Inktober N Butterflies Coming Up in October 2018

So, 1 thing I LOVE about #Inktober is it's an excuse to make stuff to use later on other projects.

THIS project is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and it's coming along. It's a bit slow, but it's progressing. I've shot a LOT of B-Roll with my lanterns and sculpture stuff.

I'm gonna incorporate this work into my TV show at WCA9  TV.

It started out HERE:

The Chinese characters on the wing are 忍 Rěn = Endure/Forbearance done in vintage makers

Another one with Chinese characters: 任 Rèn = Task/Duty/Responsibility

This one was made by my daughter which was a representation of a different "ren" meaning person, but no character, since this butterfly is personified. circa October 2016

仁 meaning "benevolence" or "kindness" also pronounced "ren" in Chinese. This one was painting in Traditional Chinese ink & marker b y Li Wang (my husband) in October 2016.

I had originally intended for the flapping butterflies & lanterns to be a part of my film at UMASS Boston. BUt, no one knew how to help me with the flapping yet again, in After Effects CC 2016.

Here's the Paper section bits from the film:

Needless to say, a lot of my original ideas were cut out from the film due to time, ignorance of program software, a major gaping lack of adequate help & assistance, the fact that no one else knew how to do what I wanted in After Effects in the 2016 CC version, as well as wasted time commuting.

So, this was my film Final in Fall 2016:

It was my first major project of any important in HD which I had no idea how to work in. 

I'd also been wanting to finish my sculpture instillation art project (Whimsical Boho Decor teapot Lantern). 

I did a brief project for my Presentation Final in Cinema Studies in Fall 2017 which is a min documentary:

Here's my full length documentary. I gotta tell u, studying experimental films really helped me to learn A LOT about Documentary.

 So, this year, I want to include a lot more people with this butterfly flapping stuff in Adobe After Effects CC. 

But, I'm decent with it now.

Here's an Angel version of the butterfly flap:

I asked my daughter to make a new one for Inktober, and also my friend Drakenhart. 

So, I hope to really create something nice for my TV Show, and expand upon my previous film. 

The Butterfly motif actually comes from a Chinese "philosopher" of sorts Zhuanzi Zhou 莊子 who dreamt he was a butterfly and forgot he was a human man, but when he awoke he;d wondered if he were a man whom dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly whom was dreaming he was a man. In both experiences he was unsure. 

This is what he wrote:

昔者莊周夢為蝴蝶，栩栩然蝴蝶也，自喻適志與，不知周也。俄然覺，則戚戚然周也。不知周之夢為蝴蝶與，蝴蝶之夢為周與？週與蝴蝶則必有分矣。此之謂物化。

Once upon a time, I, Chuang Chou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Chou. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man. Between a man and a butterfly there is necessarily a distinction. The transition is called the transformation of material things.

There was 1 more thing:

I was hoping to do some melting flowers, and better learn Liquefy in After Effects. This was ALSO frustrating because no one would help me.

I'm not actually totally sure which way I want to go with it all yet. But, it's kinda just a thought at the moment. 

I do have OTHER things I'm also thinking about playing with, such as Airships like:

Zeppelins, Dirigibles, and even Barrage Balloons. 

I'm NOT gonna commit to it tho' at the moment. But, it's ALWAYS something I've been wanting to play with, especially in After Effects.