A Final Journal

My term is done. I am free. But I’d like to write about my final week here before the summer holidays. Because if I don’t do it now I never will.

 

When last I wrote about my progress I had done four Key drawings in one day! Keys take a while because they are the drawing that tell the story, but not only did I do them, but I did them well! I could be going insane but I think I’m getting better and quicker at drawing. The next day I made two more Keys. And again they came out good! I talked to Owen about line testing and he said that I should just do the “Passing positions” and draw them in a very loose style. I tried doing this. But after a while I found it was easier to draw detailed in-betweens with Key-like quality. I kept at and after a while I started thinking “Lets add in an expression change here” or “What if I did an extra halfway point?” and I found myself doing something I hadn’t done in a long time. Taking the indicative and getting creative. I was giving myself more work than I had to because e I wanted to. I was determined to Show the full range of emotions Ezekiel goes through as he considers accepting the Loving embrace Hestia offers him before changing his mind and violently rejecting it.

I came in everyday feeling drained, convinced I couldn’t start again. But Not letting myself use the computer means over time I can work up the confidence to do a little. And a Little can turn into a lot. And soon I’m working away. Not that I didn’t have relapses. I wasted a lot of time on Wednesday on the computer and on Thursday I sent a lot of time staring at the celling. But was able to break the through the fear that’s been holding me back and on Thursday pulled a Midnight shift for the first time in Months. And at the end of it I had 24 extra drawings. Considering I have struggled in the past to get two drawings of this quality done in a day 24 in three days is a massive step up! The last ones where I had to use all the techniques I’ve discovered in the last month to show him breaking free where epically hard. I thought I would be able to do it at all. But somehow I did.

There were enough of drawings that when I put them all together for a line test on Friday (Today) on 3s (8 frames per second) in was good enough to pass as animation!

 

Her it is

 

It’s still just a linetest. On seeing it Morgan said the bit where he breaks free of her embrace should be quicker and I agree. Fast actions should really be on Ones. And the bit in the middle where he’s thinking needs to be longer. But that was always the plan. But I still think it’s good. Could use more movement though. And I wish I’d made Hestia’s movements more visible. Turns out really small movements just don’t register if they’re this small, or fast, or something else is the centre of attention, or all three.

But the thoughts and emotions are clear as day and the expressions are perfect. For a guy who hates drawing faces and expressions I think that is a real accomplishment.

I still hope to animate it for real some day. And maybe even draw the final scene of him walking away and Hestia looking sad. But for now, I think I did okay. Morgan sure seems to think I’ve come on by leaps and bounds.

 

 

Owen helped me render the thing. Looped the bits that needed looping.  As well as colour correct the backlit parts that just look kind of blue.  I am very grateful to him I would not have been able to do it on my own.

There’s enough here that when you put it together it tells a coherent story. So While it is not finished here is the animation as it is. I hope you like it.

 

 

And Now I’m done.

 

Fuck my life. I need a rest. I’m going to play the easiest Video game I own to unwind.