  Social media is becoming a new inexpensive way to market your self as an artist. USE IT!  There is a huge following of animators and artists in the entertainment business on tumblr AND blogger so go friend them, see what they are up to, what they post about, how they describe there work flow and daily lives, and get yourself hooked into a new community.  I will never forget the day that the head of Disney Storyboard department Paul Briggs started following and commenting.  Sure enough we linked up via linked in and he invited me out to Disney studios for a tour anytime I am in the area and gave me some expert advice I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.  Seriously…get blogger if nothing else.  Facebook pages also a plus. 

 9.    Practice

 Some people complain that you can’t afford class or have a lack of supplies.  And yes, you know it can get expensive but honestly the only one keeping you from moving forward is you. Go to the park, the store, a café…there are free models everywhere.  Any scrap paper napkin and pen will do. Just practice.  Doesn’t need to be final rendered works.  People back in the day before computers had such fewer resources and they pioneered ways to create depth and motion that nobody else has.  If they can do it without the internet and fancy supplies so can you.  But if you have or need the internet, LYNDA.com has great tutorials. If your aim is more for 3D animating, you will need Maya…but student versions are often available for reduced prices and are just as good.  There are lots of free tutorials out there so paying 50 grand for a year of school is often not necessary.  

10. Don’t give up

This is the biggy!  True story I’m going to tell you, my first year out of school was HARD! I had a dream of going to grad school in Cali for animation and landing my dream job within just a few years out of school.  But I learned that the world had another plan for me. 

I was doing animation mentor and balancing a fulltime design job.  It was a lot of new programs to learn and I was getting burnt out…so I quit my job, thinking that was the reason that I wasn’t exceling in 3D animation.  I learned that wasn’t the issue either.  I didn’t pass my class so they placed me in the same fundamentals class again.  I was starting to get frustrated. I dropped out after three weeks and with little advancement in my skills…and I realized I didn’t feel like an artist anymore.  I felt very lost and in place of my passion was anxiety from not only quitting my job to advance, but also by not advancing.  Did that make me a loser, a quitter…was everyone right that I was destined to be a starving artist? 

Something snapped and I said…”NO” this is not going to be it for me.  I did not work my whole life for this to stop here.  So

I applied for hundreds of jobs, everyday searching, redid my resume, created new work comps for every interview or inquiry.  I was hunting…and than I started hunting in NYC…and landed four interviews in one week. To which I received two offers, and to one which I accepted. 

-Courtney Elyse

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Because we must stay fighters :D

Other drawings with message, I love to draw strong, physically and mentally, women. Soon you can purchase an A4 prints in https://pussycrazyclub.com/ store. Who says that girls can not fight? And I remember you that other prints are right now on sale, more info here  http://monkeyelbow.tumblr.com/post/140744363166/limited-edition-print-for-sale

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AGATHA

A Nymph from the upcoming animated short ‘NIMF’

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YES!!! PIGEONS!!!

More PIGEONS! MORE!

Sorry it took so long but here! Gracious ballet pigeons!!

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Unfortunately, production for NIMF has been slow... very very very slow... And I'm the one to blame for it. Sorry.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NIMF is still in production and I'm working hard! Here's a concept art for NIMF. Our unwilling leading lady. Hmmmmm... Did I say too much now?

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Part of Gelo Photography​’s Anti-Hate messages series. Check the album to see how you can contribute!

Cosplayers in order (left to right): Red-Kitsu Cosplay,  Nuwanda Cosplay,  Ange,  Silver Fyre studio,  Kim Cosplay. AJ Cosplay,  Atashi Cosplay, Dezcreepcore,  Lola Cosplay,  Kate Sykes Photographers in order (left to right): Nuwanda Cosplay,  Red-Kitsu Cosplay,  Pradipta CA, Anonymous,  Kim Cosplay,  AJ Cosplay, D.B., rodsprinklesphoto,  Lola Cosplay , Kate’s step-mother.

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Agreed! Stay healthy everyone!

I can’t stress enough the importance of stretching your hands, and forearms every morning and every evening, spend 5-10 minutes going through a stretching routine. These are very easy to do, takes little time to do them. It’s VERY common in all animation studios. Conditions can slowly develop, the most typical one is Repetitive Strain Injury, it’s a prevalent condition resulting from overusing the hands to perform a repetitive task, such as typing, clicking a mouse, writing, and of course drawing. In simple medical terms, repetitive strain injury (RSI) stems from prolonged repetitive, forceful, or awkward hand movements. The result is minor damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves of the neck, shoulder, forearm, and most commonly hand and wrist, which can cause pain, weakness, or numbness. If you’re feeling some pains, tingles, weakness, or numbness in the wrist/forearm; one of the best ways to heal quickly are ‘Contrasting Baths’. What crazy voodoo am I speaking of? A couple different physiotherapists and massage therapists had recommended this technique to me several years ago, and for anyone I knew that tried it, they all say the results are fast and effective. Commonly used by carpal tunnel suffers, it’s a method of treating muscle soreness, swelling and inflammation, it’s also known as Hot/Cold Immersion Therapy. You can use the double sink in your kitchen at home, if you don’t have one, then get your hands on two very large identical bowls, it needs to be big enough to submerge your entire forearms from wrist to elbow. Fill one up with ice cold water (with a couple dozen ice cubes floating in there). The other with very warm water, not tea-kettle boiling hot water, just hot tap water, or as warm as you can handle, no sense in burning yourself of course. Have a stop watch or clock ready, and submerge your arms for 30 seconds in the hot, then switch to doing 30 sec. in the cold, and repeat a few times back and forth, 30 sec. a piece. After only a few times you’ll notice the hot water getting cooler and the cold water getting warmer, so then the technique grows to be less effective, but by then, the job is done. The idea is that the extreme heat and cold contracts and expands your blood vessels, promoting greater blood flow to circulate and flush through your arms, and increased blood flow is what aids in healing faster! Enjoy!

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For artists and animators. Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.

The PDF version of this can be found [Here]. Stick it up in your work station. Keep yourself healthy.