Behind the Scenes

If anyone is interested in how I work in such a crowded space
as my bedroom, here is a look "behind the scenes".

The Sewing Area

Here is my sewing machine.

I sit on the edge of my bed
and draw the "sewing table"
close enough to be able
to work on it.

The sewing table
is one that I made a few years ago,
originally for a tv and
with a shelf underneath
for a dvd player.










You can see in this shelf I keep my "portable writing surface". I made this too, a few years ago.
It was originally to be kept at the top of a box with all my art equipment in it. But, it has become
indispensable as a portable writing surface for anything from letters, creative writing, to my art work.
I can quickly whip out this board, sit on the edge of my bed, and do whatever work on it I need to,
as I don't have room for a desk.

It is just a piece of plywood,
332.5mm x 452.5mm x 6mm,
which I varnished.

The Ironing Area

When I'm sewing something,
it is very handy for me to have
an area close handy
where I can press parts of the garment.

(Although, I have to use an ironing
board in the laundry for side seams.)

So, I put the board on my bed.

                                                                       

Then I lay over it,
a single bed sheet
that has been folded over
a few times,
smoothing it flat with my hands.    
                                                                                 

I have the iron handy
close by, on the floor,
alongside the bed.

Then I'm able to press
the parts of the garment
that I need to as I sew.












Of course, I'm always moving things around to make room, but I do it slowly so that nothing gets broken.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

A Business in a Bedroom

This one is for all those who have started their businesses in their bedroom !

I have just spent a week solid cleaning and re-organising my bedroom,
which also houses my business.

This is the scene from
my bedroom door.

This is what's under
the bed !

Now I have to spend
the next few weeks
sorting through
all the paperwork.
*sigh*






(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

"Fist Full of Films" Awards Nights and "Fiddler's Green"

"Fist Full of Films" Awards Nights

Entrance to the Deckchair Cinema, Darwin

On Friday and Saturday, 1st Nov and 2nd Nov, I went to the "Fist Full of Films" Awards Nights, at the Deckchair Cinema in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

It was an excellent experience. It was done professionally. And the local film talent was showcased well, with many local film people attending.

The Deckchair Cinema is situated next to the Bay, down from the Darwin CBD, and is open to the sky. Sometimes it rains, but they have procedures to deal with that ! It closes over the wet season,

The screen and seating arrangement

though.

As you can see, it is quite sizeable. There are ordinary chairs, but the main seating is composed of rows of deckchair like seats,

The view from my seat

as you can see in this photo.

The screen at an interval

This was during a break from the screening of some of the short films that didn't make the finals, but were worthy of a mention.

The films, eventhough from amateur film-makers, were all professionally done. And there were excellent examples of local aboriginal stories and music clip, to stories of local characters, animations from school students, and inventive story ideas. Even a feature film about an Indian
student attending Charles Darwin University (here
in Darwin).                                                                              

    

Cruise liner passing out to sea in the background

"Fiddler's Green"

(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

The award recipients all received a gold coloured statuette of a galah. A galah is a pink and grey coloured bird that is common here. Seeing as the awards are called "The Galah Awards". And the statuette galah stands tall like an Oscar.


This might be a bit hard to see, but it's actually a cruise liner passing out of Darwin harbour out to sea, behind the people standing up. This was taken from my seat, and you can see the reflection of the lights from the ship on the water.






Fiddler's Green is the restaurant that I had lunch at on the Saturday.

It is an Irish bar, in the Waterfront Precinct near the Darwin CBD.

This is the fiddler,











and this is the shingle over the doorway.

It reads,
 
       "cead mile failte"

For those who don't know Irish,
it means,

       "a hundred thousand
          welcomes"

( I'm only learning, if you saw
   what I put up before :p )

Art - Painting vs Background

The Scene
When painting a scene, the question should be asked -

      Is it to be an illustration of the scene ?  ,  or
      Is it to be a backdrop to some sort of action ?

For an illustration / painting -
      The aim is to produce a picture which is a snapshot of a moment in time,
      containing everything that you can see in the "frame" that surrounds it.
      This can become a painting to hang on a wall,
      or an illustration for a book, etc.

For a backdrop / background -
      The aim is to produce a setting in which action can take place.
      This can be artwork used as background for animation,
      or sets for stage productions, etc.

The Approach
These two areas, require 2 slightly different approaches.

For the illustration / painting -
      Everything that you see within your chosen "frame", is painted.
      The picture is static, there is no motion.

For the backdrop / background -
      Only paint those things which will not be involved in any action.
      (At this point, I'm not seperating background, middle ground or foreground)

      Leave out the things that will be involved in movement.
      These are incorporated later,
      either as animated figures, or actors in a play, etc.

Examples

This is a photo that I took of a ship,
moored off Mindil Beach, Darwin
(Northern Territory, Australia).
It may be one of the ex-pearl luggers
used for tourist sunset cruises around
the Bay.

This artwork is intended
to be a painting.
This is copied from the photo,
showing all the items
that are in the photo.

This artwork is intended
to be a background.
This is copied from the photo,
only showing the items
in the background,
leaving out the ship,
which I intend to animate
at a later date.







(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Phases of the Moon

I am in the habit of
watching the moon rise,
from my bedroom window.
(This photo was taken
at a friend's place.)

This got me thinking about
the Phases of the Moon.

As we all know,
the cycle of phases is
   28 days.

                                                     So, I constructed
                                                     a "sequence" of
                                                     28 squares,
                                                     one for each day,
                                                     to show these phases.
                 
                                                     The idea was to
                                                     look out my bedroom
                                                     window and
                                                     observe the moon
                                                     as it rose in the east,
                                                     and what phase (shape) it was,
                                                     then record that shape
                                                     in the corresponding square.

                                                     For practical reasons,
                                                     sometimes I made
                                                     the observation at night
                                                     and sometimes during the day.
                                                   
                                                     These are the results
                                                     for the period of
                                                     24 July 2013 - 22 August 2013

                                                     (Remember-
                                                      that I am in the
                                                      Southern Hemisphere,
                                                      so this may not be the same
                                                      as in the North)

                                                   
                                                                                     
                                               

                                                      So, in effect
                                                      what I've done
                                                      is produce my
                                                      first "animation sequence".

                                                      As far as I understand,
                                                      film is usually set at -

                                                      24 frames per second (fps),
                                                      (or 25 fps NTSC)

                                                      Though, of course,
                                                      other speeds can be used.

                                                      From this sequence
                                                      of the moon,
                                                      I am getting the sense
                                                      that the optimum
                                                      (or average)
                                                      speed for film
                                                      should be -

                                                      28 fps


                                                      Also, on sequences -
                                                      A sequence is a
                                                      cycle of motion or action.

                                                      When that sequence is
                                                      repeated continuously
                                                      over and over,                                                                                                 it becomes mechanical.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                     

                                                     Continuous cycles of                                                                                    motion / action
                                                     form the basis of                                                                                          the principle of                                                                                              Mechanics.                                             

                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                                   
                                             
































(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Trouble with Orcs

I'm back!

I was having   trouble with Orcs.

You know what I mean.

A Few Weeks Break

To Everyone who is interested,

I'm taking a break for a few weeks from my blog
to do some personal business.

While I'm away,
I will still be working on
making the casual dresses from the sarongs,
and, the next art entry.
But, these will take some time.

See you in a while :)

Art - Enlarging / Reducing a Drawing

 
    To Reduce
     Draw a similar framework
     to the original,
     in lead pencil,
     but make the squares
     to a smaller measurement,
     to the size that you require.


 *  Original
     Have your drawing,
     or a copy of your drawing
     if you want to preserve your original.

     Draw a framework around it,
     using a lead pencil,
     of evenly spaced grid lines,
     making squares.



     To Enlarge
     Draw a similar framework
     to the original,
     in lead pencil,
     but make the squares
     to a larger measurement,
     to the size that you require.


  -  Notice where the lines
     of your original drawing
     cross the grid lines.

  -  In the new framework,
     mark, in lead pencil, with a dot,
     where you estimate
                                                these cross over points would be.

                                             -  Join the dots up into the shape
                                                of the original drawing,
                                                in lead pencil.

                                             -  If leaving the drawing in pencil,
                                                carefully rub out the grid lines.

                                             -  If wanting the drawing in pen,
                                                re-work it in pen first,
                                                and when dry,
                                                carefully rub out the grid lines.

                                             -  If need be,
                                                adjust the enlarged or reduced drawing
                                                to match the shape of the original.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2013                                         
                                                                               

The Darwin Show

On Friday (26 July 2013) I went to the Darwin Show.
(Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia)

It took me the whole day to get around and see everything,

without trying to do it too fast, 

the idea being to enjoy the day.

But, I ended up being pretty dusty by the end of it!

Below is a selection of photos, to give an idea of what the day was like.

Inside the showgrounds

Horse events

The Amazing Drumming Monkeys

Goat

Pumpkin - 126kg

Emu on stilts

Sideshow Alley

A crocodile carved out of sand

Bonsai

(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Building Up a Picture

Choose a simple scene that you would like to paint.

I chose the beach.
I had to paint this scene a number of times,
before I was able to produce the result above,
using -

The Concept of Layering
This is where brush strokes overlap previous brush strokes,
or overlay the previous brush strokes entirely.

(This was outlined in the previous worksheet:: Art - Edges)

To build up this picture, I followed these steps -

1 - Sky
      Starting at the top,
      I worked down to the horizon,
      fading the colour with more water.

2 - Beach
      Starting at the bottom,
      I worked up to the wave line,
      and beyond (to go under the sea colour)
      fading the colour with water.

3 - Sea
      I started at the horizon
      working downwards,    
      fading the colour with water over the sand colour,
      so that the sand colour could be seen,  
      and down to the wave line.
   
4 - Wave foam
      I dobbed, placed small dots,
      of the colour mixed with some water,
      along the wave edge.


(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Darwin Beer Can Regatta

On Sunday (7th July) I went to the
Darwin Beer Can Regatta
at Mindil Beach
(Darwin, NT Australia).

For those who don't know,
it started in 1975 after Cyclone Tracey,
to get everyone together
to have a good time,
lift spirits,
and get rid of some of those beer cans!


                                                                         

As the boats are supposed to be made
entirely of left over beer cans.

Some boats were and some weren't.                                                                        

There was a sandcastle competition,
an ironman race,
children's running races, and,
women's and men's thong (shoes) throwing competitions.

Wimbeertin (Wimbledon)

                                                                       

And then there was
the Open Water Boat Race
(beer can boats), and,
the Battle of Mindil
where all the boats went out
(not very far)
throwing water and flour bombs
at each other
while having to dive for an e-perb.

I don't know if they found it.



Here are most of the boats.

(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Painting Tips

   
      - Dark colours are a bit overpowering,
        and it's hard to tell what they are,
        so I mute them with a bit of white.


      - Acrylic paint dries a little darker than when it is wet.
        However I found that,
        the dark colours change more than the light colours.


      - In dry weather,
        add a small amount of water to mixed acrylic paint,
        as you go,
        to keep it spreading easily,
        otherwise it becomes thick and unmanageable.


      - Paint in the colours from lightest to darkest.
        This helps not to mix colours on the paint brush.
        Darker colours hide the lighter colour residue,
        but lighter colours don't hide the darker residue as easily,
        both on the paint brush,
        and on the painting.






       







(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Lines

  It is useful to draw up a scale of
  the widths of all the pencils / pens
  that you have,
  such as this one to the left.

  Draw the line in the "ladder"
  for each pencil / pen
  and write the type of pencil / pen
  that it is
  beside it.

  This is a very handy reference
  when you are trying to decide
  which pencil / pen is the best
  for a particular drawing,
  or part of a drawing.









(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Illustration vs Animation

What are the differences between
a painted drawing done for illustration, and
a painted drawing done for animation?

As with everything, there are exceptions to the rule,
but in general, I have worked out the following guidelines -

Illustration

- thin outline   (in pen etc.)

- broken outlines,
     can be included

- layered colour,
     colour can be applied in layers.

Animation

- thicker outline   (in pen etc.)

- unbroken outlines,
     giving definite contained areas  
     for seperate colours.

- solid colours,
     colour applied uniformly.










(c) Katherine Stuart 2013

Art - Copying a Drawing Using the Transfer Method

Original Drawing

Equipment needed:
-your original drawing
-a lead pencil
-a piece of see-through paper,
     such as greaseproof cooking paper,
     larger in size than the drawing/
     paper it is on.
-a spare piece of blank paper,
     as large as the drawing.
-a piece of paper to put the copied

     drawing on

Original Drawing

Have your original drawing ready.

Transfer - second side up

    Transfer                                                                                               
    Lay the see-through paper over the drawing,
    covering it completely.

    Pencil in all the lines of the drawing.
    Pencil in also, the corners of the piece of paper
    that it is on.

    This is your "Transfer".

    (Tip: If you want to reverse your drawing,
    use this side not the one below)
                                                    
    Turn the "Transfer" over, onto a spare piece of paper,
    with the pencil marks face down.
    Pencil over the marks, on the side facing up,
    fairly heavily.
                                                   
                                                           
                                                                                                                         
                                                             Copied Drawing

                                                             Lay the Transfer,

Copied Drawing

    with the second lot of pencil marks face down,
    on the piece of paper,
    where you want your new drawing,
    lining up the corner marks
    if you want it in the same place,
    if it is the same size of paper,
    as the original.

    Using a hard, but not sharp implement,
    such as the rounded end of the lead pencil,
    rub the pencil marks onto the blank paper,
    hard enough so that they can be seen easily.

    Take the Transfer off and lay it aside.

    Redraw over the pencil lines
    that came off onto the new piece of paper,
    so that they can be seen more easily.

                                                       
                                                             This is your copied drawing.

(c) Katherine Stuart 2013