Meeting Notes: 14.10.07

Notes from my 15 minute meeting with supervisors :

What are my eventual aims and outcomes of the M.A. ?
Is it the process or artifact/artwork that is my aim?

>If it is the process---> Then is this process then going to be a working practice specific for games - as a research question developing a working model for getting sign off on 3D sculpts -iteratively reworking and getting additional feedback from the client-art director- i.e. similar sign off procedure as Lucas arts uses for is 2D concept artists. Where George Lucas will draw or write feedback on the actual prints of the works. Then the concept artists will then implement the feedback and print it out. George will again review and comment - this cycle will continue until George is satisfied.

This sort of process of using Maquettes is used in Film but have yet be used as standard working process in games.
Can I make this a part of my working practice as a games artist?

>If it is the artifact---> Then I need to steer my research into the unknowns of "Fine Arts" (prejudicial) and then the question is why?Then how?

Sharing skills: Video tuts as an offshoot of practice/as practice?
I have started recording my digital learning process using Camtasia (screen grabbing software).
This is part process of sharing work also in part because I am now teaching full time and need to improve my teaching and ergo work flow process and documentation.- also the people that are really well respected and skilled are people that share their knowledge. Since I have come here to Oz I have been sharing what I know through giving talks though organizations such as IGDA . I am going to continue doing that by documenting my process. (thats one of the plans anyway).

Also went to the library yesterday evening and got out some great books on electronic/digital art/science art - One of which I am reading is from the Ars Electronica group (in the list of links) - I will post up any conclusions as and when. (Plus links to books and ISBN numbers).

SILO: Demo play

Just having a bit of a play with SILO - Thinking about buying it-I want to develop my speed modeling and it has loads of other features such as sub-division re-topologising tools e.t.c.

Virtual_Kas(Update)

Sculpt image uploaded- done for now- I am a little disappointed with the end result. I need to move onto something new - took far to long working on this CG sculpt.

Virtual_Kas(Update)

Update on the virtual model-
Starting to fill in his features- I overlaid the drawing to compare where I need to update and change the sections - pretty much as I did with the clay sculpture.

Analog/Actual -Finished

Saturday afternoon 29_09_07 _ Yes!!!!
I have finished the clay bust- it is now drying in its cupboard. It was successful as an experiment on the analysis of the medium of clay - successful since I had never sculpted a bust in clay before.

Really liked working with the paper based clay (its a very forgiving clay for noobs)- Even though in the end the sculpt is no longer a portrait image of David- as I rushed the working in of his eyes and lost his key features and proportions in the process.
Doing this exercise has certainly given me a better understanding of working with clay- and I really enjoy working with it- except for the fact there is no Crtl+Z in the physical world and that have to keep the clay wet. though next time I will work a little more loosely and to larger scale -which to me is the more fun aspect of clay.


I had a great time making a mess- I will be making more soon.
Though I will be looking into using sculpty or some other equivalent in the next physical(From now on I will be using the term actual) sculpt.

Update_Analog_KAS

Analog Update Monday 24_09_07: From left to right- Busy reworking the back of the neck area as I was working in the clay a little to thin which resulted in me beginning to lose the supporting clay on the neck. So I reworked the base armature. Then went onto working in more detail such as adding the bulge of the eyes, reworking the ears and started on the hair detail

Update_Analog_KAS

Slowing moving out from the blocking stage- just one thing to mention- good thing I am not planning on firing the bust as I am sure there are loads of air bubbles.

I am now at the stage of reworking and removing bits of clay that I don't need from the bust, which still need loads of work but the paper based clay is a pleasure to work with. I have all the reference up - now just have to get it looking like him.
(easier said than done as one can see from the images below).

Above: Just realized where I am not putting the correct volumes of clay- as one can see from the un -overlayed version below.

After looking at the the photos I have put up I realise just how unsymmetrical my model is- I have also notice that the best way to get the volumes right (for me) its to close my eyes and feel the volumes of the face- which I obviously cannot do on the Mudbox version -an avantage- also its just great to feel the flesh of ones work so to speak.

Things I do miss from working in the virtual/digital- Control z, symmetry on tools, free camera rotate - that way I can work from any angle.....

Things I don't miss from digital - NO tactile aspects.....For me sculpture is not just about seeing its about touching feeling the piece.

Process : Digital_KAS

Process:
1 I'm using the pre-built ready made mesh "here is something I made earlier" method- so I start with a base mesh that I have used before in other Mudbox sketches.
2-3 Refinement of mesh, adding extra rows and rough blocking out of head shape.Rescaling and re-positioning of nose and ears.
4 Adding of eyes and completion of blocking out. (At this stage it doesn't look like the subject matter Dave)
5 The mesh exported as an .obj which is the subdivided in Mudbox ready for actual sculpting


Above: Additional reference image with simplified line work.

Space and Process : Analog_KAS

I have just to say thanks to Ian and Charles for arranging me the space at QUT - I love it its great to get a space where I can think and make a mess. I have started personalizing the space -even if I get kicked out in a couple of months or so I want to be inspired so I am gonna stick up pics up of whats out there.

Hell the space is bigger than the unit I live in- Fan-bloody -tastic!!!

Analog Process:
1- Tools: Basic students pottery kit, paper based clay as its seen as stupid proof, spray for wetting clay,wire for armatures, brushes and sponges for something.
2- Base Structure : made up from paper trash and coffee cup found in the studio, I also use a an bit of wire for support -all of which will be removed from the sculpt when dry.
3- Underlying support/armature :hopefully my clay slaps that I put over this will not collapse and crack
4-Beer and thoughts: Cheers to my neighbor

Now I just have to pull this baby off

Table sketches: Just some arbitrary sketches I did on the table.
I am doing the "hey I 'm an artist so I can!" thing...WOOT! - Cynicism aside I did feel comfortable in the space/place..so who knows I may get some things done after all.

Notes on exercise:_KAS

I will make the same artefact twice

Initial concepts: a bust of a person - David Kassan came to mid as I had promised to make a sculpture based on him. A sculpture referencing skeletal anatomy images of birds and predators. (Xeno biology?)

What do I want to analyse?

Which piece do I make first?

Process- Technique

In Mudbox (Virtual) and in Clay (Analog)

Process- Creative approach

Virtual- Ease of use and familiarity

Analog- tactile-ness of working with clay

Why am I doing this exercise- to find out in which medium I am more comfortable, what are the differences in the mediums.

Though in both cases the end result is a sculpture.

Documentation- Journalise my process through this blog- which will then be used as a basis of an essay for my “Approaches to Enquiry”. (2000 words)

Timeline
Journalise and create pieces up to week 2
Rough draft of essay submitted to supervisor’s week 3
Submit end of week 4 (Week 10- Wednesday 10October)

Subject matter for first study:_KAS

I will be finally getting around to doing what I said I would - creating a sculpture (bust) of David Kassan- who re-introduced me to the art of oil painting at a workshop that I did over here in Australia. (see my sketch blog for weekend info).
David is a New York based artist, more info on David here- http://davidkassan.com/

I will be creating
1X Virtual(mudbox) and 1XPhysical(clay).
The above image will be used as a basis of his sculpt, I will also be looking at his self portraits for inspiration/reference + couple of crappy sketches I did of him while on the workshop.

Till then.

Considerations 01

All things I need to star considering - what gets me up about this project/premise/idea - how am I to do it?

Sculpt a base model/maquette[PHYSICAL] > 3D Scan > re-topologise {VIRTUAL} > rework {VIRTUAL} > Steroligraphy 3D RP print out [PHYSICAL] >>>> rework/tweak model (complete?) [PHYSICAL]

Alternative end result>>>> Use the RP print out combined with initial base model/maquette as part of hollow casting process in preparation for Bronze casting

Alternative end result>> Re-scan and exhibit as l exhibit {VIRTUAL} and [PHYSICAL]

Qs for me
How many times do I need to cross the divide?
How will the number of iterations affect the end result?
Can this enhance my creative process?

Also to consider is the end medium of the rapid prototyping (RP)- As the availability of a computer controller wood router at QUT interests me as the medium brings with it its own sense of aesthetics-and tactile appeal.
As well as investigating the standard resin based RP machines.

"Yes and...... so what.....?"

Whats the value of what I am doing - How can this exercise be seen as having relevance to others not involved in CG or in the physical sculpture- I have got to come up with some sort of answers for that.... hmm!!!!!

I also seem to want to question the differentiation of 3D CG and sculpture -can 3D be accepted as legitimate sculpture (proper art-like - eh!) and as not some offshoot of 3D game/film technology

Also I hope that when we have the situation of RP machines being as commonplace as todays ink jet printers -and people can RP what ever the hell they want. (which I believe is one of the aims of the RP manufacturer's) I still want the objects created to have value and not seen just as some virtual/easily duplicated object ready for download as some widget to be added to your internet leeching trophy room- as I know folk love to collect and leech off stuff off the web...just cause its there.

Anyway I am just rambling now.I promise to make more sense in my next post! (Homework -work out where lies my aesthetic values - themes, artists works, previous explorations etc...)

First Post

O.K.
I have set this blog up as a document of my thought process in my preparation and exercises for my Master of Arts research degree. I will be documenting my W.I.P pieces through this blog-and generally logging my brain storms and on some days (weeks?) brain stalls.

Anyway- Today I met with my supervisor Chris barker, and he started the ball rolling by asking me what I wanted to get out of this: What do want of this traversal between mediums-

Essentially I want prove/promote that there is no difference between the virtual sculptural medium and the physical sculptural mediums-
To be an artist who is comfortable working in a Hi end CG virtual sculptural environment [software+hardware] and one who can be dropped off on a river bed in the bush and still be capable of making works of art, both of value. I want the art to exist irrespective of the medium.

I want lose the distinctions between the mediums :By working in the physical -then 3D scanning-reworking in CG - bringing the mediums back together through rapid prototyping and so going back and fourth-

-real- virtual-real-virtual-real-virtual-

How many times will I cross the divide? - will the mixing enhance or detract from the art process - how much more fun is tactile of the real vs the control z of the virtual- if only life a had an undo button....

I also learned today that QUT has computer controller wood router-which will be great fun to get a figurative sculpture tooled out and that will allow me to then rework it in the flesh so to speak.

Anyway-
I will be arranging another meeting with my other supervisor, Charles Rob sometime in the next week.
And getting my act together for QUT