User:JMvdKOLK/ToTmain

Tools of the Trade

Statement

The craft I'm going to work with is Animation.
Animation is about bringing non-moving imagery to life. To accomplish this, Animation uses a variety of methods and tools. It uses for example storytelling, producing of work (digital, analog, 3D or 2D) and editing. Digital tools could make it easier to craft animation. When computers weren't that advanced yet, people had to draw their cells on paper and use a layer machine to combine them. Now we can create layers easily in any drawing software.
The cons of my profession are not being able to see the final result immediately, you have to use a method to render it out or flip through it. (devices/digitally etc) Another struggle is coming up with an idea. As an animator it is easy to get stuck in a personal bubble. A good way for inspiration or motivation is by watching what others did, going outside and view your surroundings, talking to others or just simply doing something else. Another thing I'm worrying about is how much motion capture and scanning is happening in animation. A lot of AAA animation is not made by hand anymore but with motion capture. models can now be scanned and animations are trying to achieve realism.

I believe it would be fun to figure out something to distract yourself from your work and which give you new ideas. I am thinking of a device that could spew new ideas at you and give you inspiration.

[1]

Research

Theme: Distraction
Questionary: Design a device that distracts us and leads us to new insights and inspirations.

The Art of Distraction
Author(s): Thomas J. Cottle
Source: The Antioch Review, Vol. 51, No. 2, The Late Dylan Thomas (Spring, 1993), pp. 284-293
Published by: Antioch Review Inc.

The Art of Distraction Summary
10 pages.
page 1:
The first page explains the society's need for distraction and how the government, communication media and entertainment uses it. It defines 'distraction' as 'to divert or draw the mind away from something' It also explains it means 'to cause conflict and confusion'.
page 2:
The second page is explaining distractions are affecting us mentally. It changes our way of looking or thinking. it also talks about how certain aspects of our society uses this knowledge to capture our attention. As examples the writer uses Advertising and celebrities.
Page 3:
About recognition and trying to achieve recognition. about the difference of achieving recognition from people through fame than through hard labor.
Page 4:
questions our reason why we recognize a celebrity and asks who we're referring to when we talk about how media affects us, despite we don't know how the media is influencing us.
Page 5:
More examples on recognition. Also brings in the notion that we start to approach the message information together with who tells message.
Page 6:
Tells us examples how the messengers identity can be affect our view to the role he's going to play. It reminds me of how I view the actors behind draco malfoy or Joffrey from Game of Thrones. My first impression of them in another movie is usually negative or evil.
Page 7 - 8:
Mostly about how we view celebrities and the messages they convey with the roles they play with examples
Page 9 - 10:
About how people could see themselves as distracted from their life goals, which they may or may not have found at the end of their lives.

[[2]]
Article Title: ARTIST'S BLOCK AND HOW NOT TO GET DISTRACTED by BLYTHART
Website Title: Redbubble
Author: Dave 'BLYHART' Edwards

An article where the writer spoke with other people from his[redbubble] community about approaching an 'artist's block' or how to not be distracted.

His distraction points: checking his community[redbubble], making tea and checking emails. solution: sitting in his car drawing on the passenger side, he finds his inspiration to draw harder to find. He tries to find it through shifting through his portofolio to find themes he didn't work on for a while or look at what other people made.

He quotes a fellow artist on Redbubble, Paul Compton, who explains that 'he finds inspiration comes from viewing things in a different light.' (change of perspective) He also agrees with Paul that listening to music helps. Other things that Paul seem to use to break from his 'artist's block' is by drawing abstract shapes or using imagery of tv.

The writer then adds the opinion of Linda Callaghan, who thinks that by waiting her 'artist's block' is removed. Kaitlin 'Firedrake' Beckett agrees with this. visiting art shops also makes her excited for creating art.

What i've gathered: doing something else can lead you to inspiration or gives you motivation to create something. There are different ways to tackle a lack of work sense. some need something as music to get into the flow, others need to walk outside to gain outside input.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50nt__aGojg
Are you practicing distraction?
Author: Mark Freeman
Source: Youtube.com
Publisher: Youtube
Published on: Apr 17, 2015

Why are we distracted and what do we do against it?
Learn to focus and practice not to be unfocused.

Themes to be able to work with:
- Achieve flow or inspiration through listening/creating music.
- Through Outside or communication with others gain new input or perspective.

Ideas for Objects
Music:

- an instrument that immediately changes to the mood of music you want while playing. 

- a speaker device that picks songs fitting to your mood.

Outside:
- Color contrast Ring, Find the opposite color of the spectrum on an object and hold your ring against it. after that you need to find a new color.

Shapes:
- Yoyo, capture its movement. (low shutter speed)
- A ball that can be changed in a form. it's stamp changes contour that way.
- A bouncing ball with keyframes?
- (knikkers) which the shadow create interesting shapes.
- (Knikkers) that have a changing shape inside them.

Other
- Magnets moving eachother around.
- Nerfgun, shooting at things.
- Puppets/plushies.
- Touchpad based device
- rubix cube
- Puzzel box with contours that you can use in your world ala (find artist)