Update Doing Well on NewGrounds

Well, Let's just say I'm doing well on NewGrounds. :)

My Final Jackalope Film is finally finished, and it also got a 3rd Place Trophy Last week:

I also got Cinema 4D and not only was I obsessively playing with it, and learning simple stuff, but I started doing my Logo animation/motion-graphics with a new NURBS Extrude. Here's a compilation of the older stuff and the new Cinema 4D. (I also have Houdini but I don't understand it at all)

My animated video content seems to do rather well. My views on YouTube don;t even get counted most of the time, tho'. I've tested it.

I did THIS Waterfall particles bit using JUST that CC Particle World in After Effects. It took several tries over a span of 3 weeks.

Oh, and I have Red Giant's Trapcode Suit! ^,^ So, I made a simple smoke test. I think this was the 3rd try, but it was rather easy. However, I must've obsessively looked up SO MANY tutorials for Trapcode that I didn't even do much with it, and it was THE PROGRAM PLUGIN I wanted SO BAD! 

I also got some cool plugins by Video Copilot, but haven;t used them yet.

It's just that I got so obsessive with Cinema 4D, plus I often have a problem with pesky hackers. I honestly HAVE ZERO INTEREST in becoming some kind of 3D artist. But, I like using some bits to supplement my artwork. I DO NOT like the idea of 3D REPLACING ME AS AN ARTIST, NOR REPLACING MY ART. 

I'm also a TERRIBLE Tweening animator, and I'm not good at curves N vectors.

Anyways, I am constantly looking up tutorials, demos, and resources to learn the various things I can do, often in combination, with the software I have now. 

I'm curious to try to get Blender also. 

The 2 main things I want to use 3D CGI Software are only a few things. For the most part, I prefer doing animation as a Traditional Animator, frame-by-frame, hand drawn. But I like VFX, and I like things like particles, extrude, and props like furniture, background elements, buildings,  machines, architecture, and camera movements in an environment. 

I'm FINE with using the 3D programs and elements AS A TOOL. 

I am NOT 3D's bitch, 3D IS MY BITCH! It is MY TOOL! I MAKE THE ART. I AM THE ARTIST, and NOT THE MACHINE. ARTISTS ARE NOT MACHINES. (I feel the same way about this as I do about "the industry", but also aspects of academia, politics, herd psychology, social presuppositions, and many other things.) 

So, what is it I wish to do? 

Well, as always, I have a number of concepts that are LARGER GOALS, much longer down the line, but totally doable... Some day, I wish to do those things. 

SOME DAY

THIS WILL BECOME A REALITY! 

BELIEVE IT!

I KNOW it can be done because a BIG inspiration to me that proves to me it can be done is the beginning part of Titan AE:

The GRASS in the open planes and savannas. THAT is what I NEED it for!

Some of my old work:

Wrapping up 2018 N Goals For 2019 MOVING FORWARD

So, this December, I'm FINALLY wrapping up an ENTIRE year FILLED w stupid setbacks N delays, as well as STUPID petty dramas of numerous folks, BUT I'M STILL GOING!

Watch Highlight: Jackalope N Animation Final Film Edits N Other News from blackunigryphon on www.twitch.tv

I look back upon a body of work of SO MANY GOALS completed, and IN THE MIDDLE OF COMPLETION at this very moment! Others about to start or re-do.

I got a 3rd Place Trophy at NewGrounds.com on Thanksgiving Day. :)

[I also did the audio on this which u can download for free]

I've actually been doing various versions of The Jackalope film because my ORIGINAL CONCEPT was actually all 4 seasons. So, each part I made a mini-film out of as well.

[I also did the audio on this which u can download for free]

The Making of: Whimsical Jackalope In Spring: Art On The Marquee Full 001 from Kandice Zimbleman on Vimeo.

[Incidentally, I know a lot of the kids out there need music n audio that's free & legal, so I have a number of music N audio clips in my New Grounds that is FREE, and YES I licensed them to Creative Commons. NO, you DON'T need my permission, JUST TAKE IT, and do whatever u want with it. YES, it IS polite to credit me, but NO I'm NOT coming to hunt anyone down if they don't. I have a LOT of sympathy for kids & students learning animation or various other projects they need stuff for, or even practice.]

 This is THE MOST WORK I HAVE EVER DONE on ANY animated film SO FAR, EVER!

I wanted to combine the 4 pieces (plus some other stuff, and OTHER variations) but like a a fusion of old vintage 80s-90s NES + SNES video games, N Arcade Games, as well as OLD vintage 90s CD-ROMS.

For this one I referenced CAPCOM's Street Fighter II.

This one is referenced from Nintendo's Double Dragon.

And, back in Spring 2017 I'd always wanted to incorporate this Sakura Waterfalls piece into my Film Final at UMASS Boston, but didn't know how at the time. So, I redid it for ASMR Visuals on NewGround.com. There's several versions on YouTube, but my NewGrounds videos are WAY more popular.

I did some other graphics to resemble old 90s CD-ROMS.

Especially THIS ONE:

Or, graphics loosely referenced from old Japanese Sailor Moon Video Games as well.

But, if you look at my "Movies" gallery on NewGrounds it's literally my Animation & Motion Graphics Goals for This year, but also some dating back until 2017. There's ONLY a few concepts left to do, finish up, or re-do.

I will be re-doing my 2016 film "Smattering Thoughts Also Flow" including the new Butterflies I did this year for Inktober.

I'll be moving onto the Butterfly puppet animation as soon as the Jackalope stuff is totally wrapped up. BOTH of these, including the other Jackalope films will be in my TV Show "A Spirit To Be Free".

The original concept for the original film I did incorporated my lanterns, including the one I made, and the Work-In-Progress Film I did for Cinema Studies/Experimental Film Class at UMASS Boston Fall Semester 2017 is HERE:

The full documentary is here:

I wanted to animate the butterflies with my lanterns B-roll footage and I've shot SO much since then. But, I'd also wanted to do the butterflies with some 3D After Effects compositions. I actually JUST did a Waterfall animation video this week, but I haven't uploaded it yet because its slow. (My internet STINX.) I've also been busy animating, making graphics, n editing audio + video.

But, I'd also re-shot the Chinese calligraphy story/art presentation multiple times.

My video instructor made me re-shoot it so many times, and including REAL ink instead of the water scroll. But, I needed guidance and never got it fully, because he often ditched us, or me especially when I needed him. he often would tell me he would be right back, then actually went home. I also wasted SO MUCH time N energy on commuting and re-borrowing equipment.

I actually have not only my own equipment now at home, BUT I also have WAY BETTER stuff now than the stuff at UMASS Boston because I ACTUALLY  NOW have my very own mini-camera crane! I will probably ALSO be turning my living room into my filming studio next month because I'm THE ONLY PERSON LIVING IN IT. Everyone else spends time in their bedrooms doing their work or leisure.

I'd also been working on a few rough concept art pieces at the end of August N Early September for part of my Ying Qilin Film which is eventually my BIG ultimate goal. But baby steps, 1 by 1.

At the moment THIS one is on hold because the other stuff I'm working on is THAT TIME now because it's not hot summer weather. And I can use my computer more frequently, and all day. So, it's on the back burner right now.

I also have ONE more Motion Graphics/Moving Picture Composition I haven't finished painting yet.

I need to update THIS picture to HD, but the amount of painting work I need to do for the HD version is OVERWHELMING.

The trouble is that hackers destroyed the finished version, so I need to repaint it from scratch BEFORE I can even do the HD video animation motion graphics.

I found the old B N W version, and I'd started painting it back in the winter BEFORE I went down to Florida in March. But, I never finished it. too many OTHER things came up N I totally forgot about it. 

It will be similar to THESE other ones I made back in December 2017-Feb-2018 which were originally JUST still images:

[Side Note: If you like this style of a semi-still picture that moves I HIGHLY recommend my friend Lizkay's animated work found HERE.]

But, moving into 2019, once I'm finished with the puppet animations, I'M MOVING ONTO TRADITIONAL ANIMATION FOREVER. NO MORE PUPPETS! ^_^

I will still be integrating puppet animations as motion graphics elements inside my traditional animations as well as Effects animation like particles.

PLUS, I got TRAPCODE SUITE 15 NOW! ^,^

So, what's NEXT?

Well, if you didn't know this, I actually hang out FREQUENTLY on AMB Animation's LIVE STREAMS on YouTube. And YES, I AM aware that some people strongly dislike him.... but, the thing is.... he's generally RIGHT. But, he's also opinionated and outspoken. But, a number of my friends hang out with him in his streams, and I gotta tell ya, he's actually a pretty nice guy, its just that he talks BIG in his streams as his marketing style.

If I had the money I WOULD totally invest in his Library option. I also like Aaron Blaise's streams n stuff as well.

But, AMB has some free stuff on his website, and I personally want to get back into animation basics N fundamentals.

However, I do have ONE OTHER concept piece that's also STILL on my mind, since Spring 2017 at UMASS Boston, and THAT one is Traditional Animation based.

I had actually created a number of concept sketches for it a while back, but basically, I'd wanted to my OWN Artistic re-interpretation of the ending graphics for an OLD 80s French Anime TV show called "Mysterious Cities of Gold.

This ONE:

In fact, I'd already done a few ROUGH animation bits back in Summer 2017 of that very concept, which I'd also recently re-cut for a Video Art Proposal back in September in Boston for Boston CyberArts. (-and, NO, I didn't get it.)

In fact, I have a few more proposals to submit to them in the next few days.

But, this concept has been morphing N progressing quite a lot in my head this year.

I want to probably COMBINE this concept with my own artistic re-interpretation of an old James Bond film into:

OMG! I just LOVE THAT! But, also, KEEP IN MIND, I JUST GOT TRAPCODE! ;-) Tee-hee!


But..... here's the thing.... the whole GUN motif... yeah... that..... so, I'm not anti-guns, per se, but.... guns just ARE NOT MY THING.... they just aren't..... like u won't see 'em in my art... maybe some swords N archery.... but that's it...

But, I LOVE those pretty nude lady artsy silhouettes.

So, I was thinking up different graphical concepts that were NOT GUN RELATED..... IDK, all the gun motifs just make me feel UNCOMFORTABLE....

But, I like LANTERNS.

So, I figured I'd remake mine with lanterns, candles, torches, and useful objects, or tools, that have more fulfilling meanings to me personally.I dunno, I've been a multi-times victim of sexual assault, rape, n violence multiple times that GUNS in my art bother me being paired with nude ladies, so try and understand that.

I'm NOT a New Age-y person anymore but I STILL love all the imagery, like "Love and Light" or "Enlightenment", and other symbolic motifs. Please remember that I am a Philosopher as well as an Artist. 
I'm generally NOT bothered by people legally owning a gun, or enjoying regulated target practice at a gun range. (and YES I HAVE fired firearms since I was at least 6 because my uncle wanted me to, at my Mom's old car, which ticked off my grandfather because he owned the car even tho' it was just sitting there for a few years... and yes, he was in all kinds of armed service jobs including military n police, among others; and as a teen I was a pretty good shot w a bee-bee gun and a 22 rifle, but it seemed like a waste because we shot small eggs on beer bottles.) Personally, I HAVE hunted game using a Compound Bow, so I DON'T view guns as sportsman-like for hunting at all, and they ruin the meat. But, I also get if you want to have a small gun if you're being stalked. I am a philosopher, so I'm more in line with the thinking of Bruce Lee's "The Art of Fighting Without Fighting" (or Alan Watts) and various other Shaolin & Taoist philosophies as well. 
But, for whatever reason people r so brainwashed into this stuff that I NOW need to list a whole bunch of family members that were policemen, military vets, and ALL the DUDES I ever banged or seriously dated or flirted with enlisted in the service, etc... please, don't. I'm a philosopher, I'm NOT pushing an agenda, so leave it at that.

 I DID actually work on Tipsy TV this winter. So here's MY WORK including Camera work, MOtion Graphics n VFX + Editing:

Yes, I AM still very excited to be producing 2 of my very own TV Shows in my town, but I'm also going to be working on a show of my friend's as well which is a revised/redone version of "On The Scene" which he did a few years ago. I'll be shooting that this week, and also a few more times this month.

AND, I'm STILL the DP (Director of Photography) on the film "The Holy Maple Tree" which is NEVER ENDING for a short film.

Not only did I get promoted to Graphics and the Chief Editor, but I ended up becoming DP.

I had the DAUNTING TASK of trying to salvage and force a lot of stuff to fit together in what's called "the hike scenes" among crew. SO, I worked SO HARD to come up with this edit, which actually went well, and was received VERY WELL by cast N crew.

(Mostly shot on a camcorder, n various other cameras)

Unfortunately, this actor took his career goals very seriously to become an EMT, and altho' he was perfect to work with, and was our back-up for the 1st actor in this lead role, we found another actor in Rhode Island that was just the perfect match, and it was sad because we all still liked this guy as a person and liked working w/him.

Anyways, the previous footage of these scenes were not finished, and were fraught w/problems due to camera persons, the former DP, and cast N crew drama. Plus I have arthritis in my spine n this location is A KILLER.

Needless to say, I did manage to go shooting there this year a number of times, and WAY TOO MANY OF THEM. PLUS, I had personally invested in my own equipment, and upgraded the film by pushing for higher quality.

Suffice it to say, we've achieved it (CANON 70D EOS DSLR):

Kit lens w star cross filter/ This Actor is SO AMAZINGLY GOOD!

Kit lens w star cross filter

This lens is a $1000 lens: CANON 135mm F2 which we rented to achieve ultimate bokeh. NOT A ZOOM lens.

Kit lens

Shot on a camera crane w a kit lens

Shot on 50mm prime lens on low level light on the lowest F-stop. This actress is also VERY good on camera, and is also an Indie Film Director & Recording Artist/Producer, and all around creative type

[Also, nearly ALL of the costuming of Moonbeam, the Hippy character, including makeup supplies N jewelry, was done by me.]

As you can see my camera work has improved a lot, and I'd surpassed a number of things done by several of the Indie filmmakers I'd been working with since 2016. I was so dedicated to learning more about lenses, exposure, white balance, Prime lens, Kit lens, and Zoom as well as really cultivating a respect for things like Long Takes, L-Cuts N J-Cuts and even getting my own Video tripod as well as a Camera crane despite EVERYONE being hell-bent on drones, which makes NO SENSE because drones are for aerial shots.

The delays on this film made me SO GRUMPY. SO, once the summer ended I switched gears back to animation N drawing again. The heat waves made it impossible to use the graphics software(s).

I'd completed my film with my daughter also "Maple Bacon" in our brand "Titanic Panoramic" which also has a YouTube Channel:

I just tend to be more popular on NewGrounds this year, whereas my YouTube channel got screwed N demonetized n no one even seed my updates because they suppressed my content. However, she just granted a monetization last month, and is booming in views.

I now have a portfolio profile on ArtStation which I will probably be updating this month, but I'm rather busy at the moment.

I'm HOPING to get this FINAL Jackalope film DONE BEFORE Christmas.

OTHER STUFF I have IN THE WORKS Coming up:

I JUST GOT a new Green Screen Chroma-Key Lighting Kit! SO EXCITED! 

It arrived days ago, but I didn't open it yet because of my husband, Mr. Wang. I don't want to open it around him because he's a SPAZZ and he's got finals at MASS ARTS Boston because he's at Graduate School studying for his Master's Degree in Art.

I also ordered a plain Chinese Folding Screen... so u can't see my ugly living room, but ALSO so I could paint something on it!

I'm also going to be making a NEW PIRATE HAT/Bonnet. 

That will take a while to arrive here.But, I did get some bits for it already. I will retire my old Pirate hat back to a Witch Hat, which is what it ACTUALLY is.

I also FINALLY got my VERY OWN fake leaves. This was SUCH a pain in the butt to get, but I FINALLY got some. I need them for a prop on the film which I've worked on while on stream, but for the film "The Holy Maple Tree".

 I actually haven't finished it. I have a persistent pesky problem with hackers, and they targeted me SO HARD in September N October, and wore me out.

I was actually doing very well at my motivation to stream LIVE , but they kept hacking me.

So, I gave up and moved onto animation for a while. I was very upset that I couldn't continue w/Inktober N Drawtober, but they even hacked my modem, video card, iPhone, and my Abode Creative Cloud.

It was frustrating.  They also hacked my streams, and deleted my streams in Salem Mass on Halloween.

So, I hope to finish that also. It's on the back burner at the moment tho'.

I also got a Prism for trendy photography N video effects.  I'm sure u've seen the stuff on Instagram all over the place. (BTW I'm NO LONGER ON INSTAGRAM)

Well, thanx for for coming to my Blog. 

Inktober Butterfly Puppets for a Short Film

Basically, I'm participating in #Inktober, and making Butterflies on REAL PAPER with INK(S). 

ONLY INK as a MEDIUM on PAPER, then SCANNED. 

NO DIGITAL and NO "Undo" command. 

If the original drawing was NOT done on PAPER with REAL INK, it DOES NOT count as part of the authentic #Inktober. 

Otherwise PRINT OUT the drawing onto a piece of paper, THEN trace over it IN INK, and make a NEW drawing WITH INK. 

I struggle with ink myself, and often HATE IT. THAT is WHY the challenge came about. 

REAL #Inktober originates from HERE

If you are NOT using ACTUAL REAL INKS then its NOT #Inktober but actually #Drawtober (which has rules and a calendar) or #Sketchtober

I have ZERO interest in ANY #Drawtober or #Sketchtober for THIS project. NONE. 

It's real media, done by hand, mistakes and all. I do NOT care if it's perfect, I only care if you at least gave it your best try, or at least an honest try. 

There is NOT "UNDO" with ink. There's many kinds of ink based tools & utensils. Markers, pens, felt, ball point, quill, calligraphy, and I'll even include watercolors because they have the same or similar origins.

_________________________________________

The butterfly consists of 2 main parts:

* A basic body piece

* At least 1 wing

That's it. 

Draw by hand on Paper with INK like pen, markers, or watercolors, the 2 basic parts.

No I am NOT actually a Lefty.

Rough Fairy body piece shape & Wing

I will only use digital software to make the puppet to format the shape(s) in Photoshop, and build it in Adobe After Effects.

Basic Construction:

Butterfly Guide/Templates:

Having Trouble Drawing?

Watch Highlight: Inktober Butterflies n Fairies TEMPLATE from blackunigryphon on www.twitch.tv

Watch Highlight: Animation N Inktober Fusion from blackunigryphon on www.twitch.tv

Download a Free Template, print it out and make your own version:

 Download Butterfly 
 Template HERE 

Angel or Fairy Style (this piece was done as a hybrid of pencils sketch & digital coloring but this project will NOT be doing this. This just shows the body pieces for the puppet):

A fairy template HERE

Example of Fairy Version 

(No Template available, unless u want to use mine)

Original Sketch:

 Cleaned Sketch:

 Colored Body piece  w Halo layers n lighting effects:

Cleaned & Colored Wing and Mirrored/Flipped Symmetrical Wing: 

 The Back Story:







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.


* Here are the Animation/Video Puppet Tests I did at UMASS Boston in Fall 2017 (a year later) in Adobe After Effects CC 2017:

Angel Based on same Butterfly Flapping technique in After Effects:

Caduceus Based on same Butterfly Flapping technique in After Effects:

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.

Here's the Ripple Part w/my audio design I did in Adobe After Effects CC 2016:

So, this was my film Final in Fall 2016 (I also did all the audio design):

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.

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.

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.