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• Nathaniel Miles

  

  • 2 posts
   

  February 23, 2011 1:24:30 AM PST

  Hey peeps!  I just found this wonderful community via Google, and I must say that so far it's absolutely wonderful! 

   

  I'm currently an animation student at the Art Institute of Seattle, and while I'm enjoying it, I do understand that there are schools out there like CalArts or Ringling that host a curriculum which would probably be more ideal and focused in the areas I'm interested in.  Still though, I'm definitely working to get the most of out my current school; attending every life-drawing session, doing some basic animations every week (takes/walks/jumps/runs/etc.), and generally making sure that I go above and beyond with every assignment I get.

   

  I was wondering, however, if I'd be able to ask what other methods & good-habits students (or graduates) from other schools got into to ensure their success, whether it was from a professor's advice, or personal motivational goal?

   

  So yeah, there it is!  I can't wait for your responses, and look forward to meeting more people who love the craft!

• Elizabeth McMahill

  

  • 36 posts
   

  March 1, 2011 6:24:33 PM PST

  One thing that I think would be really good to do but haven't set aside time for myself would be to pick some piece of art once a week (or animation clip, tv spot, short story, collage, whatever) and just really analyze it. It's kind of in the idea of a master copy. I think that really taking good work and analyzing the elements in it to see how they are used and work together would be really helpful. Like hardcore, analytic draw overs and written analysis. That sort of thing I think would help make people so much more aware of things.
  
  For an example of what I am talking about on a lighter level look at Hans Bacher's Dream Worlds book where he draws over backgrounds from Cinderella and draws frame compositions from films. (Sketching compositions from films is a really awesome exercise that is highly recommended but few people actually do.)
• Steven MacLeod

  

  • 22 posts
   

  March 13, 2012 10:07:59 PM PDT

  What do you want to improve at? Animation exclusively?
  
  I think in general, keeping a sketchbook is always helpful. A big healthy dose of drawing from life and the equally important dose of doodling. I think doodling is underrated in the process of artistic improvement. Try it. Drawing should be fun. Drawing from life is just so that you can find new things to have fun with in your doodling ;)