This is just the end of the beginning

Study of a Virgin and Child with the Infant St. John, and of Heads in Profile and other Figures (detail),c. 1478-1480; Windsor Castle, Royal Library (RL 12276r). © 2005, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II


Now with rough animation done you may ask - What is next?. Well plenty. I am currently sussing out each scene to see what they need. Some need inbetweens, some need fixes, some are very rough drawings and need to be, what is termed in the (drawn) animation biz - tied down, not necessarily cleaned up. I want to leave the rougher line on these drawings to evoke a sense of da Vinci's sketches and frankly to call attention to the audience that they are watching drawings move. Drawings out of the hand of the artist with all the imperfections and instinct there in. When you think about drawn animation, I mean really think about it, that a film is made up of 1000's of individual sequential drawings, each of which is insignificant on it's own, practically meaningless, but as a whole invoke sorrow and laughter, fear and happiness, thoughtfulness and joy. Man, that is amazing to me.

A drawing from scene 1/2 by Tim Allen. Yes it is just one drawing. But it is rough and I love it. This scene as you can see in the numbers at top is huuuge and Tim did a great job.

a quote to live by

There has been a lot of response to the 5 minutes a day post. It seems to be inspiring artists out there to do their thing and if making this little film can inspire others then that is all the jet fuel I need. Here is something that has kept me going - I have this quote magnetized on my filing cabinet.

"What's to come is first a matter of what one does today, here on this spot. All those footsteps will add up." - Walter Kirn

I don't know if Mr. Kirn is quoting someone else but it doesn't really matter. I think about this quote every so often. It is related to that old chestnut - Every journey starts with the first step - but I like the beginning of this one - "...what one does today, here on this spot...". It reminds me that I have the power over my actions. Positive or negative it is my choice. That life is built up of a series of reactions to foreseen and unforeseen moments and events. Perhaps, maybe, it would be better to avoid the regrettable choice and make a difference instead.