Art Practice and Presentation.
Week oneMonday 11th February.
I examined The Criteria for the Module of Art Practice and Presentation and discussed several options that might be suitable to my style of art with My Tutor Mr Mitja Kostomaj and decided that because of my interest in concept and character design It would be beneficial to research companies that produced or created animated, Character or similar design art work.Tuesday 12th February
From the recourses that were available I began today by researching the Internet for companies that produced or were involved with the design/ creation and production of animated films.
The first company I examined was The King Bee Animation Production Company who were based in Woodford Green Essex.
King Bee: Animation Production company UK
The King Bee Company has produced a great many TV animated productions including Lego Star Wars, Spiderman and many more they are a diverse and multi functional company able to produce a variety of work including commercials animated web sites and cartoon series.
The company and its members of staff produce a variety of work energetically and fluidly together creating extremely polished animated graphics, characters and effects with a passion for originality not only in style but in concept.
Communicating BIG ideas: King Bee understands the importance of a strong concept, whether for an original TV advertising campaign, Cartoon Series or Brand Presentational animation, we take ideas seriously and concentrate on communicating big ideas in a visual language that is naturally appropriate for it’s intended audience.
Examples of work created By The King Bee Company
Conclusion
What has become apparent from the information researched about the King Bee Company shows that it produces vastly different types of created Art and the company obviously recognises that within this competitive Industry there is a need to offer something special an original concept.
The company appears to have a fresh and uncomplicated approach when creating work and strives for originality it recognises that to complete they have to impress their audience or their client immediately.
Thursday 14th February.
Continuing with my research I examined other companies The Scarycat Studio based in Bath Road Bristol brings together extensive experience within the model making and stop frame animated Industry earning its reputation for providing a comprehensive range of high quality model making and design services that include Stop Frame animated puppets, replacement animated models, costume design and fabrication , Marquette’s for character design , character masks and prosthetics and so much more.As an example of some of its clients are Aardman Animations, Harvest Films BBC Ealing, and Time Slice Films Passion Pictures.
Week TwoTuesday 19th February
At the beginning of this week the class divided into groups and role played using a Game called Yomp which allowed you to practice and put into operation ways and means of setting up your own company.
This allowed communication between students helping them to identify areas of weakness and during the role play gave them the opportunity to make constructive decisions as to how the company should be run what equipment to use applying for loans and generally experiencing the basic requirements to run a company.
By choosing different Playing Cards and positioning them onto a mat within certain areas this identified what needed to be actioned first and which required prioritising in order to run a business.
What is apparent is that I now appreciate how much work and organisational skills are required to run a successful business and although I have only had a brief insight into the involvement of running a fictitious company I have found it very interesting.
Wednesday 20th February
This morning I visited several retail shops and purchased a broad selection of Games and design Magazines and made a note of several advertisements by companies specialising in creating and designing different aspects art work from the Games Magazine for example Playstation Next 3 which advertises Games and designs used within the Games Industry to the FX Magazine that contains fantasy and sci-fi digital art work this magazine promotes the latest software used to create new digital works of art; it also provides the step by step stages of development and tutorials on conceptual digital art.
What I found interesting was that it provided a wide selection of different art styles from artists and this gave the opportunity to examine and compare the styles that they used.
An example of an Art Magazine
Artists web sites:www.fiduciose.comwww.beauxpaint.comwww.teamgt.comwww.sixmorevodka.comwww.frazerirving.combluefley.cgsociety.org What I discovered was that there were a great many different and diverse magazines available that displayed digital art and most if not all of them rely very much on the visual aspect to promote their subject matter the standard of art work is very high and reflects on how competitive the Industry has become. The main core essence of all of these designs reveals that the concepts used are imaginative and drawn to a very high standard.
Week ThreeMonday 26th February.
At the beginning of this week I reviewed my Artist Statement and discussed the content with my Tutor Mr Mitja Kostomaj we discussed where and what type of work I would like to do and how I was researching the companies that might have vacancies or offer opportunity for work.
Further discussion involved how I was going to develop and present my Portfolio and was given an assortment of hand outs some of which I found interesting and following our meeting I felt much more confident with setting out the Portfolio in defined sections and this allowed me to present it in a much better way.
What I attempted to portray in my Artist Statement was that I have an infectious enthusiasm for creating a variety of different art work and that my main interest is creating Character and concept designs.
I appreciate that this is a competitive Industry and that having ability is important but I feel that to create you must also have imagination.
During the middle of this week I researched and examined several companies one such company was the 3Di Studio based in Lancashire, this company is regarded as one of the most exciting and diverse design studios in England .
The company works in different areas of design and animation offering to its clients a high standard of art work including designs for Graphics and 3d sculptures
What is apparent from my research into this company is that thy concentrates more on the development stages including architecture design rather than on games film animation or character design concepts.
And because of this factor I feel that this company would not be able to accommodate my artistic innovative creativity for character and concept development.
During the middle part of the week I reviewed several Games and design companies and examples of which are shown.
Games Recruitment Agency.
Website: Workin Games
Workingames is a Games Industry Online Careers Magazine specifically designed to help those with little or no Games Industry experience.
This site offers to its subscribers, News, Features, Advice, Jobs, Forums, and Training on how to start making a career out of your passion for gaming.
This site offers jobs for junior games artists
The Company are looking for a talented artist to take on the task of defining and creating an entire new look for games.
They expect you to play a very unique role, you must be able handle every aspect of game art, from concepts to character animations.
The Company Requirements is for the prospective applicant to be an exceptional all-rounder and designer, with strong skills in 2D art, pixel art, Textures, 3D modelling, Animation and Concept art Design.
I believe that the web site for WorkinGames appears very informative and the aspects of their creativity and art design work is very similar to that of my own however to pursue any further information you would have to subscribe to the company.
Below is some examples of artists whose styles they are interested in..http://www.fengzhudesign.com/http://www.retrostylegames.com/artwork/http://www.peterboehme.com/http://www.allied-studios.com/Gamesrecruit Limited whose registered office is at 3 North Road Brighton BN1 1YA .
Week Four Monday 3rd March.Continuing with my research I examined Companies that aimed their Animation and Design concepts towards a younger Audience an example of which are. image
Cartoon and animation companies aimed towards a younger audience.
Silver Fox Films specialize in developing, and managing large scale animation productions both in 2D and CGI. The company handles the management of production from development to the final cut.They specialise in script editing and writing for shows, storyboarding.The silver fox company were nomination for a BAFTA for best international children’s programmes with such titles as Harry and his Bucket Full of Dinosaurs and the Bounty Hamster.
Silver fox company shows Beautiful and evocative animations well crafted which deserves to become every bit as popular as other well known animated children series there films are something that families will enjoy again and again.
Slinky pictures
Slinky pictures were founded by producer Maria Manton and Director Chris Shepherd in 2000.
They quickly employed a talented team of animators that were diverse in range skills from commercials, short films, and animated series to web design and videos for live music events.
Slinky pictures are always keen to find new and talented individuals to work with them on projects you need to send them your show reel and your CV to there address: The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, UK, E1 6QL. What has become apparent is that both The Silver Fox Film company and Slinky Pictures create and produce exciting and interesting visual art work that appears to have a uniqueness and originality with good quality professional standards and superb animations. Although I feel that my style is aimed primarily towards the older audience the work that these companies produce has given me the opportunity to revaluate my own position and be more open minded as to what type of art I create.
Week Five Monday 10th March
I began this week by continuing my research into other companies an example of which are The Aka Studio and the Creative Assembly Studio examples shown below. Studio aka
This Studio is a London based Production company located at 30 Berwick Street London WIF 8RH .
What I found interesting is that this company has a work force that produces and creates many different designs and types of art work from creating original and outstanding animation in 2d, 3D CGI to interactive media. And producing to a very high standard.
The company has on their staff a great many different artists, technical and production personnel all off them involved directly or indirectly with production or creating digital and art work
The Aka Studio has won countless accolades including BAFTA, D&AD, Clio, BTA and BAA awards for there work.
Game company Creative Assembly:
The Creative Assembly are the development team behind the hugely successful Total War brand. From the original genre-defining Shogun: Total War and the multi-award-winning Medieval: Total War to the awe-inspiring Rome: Total War, the Creative Assembly have proven themselves to be ahead of the competition in every aspect of design concept and imaginative creativity.
Creative assembly Job Opportunities.
Game Designers
CA is looking for intelligent, obsessive gamers to expand its design group. They are looking for both novice and experienced designers, and will consider people who have not worked in the games industry before. Not just a player of games – someone who is driven to fully understand their internal workings and use that knowledge to win. Education: Computer Science degree (or similar) 2:1 or better History Degree 2:1 or better Any other degree 2:1 or better Play (and usually win): PC strategy games Tabletop war gaming All other PC & console games Board games Paper RPGs Work experience: Games design Games programming Games art Games production Programming Systems analysis Program design AI Historical research
When comparing these two companies The Aka Studio has a Web site that appears professional and is easily identifiable with a visual reference to the high standard of art work and designs that it creates whilst the Creative Assembly has a proven background recognised as one of the leading Game designers in the Industry , its very name suggests a high standard of design and game play.
Both offer opportunities for employment and both companies are very much dependant on employing people with creativity and imagination.
Week Six Monday 17 March
Having now examined several different companies based in The United Kingdom I now researched companies that produced similar art and design work abroad one such company was the Weta Workshop which is situated in Wellington, New Zealand and is very much a comprehensive film and television effects facility that houses a large and varied skill base of creative technicians
The four time Academy award winning company is best know for their work on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, the company offers services to all aspects of the creative industry including design, special make-up effects and prosthetics, creatures, armour, weapons, miniatures, prop building, large scale sculpture, display work and costuming. Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger head Weta Workshop and have formed a partnership that brings creativity, artistry and professionalism to any project they undertake. They have gathered around them a like-minded team with a level of experience, enthusiasm and flexibility that enables Weta Workshop to tackle almost any creative challenge.
Weta Workshop is closely associated with Weta Digital (three time Academy Award winning company) and their complimentary relationship is reflected in their integrated approach towards solving specific film making issues and challenges.
Weta Workshop offers opportunity for prospective employees to apply for employment and advertises on their Web site www.weta-people.co.nz recruitment submission
Company Contacts
http://www.gamasutra.com/This web contains info on projects within game companies and game developer digital edition subscription
magazine.http://www.kingbee.co.uk/brand_animation.asp#sThis company produces TV animation production, Animated TV commercials, Animated cartoon series and animated websites.Imagine: Resources To Advertise: Contact Alex
Gifford on 01225822941. Digital posters Art: Art Reproduction Service: TEL (716)879-0934
WWW.DIGITALPOSTERART.COMwww.DigitalArtTutorials.com The
Sheffield Space Centre: www.space-centre.co.uk TEL 44(0)1923
282189 Website: http://www.silverfoxfilms.com info@silverfoxfilms.com Slinky Pictures TEL: 02072476444
Studio aka: ren@studioaka.co.uk
Gamesrecruit Limited whose registered office is at 3 North Road Brighton BN1 1YA .
South water Nr. Horsham United Kingdom info@creative-assembly.co.uk+44 (0)1403 734473 Weald House,South water Business Park,South water Nr. Horsham,West Sussex, RH13 9JB, United Kingdom
Personal Contacts
Animater: Peter. D
3D Sculpter: Elizabeth
aarongustav@yhoo.co.uk Graphic Designer: Kevin Murphy
Concept Artist: Chris.H
Coun's Weblog 
