My poor blog's feeling a little abandoned since I haven't been maintaining it (writing). So here's some more stuff about studying Games Design at QCA. It's still fairly interesting, by far the most interesting class is "Principles of Game Design" which is the new title for "Intro to Games Design". It's been undergoing some reconstruction since our convener Arash decided the original structure and content wasn't appropriate for us (really he means it's kinda of crappy).

He also happens to be one of the funniest teachers I have ever had, though that may be partly due to his enthusiasm, use of pop-culture references and sheer personality. You can't help but smile when your teacher says "...and yes, there will be time for a potty break." He does like to talk a bit but not as much as...

Kay, our life drawing teacher for "Drawing for Animation". She can talk, which is a good and bad thing at the same time. She is imparting important information to us, but at the same time, it doesn't leave a lot of time for drawing. I'm suddenly realising that we were quite spoiled at Southbank. It's difficult doing the drawing class since I'm can't figure out just what Kay wants, my drawing ability seems to have diminished and the techniques we're learning to draw are some what confusing.

We're told to use something called the "cloud technique", the aim is to get a 'silhouette' of your object. You do this by using a small piece of charcoal and start making small circular or square motions and "grow" the shape into your form. Somehow it's supposed to teach us about "customary" versus "aesthetic" perception.

Continuing with the drawing theme, "Drawing for Animation" contains 2 classes, one for Life and the other for Perspective. Unfortunetly, we don't do enough drawing for my liking and are encouraged to do it outside class. Which is great, if you have the time for it. The other teacher is John, who reportably, has the bad habit of taking "sickies". According to some of the 2nd/3rd year Animation students, this is a regular occurence and we should expect in three weeks. Which is annoying, since he decided to pull one this week, forcing me to come to uni since I didn't get to read the email until then.

He is a nice person though, who has been teaching at QCA for a very long time. He's also the 1st year Advisor, and apparently has a weakness towards brownies. Which brings me to the Griffith Animation Society (GAS) which is a student run organisation that hosts life drawing classes on Mondays 6-8 pm at Grey St Studio room 6.20. It's $5 for members and $10 for non members, membership fee is $15 (I think, I can't quite remember). I haven't gone to one yet, but I will sometime in the future.

I think I'm listing classes in order of preference, I'm not too sure. In Programming, I haven't learnt a great deal but so far we've been learning how to create our names. Bascially, you've got to plot co-ordinates to get the computer to do stuff... Then it gets harder..




It's difficult but rewarding. Even if I forget to attach files to my emails... Or get really frustrated and have to vent.

Last of all is Digital Production which is so far teaching us advanced photo manlipulation. Some are new things to learn and others are a repeat of what I already know. Our teacher Luke, can't run too well without coffee. Our lectures are run by Darren who seems to like using baby photos of his two girls a lot. I question the why he has a folder on his computer called "Live Girls 2009", I can only hope it's for work purposes. Edit 8/4/09 - It is for work purposes, somewhere along the line, Darren does the airbrushing and digital body reconstruction of photos for soft-porn publications.. He did have a ramble on how why you shouldn't compare yourself to those models in the magazine.. It wasn't that sucessful...

Incidently I've learnt some more about the students I'm studying with, I don't know everyone but the ones I do are pretty interesting. Recently I did a oral presentation with Anderson, who's a kind of laid back and helpful guy. He even gave me a tip of how to do a Programming Assignment. Jasmine, who I think is my partner for another upcoming assignment, likes to earsdrop on people just as much as I do. (Which you did not read on this blog, and if you did, it is part of my "human studies" training...) We recently heard part of a strange conversation from 1st year film students, involving some hapless bloke, a snake and someone's bottom....

That's it for now.

"obsession"

Something that I saw a part of the other night and decided to watch this morning. It's a seventeen minute video of Adam Savage talking about obsession and motivation. Or perhaps something about the creative process.

Adam Savage: Dodos and the Maltese Falcon

Okay, sometime on the weekend I'll write about the Games Design degree.

I was going to documente about life on uni but I guess this entry is just going to be me whining about stuff. Bear with me, I will probably edit this all out.

My first week at uni has gone off with a lot of smoke and confusion. I've had to rearrange my timetable to accomadate for overflowing classes. Gwah... The whole program is still interesting but my timetable is all over the place now, and since I depend on public transport, I waste a lot of time travelling.

Stragely there is a pub right next door to campus, a very popular place as is the art store.

Classes for this semester are:

Drawing for Animation
A drawing class primarily for animators but it's been opened up to Games Design as a core subject. Aims to teach/improve drawing skills in perspective, figure and character design.

Digital Production
Core subject that is taken by 1st year Animation, Games Design and Film students. Has something to do with Photoshop and Final Cut Pro. Not too sure what I'm going to learn.

Programming I
Teaches how to program using Processing, the aim is to make us competent in programming so you can get by in the industry.

Intro to Games Design
Not sure what's going to happen in this class, I will update when I get around to it.

For the sheer heck of it, a car commerical that's fairly impressive.

Scrapbook - 4th Feb

Even if it's dated 4th Feb, these are more likely Jan-Feb works. Here's a continuation with the "piper" sketch from the last entry. I really need to work on my anatomy.





Here's some costume(?) clothing designs for an idea that I really haven't done much with. These are based on Asian costume.


Some stuff I found on the computer, it's an attempt at Tegan's character Ozy, who is very difficult to draw since I haven't got the knack for animals. Who knows if I'll keep at it.

Scrapbooking - 3 Feb

Just some bits and pieces that I've done since my last post. Here's the finished tree picture.


Some exercises in body language, posing using a body type. This is a kind of ongoing project that I'm using to help me with characterisation. The anatomy isn't correct but the pose/character feels right.




Some old thing I found on my computer. Didn't really go according to plan.


An attempt at buildings or something. I really need to work on those.


A sketch on the computer, I'm really excited about this one since it's the first face that's come out really well. Of course profiles are the easiest but I still like it. The hands are kind of wrong but I was drawing without any reference except from my own hands.


Drawn after the above. No idea why it's a person in a strange suit. I just wanted to draw some vintage suitcases and decided to add a strange person to it. I'll work more with this image later.


Another strange musician, I originally wanted to draw one with six arms and a turban. But I don't think my skill level is good enough to pull something like that.


At a family dinner one night, we got onto the topic of discussing children's shows (mainly cartoons). We spent most of the time bemoaning that my cousin who's 11, until a few years ago, did not know who or what "Loony Tunes" was. Some time afterwards, I saw part of a retrospective of ABC children's programming and who should appear but an old friend, Mr Squiggle.

I think it's part of this show's influence that got me interested in drawing and cartoons. It's sad to think that I am part of that generation who were the last to see him on air. Okay, it's a little embarassing that I am even drawing this when I could be drawing great artworks or something. But I guess sometimes you need to do it. References come from Spirits Dancing and K-Tastic

Here's the original sketch.


A once over to figure out the details.


A re-do so it looks like pencil. I'm not finished with it yet so we'll see more of this later.

Acceptance

In the January offer round you have been offered:

241312 Bachelor of Games Design - full-time - Griffith University, Queensland College of Art
Start Month: March 2009

You have firmly accepted this offer and you will not be considered in any further offer rounds.

Clearly a sign from the heavens to haul some ass and make something. Hopefully I'll stop foaming at the mouth to make something of this wonderful opportunity.