tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64893864315901795222024-03-05T23:08:49.655-05:00Fill This Space.The Animation Blog of Patrick SmithPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-7673558851861670752010-01-18T16:55:00.005-05:002010-01-18T16:59:36.100-05:00SCRIBBLE JUNKIES Blog...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://scribblejunkies.blogspot.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_dxCIFUuMsfl5WHLo2wQXRTOYnUv745ZnVGKhE6u56SSiPIZDCVNje2HRNTchvsOK16dL3sMhB9bGEqFmvKVtULd93s017NJqYbMAx-bDfZ6kUflJq5DCz-684dhr7psdV6pKvV7RCnv/s320/scribble_junkies_banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428202472329426770" border="0" /></a>So... I'm going to phase out "Fill This Space" in favor of a new blog by myself and Bill Plympton called <a href="http://scribblejunkies.blogspot.com/">"Scribble Junkies"</a>. Please come by and I ask all my followers on this blog to transfer over! it will be worth it I promise!<br /><br />Cheers<br />Patrick SmithPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-17852920873988017062009-12-07T01:05:00.003-05:002009-12-07T01:14:22.921-05:00Improving your Staging...I drew this layout the other day.. and it just didn't sit right with me. I was happy with the drawing, but it didn't help move the characters and the story forward. At this point in the film, the masked men have elevated themselves to predator, and have become a menacing, horrifying force that are gorging themselves on the helpless "little dudes".<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHaZs4t3xfWVfimHgxdmhoO23ifHkG_3NZVqHwuTzE-cDSrjVERzoeubjMhfdxLnkXNiWk6p3b471GeoF6rAzXb2O93DOy5Q5X4DwOOeg6gGMXNyrNd5Qs6d_rxs4nj04z8qzJKM2ZbPg/s1600-h/DSC03836.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHaZs4t3xfWVfimHgxdmhoO23ifHkG_3NZVqHwuTzE-cDSrjVERzoeubjMhfdxLnkXNiWk6p3b471GeoF6rAzXb2O93DOy5Q5X4DwOOeg6gGMXNyrNd5Qs6d_rxs4nj04z8qzJKM2ZbPg/s320/DSC03836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412372966578843730" border="0" /></a>So I redrew the layout to express this feeling. I placed the little dudes lower in the frame, and I launched the masked man up high.. utilizing a low camera angle.. a classic and cliche way to make a character more powerful (just look at all the low shots of Darth Vader!). A bonus to the scene now is that I can show some really frightened expressions on the little dude.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nYOUuN368iWPHWwcNkeCtNbnmVd5Jk9SpcQzyiM5wwzoKmYhNLaG45WlOl7KROQ0LVNu5Bd1cfqVah8AkF6N9tSUm3KAzcEITs9tUc8k5H67YBA2MG6OSW7mle2nQpgpCiNOEI62d0OT/s1600-h/DSC03835.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nYOUuN368iWPHWwcNkeCtNbnmVd5Jk9SpcQzyiM5wwzoKmYhNLaG45WlOl7KROQ0LVNu5Bd1cfqVah8AkF6N9tSUm3KAzcEITs9tUc8k5H67YBA2MG6OSW7mle2nQpgpCiNOEI62d0OT/s320/DSC03835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412372975587575538" border="0" /></a>The re-staging of this shot even influenced the style of drawing.. I drew the masked man in the improved version with a lot more insidiousness and evil.. whereas the previous version, the masked man comes off as cartoonish. the overall composition improved as well. I suppose this is just a reminder to push yourself at every level.. you just never know how you can improve things.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-26112187205666922492009-10-14T04:09:00.014-04:002009-10-14T04:50:48.754-04:00Cutting the cord...<span style="font-size:100%;">I've moved to the other side of the planet...I've joined the faculty at New York University's graduate program in Singapore (</span>Tisch<span style="font-size:100%;">-Asia), under artistic director <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/TANEWSOliverStone.html">Oliver Stone</a>. I'll be continuing work on 3 films that I have been busy with for the past few years which NYU is helping me immensely with</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. Also, I'm stoked to be teaching again, to be invigorated by that enthusiasm that students have, and professionals sometime</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s lose sight of. I'm joined here by so many talented filmmakers, namely <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/ToddSolondz.html">Todd Solondz</a>(Happiness, Welcome to the Doll House), <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/AllanNicholls.html">Allan Nicholls</a>(A Wedding, A Perfect Couple), <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/jenruff.html">Jennifer Ruff</a> (Boys don't cry, y </span>tu<span style="font-size:100%;"> mama </span>tambien<span style="font-size:100%;">), my old buddy from MTV, <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/MattSheridan.html">Matt Sheridan</a>... and so many more. (below photo, Patrick Smith with NYU Faculty members visiting the temple ruins in Cambodia)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhjihtCsg-invrYKr6VxSEpGzUTThJ-o0JopNfWrIKdJxhzhj_wa8bgJNO98KD6B43EuSyg7dgN4Xw6SKrqO6mdMeID98_3my4F9PNKdzxcTJK3S-ft_CxXwGxRO8ZUeeAYWgW0EZ5LEK/s1600-h/DSC03205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhjihtCsg-invrYKr6VxSEpGzUTThJ-o0JopNfWrIKdJxhzhj_wa8bgJNO98KD6B43EuSyg7dgN4Xw6SKrqO6mdMeID98_3my4F9PNKdzxcTJK3S-ft_CxXwGxRO8ZUeeAYWgW0EZ5LEK/s320/DSC03205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392369863058089442" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">It's with a lot of sadness that I have left New York City, Sometimes we need to radically change our surroundings, and "cut the cord" from what we know, if we are to move forward. Staying in the same place has never really agreed with me, and it's been a nearly a decade in my </span>Tribeca studio, <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://blendfilms.com/">Blend Films</a>.<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8DrxvgV2kIJhOg0z458EChlnnr-XvIqJFhfT1xm3awE5j9WZe8OeyFyBE0Qqi4SOupIWdS_3IdykXkL_4rwTpov64YgfbJTEr0GwfAxkQj5hp_YbgNEHwEZhMlNeDhcupFxAY5F9rg1i/s1600-h/DSC03219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8DrxvgV2kIJhOg0z458EChlnnr-XvIqJFhfT1xm3awE5j9WZe8OeyFyBE0Qqi4SOupIWdS_3IdykXkL_4rwTpov64YgfbJTEr0GwfAxkQj5hp_YbgNEHwEZhMlNeDhcupFxAY5F9rg1i/s320/DSC03219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392366823592860962" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">"Hand Drawn Animation has gone through a shift within the medium itself. Now dominated by digital input devices, Hand Drawn Animation has become a less rigid art form, opening itself up to a new unexplored world of production methods, styles, and exhibition choices. The classical principles of animation and the drawn form, put forth by the masters of the medium, have become even more vital to the curriculum as we bring the medium into new arenas beyond simply entertainment. I teach the classical techniques of drawing in motion, gaining insight to observe and record the world in motion that exists around us all".<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-Patrick Smith</span>, Animator</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I will keep in touch, stand by for some big blog news... a collaboration!</span>Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-18432531205142356162009-05-19T11:31:00.009-04:002009-05-19T12:06:11.449-04:00The Plausible Impossible: Weight and DUMBO...This sequence from my new favorite Disney film of all time, "Dumbo", exemplifies an aspect of animation (and artwork in general) that has become the overwhelming feature of my own work: The idea of the "Plausible Impossible" (term by Walt himself) in terms of weight and balance.<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bhC13BoEvAk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bhC13BoEvAk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />This clip from Dumbo would obviously be impossible, but it looks so believable because the animators understood how to render, balance, and move masses that feel like several tons. I love how the gossip hordes continue their bitchy little quips the entire time. Characters that express weight are FELT by the viewer, you can FEEL the precariously balanced fleshy pachyderms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz2gYkTQchXCywvfl3CC_fhHmsy2FqS0nTw2jPi9L99q-DyZtyfso7RtBH9XAKK2UWJGZgS-XIMMYCQgJ0adbEKv3CeFI8QA2YlPuGXqvvcAgNh951DMy4YZ7lNde6m9VY4TxcUEInUp4/s1600-h/drawings_remote_05.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz2gYkTQchXCywvfl3CC_fhHmsy2FqS0nTw2jPi9L99q-DyZtyfso7RtBH9XAKK2UWJGZgS-XIMMYCQgJ0adbEKv3CeFI8QA2YlPuGXqvvcAgNh951DMy4YZ7lNde6m9VY4TxcUEInUp4/s400/drawings_remote_05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337563034549815122" border="0" /></a>In my paintings I create configurations of people piled on top of one another. The configurations look like they may work, although impossible, I draw them to look and feel believable. After studying this Dumbo clip, look for a more "fleshy" and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pliable</span> variation of what is above, which, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">comparatively</span>, my drawing looks dull flat and boring (ummm.. perspective patrick? use it you knob!). You can learn a lot from studying the masters!Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-53016681896695426392009-04-23T09:50:00.000-04:002009-04-23T10:30:38.684-04:00CARTOONS FROM HELL, Charleston Film Festival...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFL5KI9XVPu21kg408u7UY9j5rA98OU_li1atiUcSKkZfgzF8SyDF8IkdPW6kzRMnbs5F0o7XiLv-Bq_ICHU7ZnBWAOvPQwTAR73-dhyv2z1gfHNRlLa0T9XWE8I6hyphenhyphenMIoZsOnHySalVc/s1600-h/cartoons+from+hell+postcard+charleston.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFL5KI9XVPu21kg408u7UY9j5rA98OU_li1atiUcSKkZfgzF8SyDF8IkdPW6kzRMnbs5F0o7XiLv-Bq_ICHU7ZnBWAOvPQwTAR73-dhyv2z1gfHNRlLa0T9XWE8I6hyphenhyphenMIoZsOnHySalVc/s400/cartoons+from+hell+postcard+charleston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327545226641191506" border="0" /></a>That's right... the third edition of the traveling showcase "Cartoons From HELL" is going to play at the <a href="http://www.charlestoniff.com/info-tickets.php">Charleston International Film Festival</a> this Saturday night. New to the line up is Christy Karacas and Steve Warbrick, the creators of "Super Jail".<br /><br />"Bubble Wrap" by Arthur Metcalf<br />"Lupo the Butcher" by Danny Antonucci<br />"Puppet" by Patrick Smith<br />"Shut Eye Hotel" by Bill Plympton<br />"Bar Fight" by Christy Karacas and Steve Warbrick<br />"The Box Man" by Nirvan Mullick<br />"Ah L'Amour" by Don Hertzfeldt<br />"Son of Satan" by JJ Villard<br />"Seventeen" by Hisko Hulsing<br /><br />As you can see, it's quite the line up of darkly epic disturbing animation. These are simply my favorite animators to date, and some of the greatest animated films of all time. "Cartoons From HELL" will also screen at <a href="http://moccany.org/artfest09-main.html">MOCCA Art Festival</a> this June here in New York.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-90729828752220359342009-04-14T10:43:00.007-04:002009-04-14T20:10:16.290-04:00David Lynch Says it, So I don't have to...Rory Aronski, a film critic for <a href="http://filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=7450">Film Threat magazine</a>, once said about my films "Patrick Smith has the mind of David Lynch and the hand of Bill Plympton".. to this day nobody has ever paid me a higher compliment. I was reminded of that when my intern, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjtR6cQtXyg">Peter Ahern</a>, posted this great clip on his facebook page. Enjoy.<br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wKiIroiCvZ0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wKiIroiCvZ0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-68141088180662778452009-04-08T13:58:00.005-04:002009-04-08T14:07:35.502-04:00"Time Warp" on Discovery Channel...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90VyvOhPmA0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSErXUmWJ0TYcf6eO8Yk2YXboitc6iGTGxGqyt5BbyWYpwDzr3oaTyoJQSPUil1_8QNDCU4nYZuguCy6yLk1XzUqN0KSnMy4jzbbPk2QB5fKe963iPUK0jVMgISkBj6tsCSdM-RjGvjU2/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322382267386812450" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90VyvOhPmA0">This program</a> is practically tailor made for Animation Artists. I've never been so obsessed with a television show before. Motion analysis is one of my favorite past times, and capturing it with a series of drawings is what sets the art of animation apart from all other art mediums. Once you get into motion, everything else feels static and boring.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FqpDmUO0y0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUWXaAMpBBpKSjDZ7z6oI0oHLEzM9QFDP3UeFgpyhuLSfcF71-UgbhqrLnNW7IWu98kizpLp-e-9B5u2RoCoPTHtn-adZbypd2yMRp_PPQRod3hArZJIJaNhQ705oqqn-cUM4N4YCBbXR/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322382759489379554" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FqpDmUO0y0">movie above</a> is one of my favorites. I'm always fascinated at how fluid human flesh can be. And to think that people say<a href="http://blendfilms.com/download.html"> MY FILMS are weird and stretchy</a>! Real life can be so much more bizarre, just look at this fighters nose! Enjoy a free course in action analysis complements of Discovery Channel.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-10152386371476013282009-04-06T14:03:00.013-04:002009-04-06T14:42:14.502-04:00Discussion with Mike Stuart...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGGgMSh4So5TBAn0WKoYjibVwLhBFk_jBHVsB0J1P0nTqZLYugZvmF76Asg7ZYMhFJVOkSzf8DWArgs-YK5veT0dKu1bWyHuytFp5hgEthKXLooEBMi9viX5iFcaRo1ZxpANtz_pfr2yx/s1600-h/pink_floyd_the_wall_still.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGGgMSh4So5TBAn0WKoYjibVwLhBFk_jBHVsB0J1P0nTqZLYugZvmF76Asg7ZYMhFJVOkSzf8DWArgs-YK5veT0dKu1bWyHuytFp5hgEthKXLooEBMi9viX5iFcaRo1ZxpANtz_pfr2yx/s400/pink_floyd_the_wall_still.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321646544187945714" border="0" /></a>Last month I began an exchange with Animator<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0835807/"> Mike Stuart</a> based on my longstanding interest and obsession with the animation from "Pink Floyd's The Wall". Mike was the directing animator on practically all of the sequences, and the more I researched, the more I realized that Mike was simply "The Man" behind "The Wall". Here's bits of our exchange, Enjoy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUztGqQ-s0qCPeYxiImK6AcQ3d0CE549x4Z42WiccrCyj3hNiXoEbV263CFPsU9Jq2BYDo1FZvKu4RAXhMYjNsC7VIgUs9cHGbt4egRoCmycirMIav4u-rnPhIbPMpiDcsPHKB4zwVmAnQ/s1600-h/MikeStuart_rkw72733web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUztGqQ-s0qCPeYxiImK6AcQ3d0CE549x4Z42WiccrCyj3hNiXoEbV263CFPsU9Jq2BYDo1FZvKu4RAXhMYjNsC7VIgUs9cHGbt4egRoCmycirMIav4u-rnPhIbPMpiDcsPHKB4zwVmAnQ/s400/MikeStuart_rkw72733web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321643319062517282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">above: Master Animator Mike Stuart, photographed and obnoxiously watermarked by <a href="http://www.richardkeithwolff.co.uk/gallery_156312.html">Richard Wolff.</a> Who has an impressive collection of photos on his site of mostly british animation artists.<br /></span><br />"THE WALL" gave me a lot of creative freedom and allowed me to move into direction as well as animation. The opportunity to 'forward animate' ie. to start with a drawing and draw from drawing to drawing instead of producing 'key' drawings and then have an assistant 'inbetween' them. The Flower Sequence is an example of 'forward animation'(psmith note: "straight ahead" to us americans). And I used it also in the 'Tumbling Leaf Man' sequence - which, incidentally, is the first bit of animation I did for Pink Floyd." -Mike Stuart<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RXr_pJXKQAY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RXr_pJXKQAY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />"THE WALL" was made in a very unconventional way. Very much 'on the hoof' as it were. Most of the animation for the live performances was 'recobbled' and used in the picture. The 'hammers' caused a big problem as they were initially designed for the circular screen - extra hammers had to be added on either end as, in the film, we used an 'anamorphic lens', It is really Roger's film (Roger Waters) in my opinion. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Mason">Nick Mason</a> (pink floyd drummer)occasionally came to rushes but it was Roger Waters that had the last word." -Mike Stuart<br /><br />"I am working with a chap in the states who is writing a book on the making of the film. He has already produced a book on the making of the album." To quote<a href="http://www.geraldscarfe.com/"> G. Scarfe</a> - "I don't understand why people like it so much" I think you'll find this comment on the DVD." -Mike Stuart<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k2K9yWSRJFSRyt3O_70IRV911eO1v2C6qAdym8h7QhaInn1-TAA7Ey9N4Jwmsg0BtRdB3v8_D_arWENwx4WJGtdq0OCbE-BrwBwZG-8fa3qms7A5NBvTmS4ttABdVML7myOhrc1VQ0G4/s1600-h/moving_along_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2k2K9yWSRJFSRyt3O_70IRV911eO1v2C6qAdym8h7QhaInn1-TAA7Ey9N4Jwmsg0BtRdB3v8_D_arWENwx4WJGtdq0OCbE-BrwBwZG-8fa3qms7A5NBvTmS4ttABdVML7myOhrc1VQ0G4/s400/moving_along_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321645826002541970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Above: Images depicting my obvious influence from "The Wall" from my films "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/drink.html">Drink</a>" and the music video "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/movingalong.html">Moving Along</a>"<br /><br /></span>"My last project was the 78 'KIPPER' series. It won a BAFTA and Annecy in 1998 plus something in Positano. I have just designed a float for the Viareggio carnival. I mainly spend my time painting and making jewelry". -Mike StuartPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-55637434749888914622009-04-02T11:19:00.009-04:002009-04-14T11:03:30.081-04:00I'm sold... xtranormal.com<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zKpALhUUcuI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zKpALhUUcuI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Some of these are better than films i see at film festivals! and it's solely generated by text!! I'm rarely impressed with computer technology, but <a href="http://xtranormal.com/">xtranormal.com</a> is incredible and hilarious. If I was an animator I would really be concerned... oh wait.. I am... anyway, If you're wondering where the future is.. pre-programmed actions using text. all this needs is professional voice acting, custom character design option, then tweeking by director, and you have a dialogue driven script and one hell of an entertaining film!!! I love how the awdwardness actually makes it funny!!!! My prediction.. we will see a lot more of this company and this concept. I feel like making a film right now and submitting it to film festivals, it would probably get more attention than one of my traditional animated short.. NEW TECHNOLOGY just fascinates everyone, it's so pathetic. Ok...on second thought.. i'll be here at my studio drawing. Here's my attempt at it.. Enjoy.<br /><embed src = "http://www.xtranormal.com/players/jwplayer.swf" width = "500" height = "350" allowscriptaccess = "always" allowfullscreen = "true" flashvars = "height=350&width=500&file=http://tmpvideo.xtranormal.com/highres/20090414/d8fc1214-28fb-11de-8672-001b210acd5f_9.flv&image=http://tmpvideo.xtranormal.com/highres/20090414/d8fc1214-28fb-11de-8672-001b210acd5f_9_0.jpg&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed>Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-61913284016083391822009-03-18T10:24:00.005-04:002009-03-18T10:54:37.716-04:00Eyvind Earle/Fredric Edwin Church...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Eyvind</span> Earle was one of the many fine artists recruited by Disney in the 1950's. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Eyvind's</span> artwork is simply stunning. I can't think of a stronger visual designer, the best examples of which are the incredible images created for "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Two-Disc-Platinum-Standard-Blu-ray/dp/B0013ND30W/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1237388058&sr=8-2">Sleeping Beauty</a>". I would highly recommend Hans <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bacher's</span> book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Worlds-Production-Design-Animation/dp/0240520939/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237386498&sr=8-2">"Dream Worlds"</a>. Below are a few of my favorite paintings by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Eyvind</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmcfLqxhaHUPmP4oS4C8QxBQyWNtlAuKICa_RS9vDsJcaEOWI65pKtPwP2OZHYg001I_bH55tVVIrp1l9jU0Kqzjw__ZechBEXeP0-gUYHtWGhR7BwlydV3oJPvuIkn6hp8oM-r9HQVJH/s1600-h/PurpleForest24x36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmcfLqxhaHUPmP4oS4C8QxBQyWNtlAuKICa_RS9vDsJcaEOWI65pKtPwP2OZHYg001I_bH55tVVIrp1l9jU0Kqzjw__ZechBEXeP0-gUYHtWGhR7BwlydV3oJPvuIkn6hp8oM-r9HQVJH/s400/PurpleForest24x36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314536898073317826" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=1538">Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sporn</span></a> does a way better job of collecting these images than me. I'm typically not drawn to this heavy use of contrast and graphic design within the context of animation, but these images are too alluring not to admit their greatness. Power like this reminds me of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">american</span> painter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Edwin_Church">Frederic Edwin Church</a>, a Hudson River school landscape painter that specialized in this type of imagery, with out the graphic design element. Specifically the his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">iceberg</span> paintings.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf8_WaFFlZlFm16w5G8uRJjLNXwuOs_-rWBvDvr3qaWkQ9hDb3QPPPB4G7VTPyW4A_-3jMpvmKqSviNOuuDdcBuhvRBxtRdcImgqerNxuMyQp2XQVfkf1PyWRcOukNwiY2ulqi3kRE8JG/s1600-h/12am103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf8_WaFFlZlFm16w5G8uRJjLNXwuOs_-rWBvDvr3qaWkQ9hDb3QPPPB4G7VTPyW4A_-3jMpvmKqSviNOuuDdcBuhvRBxtRdcImgqerNxuMyQp2XQVfkf1PyWRcOukNwiY2ulqi3kRE8JG/s400/12am103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314538499533699282" border="0" /></a>Church gives an amazing lesson in contrast of scale here, something I use very often in my own work. One of the things brilliant landscape artists seem to excel at is making us humans feel <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">insignificant</span> in comparison to nature.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGZHAcy6hIROWc0FwHrbx6Kj-8u-Cqyv3ATDT8Gwxo8d2ntPEYoIoX7_1W7ERF8HwJmllcB52h7hKFuCX451vYdisBpzoojr1dZwrNUrRDE7fIJha-L3tKv2HcA7ztjeqVJIkEw8iU9mX/s1600-h/earlewhiterocklarge25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGZHAcy6hIROWc0FwHrbx6Kj-8u-Cqyv3ATDT8Gwxo8d2ntPEYoIoX7_1W7ERF8HwJmllcB52h7hKFuCX451vYdisBpzoojr1dZwrNUrRDE7fIJha-L3tKv2HcA7ztjeqVJIkEw8iU9mX/s400/earlewhiterocklarge25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314536893327737378" border="0" /></a>Earle uses a similar contrast of scale method here to create a feeling of power. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">jeeeez</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JGButgfDz-2tUQzR5VyOqiCoUMq8V5nemDMpSKKZClRU_mjwyMmBf-heqBRSjZ2VgmgmN98Ra62w2wnmI0d_2li694kbr__tNO8y7bVtphOl88lmv0bw-TRiiX22pyDEviYEEAA1645v/s1600-h/church-cooperhewitt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JGButgfDz-2tUQzR5VyOqiCoUMq8V5nemDMpSKKZClRU_mjwyMmBf-heqBRSjZ2VgmgmN98Ra62w2wnmI0d_2li694kbr__tNO8y7bVtphOl88lmv0bw-TRiiX22pyDEviYEEAA1645v/s400/church-cooperhewitt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314538502823110594" border="0" /></a>The depth of this piece is astounding. I often notice that the more depth a piece has, the more dramatic and powerful it becomes.. in contrast to this, things that are flat are often used for humor or light <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">hearted-ness</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS89bP-nhWgU5eczJtwNOphwZK4GyVk3Fq3tH1fIBbUqdQPVMKPWNCPH25OY2T8ar1sKhH-08zLZoIB67T2ioxg7ZXZTeMz0wsXWdAK_Woq94vaTZu6F9Oja2dj7RUSnSPCOP3AI1IyBV/s1600-h/AstheShadowsDeepened24x48.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS89bP-nhWgU5eczJtwNOphwZK4GyVk3Fq3tH1fIBbUqdQPVMKPWNCPH25OY2T8ar1sKhH-08zLZoIB67T2ioxg7ZXZTeMz0wsXWdAK_Woq94vaTZu6F9Oja2dj7RUSnSPCOP3AI1IyBV/s400/AstheShadowsDeepened24x48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314536883629796242" border="0" /></a>The contrast of scale itself is the single element that provides depth to this piece above.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-9927076794825477932009-03-06T18:59:00.008-05:002009-03-06T19:26:06.442-05:00"Blood and Posture" from Mark Kennedy blog..."I don't use action lines to describe what is happening in the frame; I use blood and posture to tell the viewer what is happening" -<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gibbens</span> (of "Watchmen")<br /><br />Another epic blog entry from <a href="http://sevencamels.blogspot.com/2009/03/blood-and-posture.html">Mark</a>. Please take some time to read this very extended entry, it's something I think about all the time, and I happen to lean toward the NO action lines especially in animation. I hate that I've used them in the past, they added practically nothing to the action. "Blood and Posture" may just be my new tag line. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span>... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">i'm</span> using my own drawings as examples, you'll have to forgive me, i just have no immediate other examples at hand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fxvOn4mk7Hwh7-lxAFttpm2UtPlojJ6O9c7Avai20_IqI7QXDP2XngX3__ACirUYfbBwEsIB3Lo3HjnukgPsDQx47tkjAcCV8gL1vgLhBb-E-HYNVsmZIyDwVimfWXd7dLVeCtCsls6g/s1600-h/Untitled-1"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fxvOn4mk7Hwh7-lxAFttpm2UtPlojJ6O9c7Avai20_IqI7QXDP2XngX3__ACirUYfbBwEsIB3Lo3HjnukgPsDQx47tkjAcCV8gL1vgLhBb-E-HYNVsmZIyDwVimfWXd7dLVeCtCsls6g/s400/Untitled-1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310231107782119634" border="0" /></a>Above I used motion lines in "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/puppet.html">Puppet</a>" to punch up this key that was exposed on ones. Now that I look at it, it didn't add anything, i should have left it out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA6dhs882U9KzSFi1OcwSh_IvcBAo-ivlzVpRnLNGk3fgg2cPAi2bS3-JZxTNkURXtC2dIfxac1u2hx7a27F7ghbKa2_8u9IkFvPKiZqTw6Jc2WjtzuoXXN5n2GSddL2pCj0A1PZzsnMK/s1600-h/Untitled-3"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA6dhs882U9KzSFi1OcwSh_IvcBAo-ivlzVpRnLNGk3fgg2cPAi2bS3-JZxTNkURXtC2dIfxac1u2hx7a27F7ghbKa2_8u9IkFvPKiZqTw6Jc2WjtzuoXXN5n2GSddL2pCj0A1PZzsnMK/s400/Untitled-3" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310231114699124354" border="0" /></a>Above, I think I did well, some animators would use a "wipe" effect by elongating this exposure (again on ones) but it looks better with the more realistic "stretch" of the sock being thrown down, as well as a nice drag from the hair.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMjGOnPMRPnqeYUNtNiyV-4A8WAoVpBrOakr7z250gxJ-GYPD85ozCsm0_ZkFZ4Afea9A6P95Kw6y51ahaUQYNYc7GoME3glTIv9w9taWOq3xxmADn6zi00sznEdN7ZNT5J9eiDZZdWpB/s1600-h/Untitled-2"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMjGOnPMRPnqeYUNtNiyV-4A8WAoVpBrOakr7z250gxJ-GYPD85ozCsm0_ZkFZ4Afea9A6P95Kw6y51ahaUQYNYc7GoME3glTIv9w9taWOq3xxmADn6zi00sznEdN7ZNT5J9eiDZZdWpB/s400/Untitled-2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310231108775066610" border="0" /></a>Above I think I used the saliva coming off the kids mouth as a "Blood and Posture" move, eliminating any motion lines, and only using goober to leave a motion trail, and also again the direction is aided by the drag on the hair, as well as the puppets little hands. This was a fun scene to animate.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVeOAAgqyvyJSJVHx54BA2bLoedmocdAQuDyHg2A4pXrMn5XAweGT92Ff6Z0oMc2qbYxe43JN6kb03cIYA_dQKK31esGKRx0t9rCXe0fIVhyphenhyphenpF23FN0W-MrRLODAn8_rpAym6nUd03x1U/s1600-h/Untitled-3"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVeOAAgqyvyJSJVHx54BA2bLoedmocdAQuDyHg2A4pXrMn5XAweGT92Ff6Z0oMc2qbYxe43JN6kb03cIYA_dQKK31esGKRx0t9rCXe0fIVhyphenhyphenpF23FN0W-MrRLODAn8_rpAym6nUd03x1U/s400/Untitled-3" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310234526251827474" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dangit</span>... above is another one... what's wrong with me?? this one had no reasoning behind it.. I think sometimes I put them in when i'm working on 1's because i think it goes by so quick.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4Cnp0KzzruJeh-5TyRA-8ygAYCzqWQtlmj_1SDCmBwj_RXjegUYbRIEKltgd-txxmqMT3Lt0XxIr5RL_WjkEbcvd2npueWBtT_2ORd3l_JQwYj9GQENEdumT7FHL4BoJSty0uIbfxNHV/s1600-h/Untitled-2"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4Cnp0KzzruJeh-5TyRA-8ygAYCzqWQtlmj_1SDCmBwj_RXjegUYbRIEKltgd-txxmqMT3Lt0XxIr5RL_WjkEbcvd2npueWBtT_2ORd3l_JQwYj9GQENEdumT7FHL4BoJSty0uIbfxNHV/s400/Untitled-2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310234522749011922" border="0" /></a>I even see they crept in within the rough of this one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN3cz1nY3H28SZgs5wbrOJoAlE_XQhS-C0lLhQvbBM8HAoJ7wnBIkUk5JAjGNDmLVYhtgs2nb_L32Cwpb9CV2Z-odZ8wriE3hJKK9QFvzOSsTUwfMDQ0rdctreqClVkUHFfdhxGy7vVLB/s1600-h/Untitled-1"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN3cz1nY3H28SZgs5wbrOJoAlE_XQhS-C0lLhQvbBM8HAoJ7wnBIkUk5JAjGNDmLVYhtgs2nb_L32Cwpb9CV2Z-odZ8wriE3hJKK9QFvzOSsTUwfMDQ0rdctreqClVkUHFfdhxGy7vVLB/s400/Untitled-1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310234518598031666" border="0" /></a>Here's another one above, you see the VERY NEXT FRAME has debris (read "blood") that made the action quite clear enough.. no lines were needed. moral of this... stick to the real world for your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">references</span>... there's no motion lines in reality!Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-66345655327456093932009-03-03T10:11:00.006-05:002009-03-03T10:33:54.111-05:00Patrick Smith Program at Lake County Film Festival...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lakecountyfilmfest.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrQqaFzhzyvmq3eB0mfzMAP46Oa0E1m22L1x5WoWaTOooBvX9CZ39cLWmA3tI3nVerCf4yXlEhNn7qgpmF6wOhCdiAQ7OpkPZV30Yab3UR8H6XQ68Ed2uGxOY5D8Injs5b2skYmdqUi_h/s400/banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308981521513363378" border="0" /></a>In addition to programming this years selection of Animated Shorts, <a href="http://www.lakecountyfilmfest.com/">Lake County Film Festival </a>is hosting a talk and a screening of my last five short films, as well as several commercial productions my studio has completed this past year. It should be fun, I love talking shop with other professionals or students. I'll be at both Animation programs Sat. and Sun., and the <a href="http://blendfilms.com">Patrick Smith</a> show is Sunday... info below. Hope to see you there!<br /><br />Patrick Smith Show: Sunday March 8th, 2pm.<br />Animation Program: Saturday March 7th, 12pm, and Sunday March 8th, 4:10pm.<br />19351 W. Washington St., Room D100, Grayslake, ILPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-1283623002370335152009-02-25T11:22:00.009-05:002009-02-25T11:40:13.533-05:00Boston Underground Ben Levin/Patrick Smith show...I'm really excited to share the spotlight with fellow animator <a href="http://www.benlevin.net/">Ben Levin</a>, who animated one of my favorite shorts of 2006, "She's a Bombshell", which premiered with "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/puppet.html">Puppet</a>" at the 06 <a href="http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/">Tribeca Film Festival</a>. Be sure to heckle us at the Q and A on Saturday, we'll both be there to be ridiculed. I'll be showing the trailer for my new film "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/masks.html">Masks</a>". Also screening in the regular BUFF program is "Bubblewrap" by my super talented buddy <a href="http://metcalflovesyou.com/">Arthur Metcalf</a>.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0-XSYc73-017w-YIypA9MbqN8bFyu3hd9jLh95BoazM2JUAXFr_Ur5hyphenhyphenUCtTqgjgKja2suKb-eU0r4wbOzLY61n9Ol41-zIzPXWanVEYJabZEh5jiuA4CJ_ssaD8V7upWXKfjoWHba21/s1600-h/BUFF-logo-small.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0-XSYc73-017w-YIypA9MbqN8bFyu3hd9jLh95BoazM2JUAXFr_Ur5hyphenhyphenUCtTqgjgKja2suKb-eU0r4wbOzLY61n9Ol41-zIzPXWanVEYJabZEh5jiuA4CJ_ssaD8V7upWXKfjoWHba21/s400/BUFF-logo-small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306775374077742690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.bostonundergroundfilmfestival.com/">Boston Underground</a> Film Festival presents:<br />New York Spawned a Monster, The Animation of Ben Levin and Patrick Smith.<br />-Friday, February 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Space 242<br />-Saturday, February 28, at noon, don't miss a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Q and A session with the two animators</span>.<br /><br />Join us at Space 242! SPACE 242 is located in Boston's South End at 242 East Berkeley Street, 2nd floor, between Albany Street and Harrison Avenue in Boston (The Medieval Manor Building).Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-43858529902050512792009-02-19T15:33:00.008-05:002009-02-24T16:43:22.494-05:00Kill Your Television...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqRyTGDNXpA-FiApzyTE2mHL3_Q3Oa6VF75y95RHKr3vt_zevbhhZufs4aOHN31WvGrR6Az-LLkrFOh6FX0CzjOEXOKmxIY7CFtYWRSI5NVaiWA9cQnV7jAI8U5JjVoEJrJm-IFTglj2f/s1600-h/stopstart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqRyTGDNXpA-FiApzyTE2mHL3_Q3Oa6VF75y95RHKr3vt_zevbhhZufs4aOHN31WvGrR6Az-LLkrFOh6FX0CzjOEXOKmxIY7CFtYWRSI5NVaiWA9cQnV7jAI8U5JjVoEJrJm-IFTglj2f/s400/stopstart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306481296503748562" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Wyeth">Jamie Wyeth</a> was asked about a recent sale of one of his paintings to the actor Tom Arnold. He replied, "Who's Tom Arnold?" I think Mr. Wyeth spends much more time working than in front of the TV. Note to self.. Kill your television. It's a strange relationship to be working primarily for TV, but not watch it. I discontinued my cable TV this week, and I'm really thinking that I'm not missing out on much. I did, however, retain my netflix account. Here's a few thoughts provided by <a href="http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/">turnoffyourtv.com</a>:<br /><br />"I don't really watch television, and I make my living out of it. It's not out of any great principle. I work at it all day. I'm traveling, at night I'm going (to give) speeches. Other than watching sports and the news, I just don't watch it." -- Talk show host Jerry Springer<br /><br />"American children and adolescents spend 22 to 28 hours per week viewing television, more than any other activity except sleeping. By the age of 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching TV." -- The Kaiser Family Foundation<br /><br />"You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on." -- Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer and PixarPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-27268646208301845512009-02-19T15:07:00.006-05:002009-02-19T15:33:09.481-05:00Recessions as blessings...The best rise to the top in times like these, and the posers end up leaving the room. Do anything you need to do to survive, but don't waste time not creating art. -Patrick Smith note to self<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24Ypv7ocLTYmZZqcRPBKKpj4SFZ3ASt8ekURE2jonvKdzDCK2Q59PYpnu-_LDcy_erLJ2Zpt1IizZNZ8WSSseh6KX2P6Bh3UtU7-0F2ZoOvcON3FgjTWIfqulHRvz3mCxmRAZq1b_SReV/s1600-h/Untitled-2"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24Ypv7ocLTYmZZqcRPBKKpj4SFZ3ASt8ekURE2jonvKdzDCK2Q59PYpnu-_LDcy_erLJ2Zpt1IizZNZ8WSSseh6KX2P6Bh3UtU7-0F2ZoOvcON3FgjTWIfqulHRvz3mCxmRAZq1b_SReV/s400/Untitled-2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304606357759882770" border="0" /></a>(above: he's taken a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSOiKjAIQ7s">beating</a>, but smiling) One of the first things I learned about animation is that there is no easy way to do it, once you get over that fact, you can become an animator. Living in times of economic struggle is no different, simply put: nobody said it would be easy. Historically, recessions and depressions have been times when important and great works of art get made. Our cost for materials is relatively minor. It's time to create good work, stop reading <a href="http://cnn.com/">CNN</a>, or <a href="http://cartoonbrew.com/">Cartoon Brew</a>, get off of <a href="http://facebook.com/">Facebook</a>, and start working. When bad times hit and the economy is sucking, artists really need to elevate themselves and increase the quality of what they are creating. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYvhf95yTK-SZNMDSDn5iClGLadXAHMPcgQtxJdGReTVPhymfRQy2xENk72gRk1ym8kpuKxOrqu390kH-d94Bdh1j_4_G1uyMCQ-EvqcTHq8uD0d67ZS1D5_wU8qpR8zBJjd28Eesd7XB/s1600-h/Untitled-1"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYvhf95yTK-SZNMDSDn5iClGLadXAHMPcgQtxJdGReTVPhymfRQy2xENk72gRk1ym8kpuKxOrqu390kH-d94Bdh1j_4_G1uyMCQ-EvqcTHq8uD0d67ZS1D5_wU8qpR8zBJjd28Eesd7XB/s400/Untitled-1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304606362151698898" border="0" /></a>(above: stretching things thin) My friend <a href="http://www.stretchfilms.com/">John Dilworth</a> once told me that when you hit the bottom, THAT'S when you will do something real. I'm happy to say that I think I may be doing something real now, John. I just hope I don't lose my house in the process.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-508152072001601722009-02-18T10:09:00.000-05:002009-02-18T10:28:33.481-05:00Patrick Smith films in HD on Youtube...<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DFW2sraEH1U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DFW2sraEH1U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br />I'm happy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFW2sraEH1U&feature=channel_page">Youtube</a> started to support a higher resolution option, it kills several of my complaints I had with this exhibition medium. Although I still think Youtube is an outlet for predominantly 14 year old zombies, I have to confess that this looks pretty darn good. Please watch my 2004 films "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/handshake.html">Handshake</a>" and "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/moving_along.html">Moving Along</a>", or my most recent short "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/puppet.html">Puppet</a>". Let me know what you think. I know it's not like watching it in a theater or at a home theater, but it's the best the internet can offer right now. For true believers you can still get <a href="http://blendfilms.com/liquid_tales.html">my DVD</a> for a more formal experience. oh, and it's my birthday, please make checks payable to Blend Films Inc. c/o save an animator birthday fund.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-84416058585596652182009-02-16T15:19:00.007-05:002009-02-16T15:37:21.894-05:00PSmith Graffiti spotted...I've gotten a few of these video stills sent to me, the latest was sent from animator <a href="http://www.mon-alisa.com/">Alisa Stern</a>, she grabbed these stills from "<a href="http://www.scifi.com/doctorwho/">Dr. Who</a>", and spotted graffiti of mine in the background.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDSymOobAtF13OiOfhOxYOzuRyNZB0-lJ8sz8D9GtO3npDpBVYb_RytSzVMt2FgAQ4Ooum93OvtcZtKHV966uB4wvXT9PNKrwkmX4UVQuix95JN4DZV6ldj3P0DglkrrlADyN7Dzm-ujZ/s1600-h/drwho_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDSymOobAtF13OiOfhOxYOzuRyNZB0-lJ8sz8D9GtO3npDpBVYb_RytSzVMt2FgAQ4Ooum93OvtcZtKHV966uB4wvXT9PNKrwkmX4UVQuix95JN4DZV6ldj3P0DglkrrlADyN7Dzm-ujZ/s400/drwho_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493337132416770" border="0" /></a>Oddly enough, I didn't paint this, someone else just copied one of my "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/public_art.html">Column</a>" designs. I like to see my work where I didn't put it, makes me think for a second that there's other people who dig my stuff beside my parents, <a href="http://wickedwink.blogspot.com/">pink pigeons</a>, and my blog readers (full props to y'all).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkChQNB_YlnJK4Myc2QiGbKQK2bnA-MC6K5kAht6xSQNkxNLe-MbT2hPcMgVUtiyXv6FchjqiD71TImTK7qfUcd2VumR3XqGRNgZYk31xBT9dUsds11JUM99jGFpfBkmCJr_G5Oh9-H0xz/s1600-h/drwho_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkChQNB_YlnJK4Myc2QiGbKQK2bnA-MC6K5kAht6xSQNkxNLe-MbT2hPcMgVUtiyXv6FchjqiD71TImTK7qfUcd2VumR3XqGRNgZYk31xBT9dUsds11JUM99jGFpfBkmCJr_G5Oh9-H0xz/s400/drwho_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493333116821154" border="0" /></a>Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-52798415882533472122009-02-13T16:23:00.004-05:002009-02-13T16:38:42.005-05:00Birthday Greetings!I ran into a bunch of my old MTV friends at a party the other night, my birthday came up in conversation (it's next week) and I was reminded of all the cool art and cards I've gotten over the years. here's a small sample of them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwRBYd2Xo8eXMacfiPFBBFlvn6UTFGnX4Lf_LcyXw693BRfwXp80r5Q3D4ecwCOilWSBPA2c8fB_c1maE1hkq3Lrd9LGAAGjCgYFJlNLo_PYIKivFO7BM8A5Z7L2wa6LUuVBiMUjKBQC2/s1600-h/IMG_0406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwRBYd2Xo8eXMacfiPFBBFlvn6UTFGnX4Lf_LcyXw693BRfwXp80r5Q3D4ecwCOilWSBPA2c8fB_c1maE1hkq3Lrd9LGAAGjCgYFJlNLo_PYIKivFO7BM8A5Z7L2wa6LUuVBiMUjKBQC2/s400/IMG_0406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302397751915890098" border="0" /></a>This first one (above) is one of my favorites, Bill Plympton gave me this card four years ago, I had just finished my film "<a href="http://blendfilms.com/handshake.html">Handshake</a>" and he had just finished "Guard Dog", so he threw the two characters together for this card! it's one of my treasured pieces of art. Bill also did a great thank you card for staying at my place in montauk, I will post it soon!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW2qSbJTF79FZXnAW-3xVhncEr6uG7_iY00nhkfe7bKYWujz_GZWIG_kaFPtS91CGyNVbcIWpzynwIiL1JFnM73J1yu_9nyyvIXNhL7fNUv2eZIas02sVFWIiQ9jkiGdqv38qwp30nVkC/s1600-h/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW2qSbJTF79FZXnAW-3xVhncEr6uG7_iY00nhkfe7bKYWujz_GZWIG_kaFPtS91CGyNVbcIWpzynwIiL1JFnM73J1yu_9nyyvIXNhL7fNUv2eZIas02sVFWIiQ9jkiGdqv38qwp30nVkC/s400/IMG_0407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302397756852430290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5oom8bQ-xEBLO_d2HNLs89qz19MKiCQ86oFYAU4b2bYfBw7lS0GzmSCVI1rElAreGPBEtc8uvdqHKbLrxOs03dfq_TPXkBdlMOx61wjQgORL0ATYtvye9qJ0fFB6NJbKNmCvdBXezv-n/s1600-h/IMG_0403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5oom8bQ-xEBLO_d2HNLs89qz19MKiCQ86oFYAU4b2bYfBw7lS0GzmSCVI1rElAreGPBEtc8uvdqHKbLrxOs03dfq_TPXkBdlMOx61wjQgORL0ATYtvye9qJ0fFB6NJbKNmCvdBXezv-n/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302397746382699922" border="0" /></a>These two cards above are two of many I got while working at MTV. The studio had a tradition of giving cards to everyone on their Bday, it would get passed around and everyone would contribute a drawing. Then that person would get wods of paper whipped at them by everyone, which was occasionally pretty painful, but you'd get a cool card out of it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJikaCrLvsMCJeOiB7NPkjH2mY2_BLrUDLdIz3JoLfgS80BD6UZoBh-anjYul6K5taa3gD3EjLiF8a7L47loc6ZisWyrsKzlMcktHMS2updyhCX_a4FqAXPHPZLN6TQonuqnU9qTgKykV/s1600-h/IMG_0409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJikaCrLvsMCJeOiB7NPkjH2mY2_BLrUDLdIz3JoLfgS80BD6UZoBh-anjYul6K5taa3gD3EjLiF8a7L47loc6ZisWyrsKzlMcktHMS2updyhCX_a4FqAXPHPZLN6TQonuqnU9qTgKykV/s400/IMG_0409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302397759084117010" border="0" /></a>This one goes all the way back to Beavis and Butthead, and The Head. Brian Moore was the artist I'm pretty sure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzonCW4JNrmgxFJjo3PSersjIbI3ev9r58-Uq4ZDRtC4UukYaJivTGDz0BhUxHLeP-ASa_nEqIqSuX2ZHkSNt6d5wxbyqCNJxeOOm35P-UgcNp09-2ModADaKvmh49iGRHId07569u5_2/s1600-h/IMG_0405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzonCW4JNrmgxFJjo3PSersjIbI3ev9r58-Uq4ZDRtC4UukYaJivTGDz0BhUxHLeP-ASa_nEqIqSuX2ZHkSNt6d5wxbyqCNJxeOOm35P-UgcNp09-2ModADaKvmh49iGRHId07569u5_2/s400/IMG_0405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302397751390096322" border="0" /></a>This one was from when I was directing on "Downtown", a show that had a truly talented crew, the colorful image in the character "Goat" drawn most likely by Dave Vandervort.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-30459856293658845062009-01-27T04:57:00.005-05:002009-01-27T05:06:40.172-05:00From Singapore...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpLUjxQxSPB2U0lbycQBeM_929PgB8MkHzyYGfQv2lbxacIBDlm0EHRv_rZ7sNGyPocyoucHpJshdLav7Fkry8nYHlvUyW1zQXS5EgKpiuYa_FmotUUIdckwSrDGofGzKdbif1jRPTWLi/s1600-h/n675684993_2028711_3014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpLUjxQxSPB2U0lbycQBeM_929PgB8MkHzyYGfQv2lbxacIBDlm0EHRv_rZ7sNGyPocyoucHpJshdLav7Fkry8nYHlvUyW1zQXS5EgKpiuYa_FmotUUIdckwSrDGofGzKdbif1jRPTWLi/s400/n675684993_2028711_3014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295911350729489266" border="0" /></a>It's been over a week since my arrival, the NYU-Asia hosted Master Class I'm teaching is going well, the graduate level students are very talented. It's also great to be back in southeast asia, although I had forgotten how hot it is here. The university is hosting a program of my short films this friday which should be fun. Other than work, I've had a lot of time to walk around this city aimlessly with some of the faculty and students. <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/adafaculty.html">Matt Sheridan</a>, an old buddy of mine from MTV teaches here full time, and it's great to catch up with him, we ate fish head curry the other night. I was also able to hang out with Lucas Films Animation director, Rob Coleman. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7UoWDOXQGS0gHS_VuLTcEr-wlPd4mT_JYnizwv88oG1aOkN27N9B6l26RwDhG77Wlp-mqXPhpGCz6Fh1TAMQe8JvYFFCCXPQ0qK6dWiQ6ulSTC1pTSQLTH1CVdXOMIylvYaYNnxS1a-d/s1600-h/n675684993_2028713_3561.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7UoWDOXQGS0gHS_VuLTcEr-wlPd4mT_JYnizwv88oG1aOkN27N9B6l26RwDhG77Wlp-mqXPhpGCz6Fh1TAMQe8JvYFFCCXPQ0qK6dWiQ6ulSTC1pTSQLTH1CVdXOMIylvYaYNnxS1a-d/s400/n675684993_2028713_3561.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295911355987829346" border="0" /></a>Another highlight, photo above, was walking through one of the last traditional villages in singapore, a place called Kampong Lorong, which is about to be <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/world/asia/04village.html?_r=2&ref=opinion">razed by the government</a> to build more project-like high rise homes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjH8wkSYyCHqVNqxLi-u0bAd8j3AQG5yE7xjveNcwi246cSEi9gUOqTADzFykpqTDAqjJRdPB_ibT_K2Jn96C6kX6OPoKxcxxWh096UHH9XuxjOM9llaZ44Ge6xxZhOU8a-wMrNzYrIAp/s1600-h/n675684993_2028708_2218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjH8wkSYyCHqVNqxLi-u0bAd8j3AQG5yE7xjveNcwi246cSEi9gUOqTADzFykpqTDAqjJRdPB_ibT_K2Jn96C6kX6OPoKxcxxWh096UHH9XuxjOM9llaZ44Ge6xxZhOU8a-wMrNzYrIAp/s400/n675684993_2028708_2218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295911344325751106" border="0" /></a>Photo above is Lucas Films <a href="http://www.awn.com/mag/issue4.05/4.05pages/cohenwars.php3">Rob Coleman</a>, Patrick Smith, and NYU-Asia dept head <a href="http://www.tischasia.nyu.edu.sg/object/adafaculty.html">Jean-Marc Gauthier</a>.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-78101552929142715882009-01-16T16:47:00.006-05:002009-01-16T16:55:19.075-05:00Andrew Wyeth 1918-2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY615OLFDxakQLQ_cavnWnHZ_m8eHgHZwq7TeShosLVj31NN4kzDCvO31WUHmKJSSCGj119xGar55l3g4EN5eWMIpZp-iYyUTxhYPLIb1DLY6cLe1N65pvN2ExxFPnqiq4auZQgWBhxA9/s1600-h/wyethchristina.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY615OLFDxakQLQ_cavnWnHZ_m8eHgHZwq7TeShosLVj31NN4kzDCvO31WUHmKJSSCGj119xGar55l3g4EN5eWMIpZp-iYyUTxhYPLIb1DLY6cLe1N65pvN2ExxFPnqiq4auZQgWBhxA9/s400/wyethchristina.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292012566433351426" border="0" /></a>One of my favorite painters of all time, Andrew Wyeth, who captured the melancholy of the landscapes and people of Pennsylvania in his brilliant paintings, died aged 91. I've often mentioned him within my writing and teaching, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">especially</span> in terms of putting "movement" into his work, something us animators always like to point out. Wyeth was the first living US artist to be elected to the Royal Academy. It's a great loss. There just aren't classical painters like him anymore.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-9311446190938619172009-01-13T19:36:00.004-05:002009-01-13T19:47:04.912-05:00A Favorite Rockwell.."War News"..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVgmKcl_r73BQlh5-N7kDWKqdsW019-R6hV07KHR5zKGjDcMwBPAoovyFkbG5w6SDt6eMa3hDrIDmnPA963XRhwI0PZvJONLeSI7c_KHZeYJkU0THSGJR8ouy1NHDCj_dxMoVOPmPTDA0/s1600-h/RockwellWarNews_low.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVgmKcl_r73BQlh5-N7kDWKqdsW019-R6hV07KHR5zKGjDcMwBPAoovyFkbG5w6SDt6eMa3hDrIDmnPA963XRhwI0PZvJONLeSI7c_KHZeYJkU0THSGJR8ouy1NHDCj_dxMoVOPmPTDA0/s400/RockwellWarNews_low.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290942918954395474" border="0" /></a>Despite the hostel reception to my past praise of Norman Rockwell, I wanted to share with you a painting that exemplifies Rockwells skill and social insight. "War News" was completed in 1945, but never published. Critics often dismiss Rockwell paintings as "Simplified unmercifully and reassured inappropriately", but I see him as a master that captured a great era with even greater skill, perhaps his works leaned on the idealistic side, but I think that makes it even more important and timeless, in this age of cynicism and elitism (especially within the art world, excuse my generalization). This piece is wonderfully constructed and composed. Through expert characterization Rockwell captured an apprehension and severe concern in the figures. I appreciate this work even more so as an animator, i almost see them as actors within a story. As far as content ... it's dead on. Unfortunately, we've all experienced that severe concern to war news.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SHDkRXdbFu08qjUyGFMfL4gTp0SEWZyBMbTYJphTfp1Zzvu3JsdCbttVAgZIm6zzIFuzonkBEfC3rJrdE6-6ziczfdbryen7tJcTMHxGXX8WMue2p9TBOqsqC4hgaXbPsWnuCP6K3pxV/s1600-h/Norman_Rockwell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SHDkRXdbFu08qjUyGFMfL4gTp0SEWZyBMbTYJphTfp1Zzvu3JsdCbttVAgZIm6zzIFuzonkBEfC3rJrdE6-6ziczfdbryen7tJcTMHxGXX8WMue2p9TBOqsqC4hgaXbPsWnuCP6K3pxV/s400/Norman_Rockwell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290944358299498210" border="0" /></a>In this same year Rockwell painted other great pieces like "Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes" and "The Homecoming". It's interesting to point out that Rockwells "Four Freedoms" was viewed by 1.2 million people, and raised over 135 million dollars in war bonds. If this isn't an example of how art is an integral part of the world, I don't know what is. It's also interesting that the humble master felt he "held a low rung" on the ladder of fine art. He considered Pablo Picasso the greatest, going so far as to add a bit of cubism into several of his paintings. He also held Mondrian in the highest regard.<br /><br />“May God deliver us from the worst of all sins!: Man's own religious hypocritical self-righteousness and evil knowledge and greed for power through every form of cruelty, including war!” -Norman RockwellPatrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-65383710561747870042009-01-07T09:03:00.004-05:002009-01-07T12:34:00.987-05:00Patrick Smith Master Class in Singapore..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIoHoF7-GuJ2bY0Ois6kzXxwLST7GmpQ1rTgIGgPoyczIdHjDxAmVmD46kTWPSkHoC79gcv6igCAZb2-Nonjw65lDbw5nSYEpgdWqr8rCp-yJM6tl1zXCNefVO1JpOsbdxUGwRv4u2UGn/s1600-h/main-2.php.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIoHoF7-GuJ2bY0Ois6kzXxwLST7GmpQ1rTgIGgPoyczIdHjDxAmVmD46kTWPSkHoC79gcv6igCAZb2-Nonjw65lDbw5nSYEpgdWqr8rCp-yJM6tl1zXCNefVO1JpOsbdxUGwRv4u2UGn/s400/main-2.php.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288605021564210002" border="0" /></a>I'm off to Singapore next week to teach a ten session master class through NYU, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tisch</span> Asia. It will be nice to be back in Southeast Asia, an area which I've spent a lot of time traveling a decade ago. This will be an exciting class for me because it's the first time <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I've</span> instructed entirely using Flash, a program that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">I've</span> always had mixed feelings about. But it will allow students to perform lessons while in the classroom, as well as allowing me to demonstrate the principles <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I'm</span> discussing as we go. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Unfortunately</span> the students will not be able to take advantage of the texture and soul of a pencil line, I can only hope they take the lessons and work on paper after the seminar is completed. If you happen to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Singapore</span> at the end of this month, drop me an email and we'll go get some fish head curry!Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-42946043858751660452008-12-23T13:29:00.006-05:002008-12-23T13:43:11.473-05:00Christmas Inspiration: Norman Rockwell and JC Leyendecker...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T22K7ITEo8l0tLD6UYJ2_e_VC1tyQONQCdFtAe4MWF9nefI0NkOjth-SCWCJ5cdfkG65SNgH3QIKy9DzxqprXybz2XO7u4tI2P_UA2LZo6J0VAVPRCTyh64y7yFSJ4Ni39gIqjzbDnIo/s1600-h/santa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-T22K7ITEo8l0tLD6UYJ2_e_VC1tyQONQCdFtAe4MWF9nefI0NkOjth-SCWCJ5cdfkG65SNgH3QIKy9DzxqprXybz2XO7u4tI2P_UA2LZo6J0VAVPRCTyh64y7yFSJ4Ni39gIqjzbDnIo/s400/santa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283055772748846098" border="0" /></a>I grew up with a massive Norman Rockwell coffee table book kicking around the house. By the time I was a teenager, this book was dog eared from me flipping through the illustrations. This image above still brings me back to when I was little, even then I was amazed at the brilliant artist/illustrator. I love the level of clarity and the use of a solid figurative silhouette in this piece. It's something every animator should keep in mind.. clarity above all. Clarity, proportion, weight, character... Norman would have been an epic animator. Every time I hang out at the society of illustrators here in New York, I think about Norman Rockwell and JC Leyendecker hanging out at the bar having a drink. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PfSko6Ix4PISWI5P_9AgMNi416ul0l9j9Hxe764aI4INo30bac6SnQhG8-kXQwM0tCwNQ58gt3DMhLZkgXUd3UzNM7pshaY9THi5tU_jaa6YfEdZwu_vR3sX-Is-AVMP3q44PVC6BijP/s1600-h/9301220.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PfSko6Ix4PISWI5P_9AgMNi416ul0l9j9Hxe764aI4INo30bac6SnQhG8-kXQwM0tCwNQ58gt3DMhLZkgXUd3UzNM7pshaY9THi5tU_jaa6YfEdZwu_vR3sX-Is-AVMP3q44PVC6BijP/s400/9301220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283056765105575058" border="0" /></a>Norman probably annoying JC with his fan boy questions. Rad. Enjoy the Leyendecker above, another one of my holiday favorites! I mean.. wha? that composition is just incredible... everything in a perfect place, working in complete harmony with the space. Wish I could have been there hanging out with those guys. Here's a <a href="http://www.curtispublishing.com/gallery/categories/santas.htm">great page of Santas, mostly by Rockwell and Leyendecker</a>. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!! I'm off to Wyoming to shoot more guns, see y'all in 2009!Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-50046286957846019542008-12-18T09:48:00.004-05:002008-12-18T10:20:49.378-05:00Paintings that express MOVEMENT..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRqb7CbpEbKoMBYhgsLC3pPhqwZ53JGtFK7mzoqqOtp0Hcw6lVtNEStIihFu99VZ_X_1a3NHMWFe58DYMVR6f5GjF8_Dt5w9aogLNJXyVTKiLINuc3Xpd4hYWjRIGikZa2J2GXHEbGIuW/s1600-h/1727935576_bc22374b2b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRqb7CbpEbKoMBYhgsLC3pPhqwZ53JGtFK7mzoqqOtp0Hcw6lVtNEStIihFu99VZ_X_1a3NHMWFe58DYMVR6f5GjF8_Dt5w9aogLNJXyVTKiLINuc3Xpd4hYWjRIGikZa2J2GXHEbGIuW/s400/1727935576_bc22374b2b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281144263239779570" border="0" /></a>(above: pull #1,2,3 by psmith) "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." -Albert Einstein. I'm not a fan of the "static" image. For me, it's the flaw of a majority of portraiture and still life painting. There's no action. I want to know what the next frame looks like! I want to see a direction, feel the surge of movement. Animation is incredible because it's the only drawn art medium that does not use the static image, but despite this, movement has a way of creeping into great works of art. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd08HwaLZxZ8rbbSs0PfkQAERLLbma76P4exhroVn7X2rQoFLOCylLxbpnqnUalIzJC07l1dncHSWOwF1wFuAUt_3LXwKobuBU0fcxRqDm347lTgPRg5FJ59dX2pMf_tqfiL-ruaQzULw/s1600-h/70106_duchamp_nude_staircase.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd08HwaLZxZ8rbbSs0PfkQAERLLbma76P4exhroVn7X2rQoFLOCylLxbpnqnUalIzJC07l1dncHSWOwF1wFuAUt_3LXwKobuBU0fcxRqDm347lTgPRg5FJ59dX2pMf_tqfiL-ruaQzULw/s400/70106_duchamp_nude_staircase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281144265352901058" border="0" /></a> (above: nude descending a staircase, by marcel duchamp) It's interesting when people point out how difficult it must be to draw the thousands of drawings that go into making animation.. but it's NOT like drawing thousands of individual drawings, it's really just drawing a single MOTION.. you carve out the action incrementally frame by frame.. i NEVER think about it at individual drawings. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkUPYa3I7b0KsSnxgQlngmZbwUn69KDuCk24fJ-lmGypaX_iJnMFbTVUlVSdjrGSFFEhQG-aqeu-qHeVqLnadZsf05-LWpolQqCl-JMb5Dk34Ko1rUdK5vxjOAfetH3ItbaqXD5eFg2tP/s1600-h/AndrewWyethTurkeyPond.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkUPYa3I7b0KsSnxgQlngmZbwUn69KDuCk24fJ-lmGypaX_iJnMFbTVUlVSdjrGSFFEhQG-aqeu-qHeVqLnadZsf05-LWpolQqCl-JMb5Dk34Ko1rUdK5vxjOAfetH3ItbaqXD5eFg2tP/s400/AndrewWyethTurkeyPond.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281144250058402146" border="0" /></a> (above: turkey pond, by Andrew Wyeth) I spot action in paintings and it really pulls me into the work, most great artists have this quality, Homer, Sargent, Wyeth, Duchamp, most futurists. Next time you see a work and it really captures your interest, perhaps it's because it has the quality of movement!Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489386431590179522.post-1647888564686223552008-12-16T09:54:00.010-05:002008-12-16T10:33:33.407-05:00Admiring the Dapper Artists...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9fegx5mqUZX0ihQupTUIl_isN_r3G9jVSePfS4Rh9H5ewahQa-fZ_mAbKWKnToJ76f1IQTvg0bJLAO_ytUTpTBAMpMcVlNvYQMay1Gp7O3I7Aer5VvzrQt_52sQsZzWk4on3RrzN4CgU/s1600-h/style1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9fegx5mqUZX0ihQupTUIl_isN_r3G9jVSePfS4Rh9H5ewahQa-fZ_mAbKWKnToJ76f1IQTvg0bJLAO_ytUTpTBAMpMcVlNvYQMay1Gp7O3I7Aer5VvzrQt_52sQsZzWk4on3RrzN4CgU/s400/style1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280409351690485314" border="0" /></a>I was looking at this image of Winslow Homer (above left) the other day, and it struck me that we, as artists, just don't look as good as we used to. An individuals self worth is often gauged by the way they present themselves. Generally speaking, artists have historically been some of the most stylie people ever. Homer exemplifies what I'm talking about. A bit closer to home would be artists like Winsor Mccay (above right) and Walt Disney (middle). It seems to me that no matter what photo you see of these men, whether they were working or out on the town, they looked insanely stylish. I do know several artists today that seem to always look dapper, for example, animator John Canemaker (below left), seems to always be looking rad. Tom Otterness (below right) looks pretty good usually.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO1Kx8aJW-OoWoF8ewpwxmg1vMx-pDN56Akj9el-EjEABw9kKZ2FM8q8OS3qsWrK5Q4avkIrLrZ_3vpSa9pt9NKkDhgRyGyjyc0fyzDGrkkh6RQ9tJiOXRokXWEIVdhpbV59W7cXyIGMQ/s1600-h/stylie2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO1Kx8aJW-OoWoF8ewpwxmg1vMx-pDN56Akj9el-EjEABw9kKZ2FM8q8OS3qsWrK5Q4avkIrLrZ_3vpSa9pt9NKkDhgRyGyjyc0fyzDGrkkh6RQ9tJiOXRokXWEIVdhpbV59W7cXyIGMQ/s400/stylie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280410611508005138" border="0" /></a> But for the most part, artists these days seem to dress down. Maybe it doesn't matter.. I personally have my moments, but for the most part I'm just another skater turned painter, and I look like it. sigh. Yet another example how we're not as cool as our predecessors.Patrick Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12552602595171543818noreply@blogger.com