Metalmadcat

READY TO SHINE

2011-12-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, just as the title clearly stated, with my armature ball-and-socket already built up and ready to go, 2012 can only get better for it.

Ending 2011 : Outcome

2011-12-18T12:30:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone, and excuse my non-sequential-on-line/step-by-step nano-under-current super-duper paranorman-events of Dan Metalmadcat, so to speak. O boy, such a mouthful intro, and definitely not the ideal way to start out your business.

Long, long while ever since showing some signs. Still in the "On-Hold" Era of my life and not really worth enjoyable but part of life -yet at the end of it, really. Starting 2012 all will take more shape and sound... and I can happily state that is matter of time that it will be it. If 2011 was, in terms of art, slowly in the eyes of an artist, then 2012 will be just the opposite, and I will take care of it so that there will be no exception, and or any unexpecting reason to avoid what I am convinced of doing in 2012, no matter what.
Yes, those who know me well know I am an "either or" kind of person, because that is just me. There is no time for an in-between in my life, and if I disappoint any, oh well!

I suppose none of us can keep track of their own lives completely, covering every single period. That'd be simply fascinating and magic all at once. When it comes to keep a record of that unique situation, all best opportunities are running out, suddenly your camera is not there, or just missed that train to let you be on time, or have you diary handy to remember enough of what happened....

So either or, thing is I am still alive, as dreamer as I could never be, and motivation is always there no matter what. What a pleasure to say that as the year is over, by knowing hasn't take me ALL over. Time goes on but has not taken the best of me, my energy, my hopes, and my will to stand up with my speech. 2011 taught me enough to keep myself silent, quiet, surprised by self-ignorance to discover new ways or simply to realize there are, always. Plenty of lessons. Alright, then, so what's next?

All in all with no regrets, I remain: Calm, prepared. Oh new year, I wait for you.

I find valuable my learning curve, especially in animation, stop motion, and basically in any sort of lineal development of life. Whether this blog covers all learning experiences, or one of them, that you go and figure! By the way, not just because I am writing, but the fact I am putting the enough value at the right place (at the one I believe it is)-just in time, is what lets me write in such a fashion some may reject, other find harm, and or boring, but to me? To me, dear friends of life, to me this is the best way to find freedom in all its magnitude that you have no idea how I feel. Basically.

So what has Dan Metalmadcat been up to these days? Can you tell?

What you should know, first of all: I am ok, though, and I have been missing you all. Some followers just to keep following their brilliant works, and ideas, and initiative, and vision, ...aand others to just share mine hoping it can be worth appreciated one day :)

Now, given the year is coming to its last days, and the fact that this is my day off and it may be ending soon.. I find convenient to sum up my year in the following lines and possibly last lines of this post. Besides, there is no much to share as videos yet, so here we go with some optimism. Self-evaluation always help and lets you find what is valuable. So, what was valuable in this year full of unexpected events? Did I make any goal, did I complete any?

2011

Could

Buy my own supplies : Drill Machine, Drill, Bolts, Self-made table, more bolts, wires, and many other equipments that set up the studio that keeps growing.

Buy my own CANON EOS REBEL T3: Simply speechless about this acquisition which I have still not used ever since was shipped. I need to get the battery and I am researching on how to get it back. It will be home with me by january, no big deal.

Design my own ball-and-socket armature: Its finished, and it has been animated, even though it was for a minimal amount of frames.

Meet up some Artist: Guillermo Matias Galli is probably the most remarkable of all, and so far a great master in the art of stop motion, whom I am learning a lot from. Curiously enough, an sculptor has found through the animation community to inform me about her sculpting classes somewhere close where I live, but it may not count because I am taking classes with her next year.

And I think there is more but little time to keep listing facts. But that is how I end this post for now.

As a Bonus, a picture of my little budy prototype. Lacking an arm, but still saying hi to you all from Argentina.

You all take care, my dear followers, I never forget how important you are, but most important, always remember how important art is.

-Dan Metalmadcat

Preparation: Little by Little

2011-05-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

PREPARATION

Month of May is running out and I try not to let it go so FAST! Even though there was no animating process on it, it was a succesfull month, in terms of preparation. Here is so far how the humble place of the event looks like.

Last couple weeks I focused on finding material for the film. College and Work take a big part of my time, but stop motion takes most (if not all) part in my mind. For this I can guarantee a constant proces of making my film. While heading work, every time I take the train I get free newspapers. If you do that often you can get plenty amount at no cost! Some people even throw it away -that wouldnt be me, though, I am collecting for set design purposes, of course. I take that habit early in the morning, every time a cereal box is over, I make sure to keep the carton box. Recycling is good!

On the other hand, my savings helped a lot this month with the possibility of a nice Black and Decker equipment. At a good deal, I was able to purchase this beautiful toy and will teach me how to play using copper material. I will not stop playing til get my ball and socket armature made.

The picture you see below is a friend who took his time building it to show me how it can be made. It is half way done, the rest will be up to me. Learning is a great motivation in life. Learning and specializing even more, I believe. For this I am willing to learn the pro way of making ball and socket armatures.

And yes, time for DRAWING. Metalmadcat new face is taking shape, with baby steps but steps anyway.

All in all a very rough month of savings, absorved with work, and a bit dispersed with college (you can easily get distracted in College, trust me) but a great happy with my purchase Black & Deckker Drill Press. Prepared for MORE!

We´ll see what next month brings. Thanks for reading, see you all next time, folks!

A NEED for a deadline

2011-04-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

As I keep polishing PUPPET STRUGGLES 8 I was thinking it has to HAVE a deadline before I keep working on it. Unlike previous "struggles" I am trying not to commit that mistake of having all done no matter what, just to get it done. I definitely do not want to regret to all things that could have been made and blablabla. I am doing my best effort to stop blaming the past, since I know most of what used to make me regret was simply the fact of not being able to do anything otherwise. Second life (lets call previous years second life from now on) back THEN was quite uncertain You know, relying on so many factors, that rely on others that take you to other, and this other one could just let you go ahead on whichever thing...

Well, now is all different.

The studio (my room) is there for me, and no one will touch it, no one will move it, and the time to work on details is certainly available. Maybe with less supplies but with access to get it (with savings every month)

Now, the question is: when could be a good time to set up a deadline? Normally would say> lets have it done to the end of this month. On the other hand I may need a bit more than a month to cover up the actual IDEA I have in mind. This is a serious struggle, think that its been years since our fellow armature has gone wandering aimlessly without much purpose.

Before I forget: Let me remind you all how delightful comments from previous POST when I found some familiar FACES (ha!) and one just not so familiar but hey dude, you ROCK! Welcome to the universe of stopmo. Glad to have you around, seriously.

Dan Metalmadcat.

Retrospective and Hopes

2011-04-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Retrospective of Metalmadcat

Back in 2010, early in february I was determined to come up with a film. After several attempts in 2009 making experiments, the idea was to create what would be my first short. With the unconditional help from online animators (such as John Hankins, Brian Prosser, Nick Hilligoss, Ron Cole, Marc Spess, Stryder, and some more) I was fed up with knowledge regarding animation and the beauty of film-making. Despite of all the inner-circumstances (personal life) something could be done, and "No Time to Lose" was created. My first decent buildup puppet was shown there, it was a hare puppet based on the march hare of Lewis Caroll. The theme was abstract, risky, and made during rushing-hours...Luckily I was on time to submit it at a local fest (Clifton Film Fest 2010) and the film itself received some great feedback. While things seemed to be working just fine, circumstances were more and more complicated for me. During the rest of 2010 my online presence was almost vanished from all communities I used to be on. It was hard to see me walking away from all the places that I once enjoyed networking with, sharing and learning. The legacy from all online communities was priceless to me, and I knew I was making a big mistake by leaving all behind. But there was no choice.

2010 came along with a big rollercoaster of events. Nevertheless, my attempts trying to come back were always made. All projects in mind were just mere sketches that I expected to have as some sort of records-references to let me come back to it with the right time and patience. It did frustate me to see all so uncertain and I had little hopes that things could change for good. Back then I was living in the US. Before 2010 was over I moved back to my home country, Argentina. I had not the words, not the time or simply unable to share what went through. This is how I decided to put on hold any Metalmadcat project (among them, the Unusual Union Re-make, monthly challenges at the stopmo community, and my most ambitious script: Fearoxity) - I did so, with hopes that things would get better.

The urge for the arts were more than crucial. But as soon as I arrived, the transition getting used all the new-old-new country was HUGE. After years being away from my own country I simply felt like another immigrant there, and still. The adjustment was a big shock and I could not think of making art any time soon. Instead I was just doing the normal life trying to make a living with whatever available. Again starting all over, from zero, looking for a job, a place, time, and maybe some friends to take away my sorrow.

2011 started with another air in Buenos Aires. Willing to come back and stay, I d´like to conclude this post saying that things are getting worked out. No longer unemployed, some more time than previous years, support, and space for my own humble-home-made studio. Still a lot needs to be made, and this is just an entire new chapter. Thankfully I can rely on some inviduals that have proved me to be worth to have around. I can count with them, and I still have my passion to keep me going. Currently finishing a stop mo video (quick just to start out and give some signs) ¨Puppet Struggles¨: Episode 8. (new struggle needs to be told) Regardless of all my losses, motivation has always remained. For this I am glad, and Thank you all for those who stick to my art in the same way. You are all an amazing audience and mean so much to me.

Sincerely,

Dan Metalmadcat.

note: After about a year away without the possibility to animate as I wish, lets move on!

Puppetix - Poses

2010-04-11T10:30:00.001-07:00

m_) I keep studying Puppetix as a character and this time I focused mainly on his poses applying not just the expressions in his head but the entire composition. This is so far what I have gotten by tracing different sketches I have done over time.

m_) Basically a big compilation to keep in order.

Heads - Puppetix/Emotions

2010-04-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

m_) The picture below shows all the heads I need to make proper lip sync for my character Puppetix. After several sketches, these are the final heads to use in the animation.

m_) And here you see more heads from the same character but, unlike the previous ones, here the goal was to show emotions. I tried to combine as many emotions as possible, and I used several references (i.e Tom and Jerry, and others)I am willin to make more later, but so far these are some results. Keep in mind that some emotions/faces may not apply the character's personality. It was, however, worth exercising for both educational purposes and proving the many possibilities the character has.

m_)NEXT: Sames faces but now digitally made/traced onto Flash.

m))) It has been a while and I am very glad I got all this done-at last!

2010 Update

2009-09-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since 2009.

This year I will release my first short film.
I will upload the progress shortly.

I will come back with some more character concept as soon as I get the time to scan everything to my computer.

Until then, hope everyone is doing alright. The year is young, possibilities are endless..

Heads - Reviewing...

2009-09-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Just Reviewing what I've been doing so far.
Her are the first attempts working on the heads.

That's all.

Heads - Squash and Stretch

2009-06-12T02:21:00.001-07:00

Advanced Animation By Preston Blair pg. 3

Back with consistent imitations.
This time, you will notice the page is mainly focused on squash and stretch principles, which also means that the structure will considerably change whether you want things too look one way or the other. Your imagination will be key to visualize what gives the proper state . Squashes and what stretches, naturally, is nothing a flat sheet of paper could ever afford yet this method will trick the eye of any viewer if you can give yourself the proper time and practice.

I did not want to take forever going back with all these new drawings for I decided to put whatever handy now. In other words forgive me for the roughest sketches that you will find below. I promise you to come back in my next post with more defined drawings concentrated on squash and stretch principles -plus individual development using my own characters.

So that was it.

Heads - Complex/Skeleton

2009-06-10T11:30:00.001-07:00

Advanced Animation By Preston Blair (pg.2)

Okay, so here we are again, Folks!. This time we can finally turn to the NEXT page. Page 2, which is focused mainly in a higher level construction due to the combination of spheres and rounded shapes of similar sorts.

Above is my attempt focusing in skeleton structure ONLY. I recommend you to do so. Do not just draw all at once. Having a well planned skeleton you will have, then, the ability to draw them FASTER and more accurate as well.

And these are not the previous skeletons! Instead NEW drawings in order to reach more quality.

Heads - Basic

2009-06-09T09:03:00.001-07:00

Well, again with page 1...the journey seems to never end.

These are my last drawings from pg. 1. I promise!

What you see above are some rough results practicing different versions from drawings that belong to Preston Blair ("Avanced Animation" pg.1 "construction of the head")

There is this little sketch I have handy right now. I will surely update this post whenever I have more heads available on-line OR I would just make a new post, right?.

Learn to Learn HOW - Part 4

2009-06-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of KNOWING what you ARE ... doing!
Construction of Illusion

The Beauty of Knowing WHAT you ARE... doing!

Well, here comes a step I have never heard of. In order to understand more the process of drawing without going too abstract, I like to call this "Construction of the Illusion" you don't need to call this that way, neither you have to agree with me. In either case, I believe there is a time when you find out there is more than just LINES, and that is what I call the ILLUSION, and in order to see such thing happening you got to face some step on the way.

Maybe I am going TOO SLOW..or too over explaining things that dont need to be explained.

Please someone correct if such things is true.

Heads - My own Results

2009-06-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of KNOWING what you ARE ... doing!
my own results

I have been posting "Learn to Learn HOW" and I covered parts 1,2,3, and 4. There will be more to come because all these steps only cover the FIRST page from "Advanced Animation" Written by Preston Blair.

While not covering the whole book, and knowing that there is still a lot to be done, that is mainly one of my goals.

Allow me this opportunity, in the meantime, to show you some of my personal results using my own characters.
Like I said, this is my own experience. These are NOT the best examples but these are MINE. Hopefully you'll find better examples or maybe your own. Yes, your own, these should mean the best to YOU.

Learn to Learn HOW - Part 3

2009-06-07T20:36:00.001-07:00

The Beauty of KNOWING what you ARE ... doing!

Head Structure

Now, just now we can THINK about head structure. I am assuming that you went through previous steps before even THINKING about head structure or anything further.
So after taking the proper dedication to PROPORTION, SPHERE CONCEPT, then we can be ready to be in part 3. If you think you have not succeed, then go back. The MORE you try to prepare the more ready you will be.

Guess what. I am the one who would just stop and go and try some complex heads, but you don't want to be as fool as I was before REALIZING that too late. Save yourself some time.

So, the head. Outlines are intentional and you will need them to guide you through. You want to start with what you KNOW which means you can now try some EGG Heads or SPHERE eggs only. That is why you still want to keep things simple.

So here are some of my attempts imitating Blair's.

Learn to Learn HOW - Part 2

2009-06-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of KNOWING what you ARE ... doing!
SPHERE JOURNEY

Once you have visualized a sphere well enough, you will not mind trying any other dimension, such as the typical egg shape. This one is key to know because is the most basic shape to apply variation of width and height, unlike the sphere is all the same!
My attempts are not THE BEST, and I am not any kind of mathematician mind out there to make you feel inferior. Indeed, being the expert I am NOT, should encourage you MORE to practice just LIKE I DID.

Eventually you will find comfortable with spheres, eggs, and that would be enough challenging to keep you busy for a while.

Next step is putting some life in that abstract figure, but well that just covers a new part. I am trying to keep it easy and slow in parts so there is not too much information.

Think this: "While going SLOW it will make you THINK FASTER"

Learn to Learn HOW - Part 1

2009-06-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of KNOWING what you ARE doing.
Proportion

Yes I know, folks! These drawings may seem quite familiar to you. What you see above is an excerpt from Preston Blair's Book "Advanced Animation". With that said, what you will see next are my attempts practicing ONLY with that page.

The book is highly recommended. Furthermore, (what most people forget to say) I highly recommend you to USE it, too. If you want your life to make sense at some point you know what to do. Either that or come up with a better book to surprise the world.

First Attempts finding proportion -

Note : You'll realize there are several drawings of the same thing. Believe me, THAT is the POINT.
I was about to commit the great mistake of just showing ONE example out of all my trials, but then where is the point?

Eureka! ---Now, THAT is surprisingly proportional (just in case you can't read my drawing)
Which means your brain finally knows how to draw a figure exact enough to draw it again and again and it will be proportionally CORRECT. Do not try to skip this step, though! In other words, Do not try to DRAW my drawings!! You got to draw as many as I drew (and I had plenty more but that is surely enough for you to get it, I hope!) and the more you draw the more accurate.

Think this way: "the more you try to draw exact, the more exact you will draw"
(Simple, huh? -Now Just Do it!)

CHARACTER DESIGN

2009-06-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

The following characters belong to their respective scripts, and were picked randomly.

For so long I've been faking around, here but not really tHere, tHere but not really There..and the list goes on and on.
Okay, so time to care, right?..to give the proper if not immediate attention to this. it is time to spew awareness of my existence. ..and blogger MIGHT be very effective.

To start out easily , let me introduce some characters, which is what I've been doing mostly these days.

Twincler

- Here it is: Twincler! If you are wondering what's on my mind, think about Twincler. He will be in some clip animation. I'll talk about that later on. It's shape looks quite simple although, don't let that mislead you; I am having a real hard time working its feet. Hopefully I will get back with samples to show you what I mean.

ScarKruel

On the other side, on a long distant remote land.. here is Scarkruel. This dude is allergic to cotton, and most of the time you'll find him complaining, even when no one is around [weeeird!!] Now, believe it or not, temper and as hard case as he is, there are some good jokes out of its pockets for all to hear.

Berry the Bear

And..to conclude this post, last character but not the least. Yes, that is berry, as insignificant as he is..the script where he belongs is HUGE!!

Never mind!! Here are some more from the same script:

And that is all for now folks!

Using Blogger

2008-11-06T21:42:00.003-08:00

Is not that easy, I can't get used to it..but I WILL , eventually!

Learning from Preston Blair

2008-11-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

I am going to try to use this as a path to submit my stuff and send it to ASSIFA, but I can't promise I will have the time to follow up all the way through.

Hearing the Hermitage Heart

2008-10-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

(version 3)

Wake-less ways await
Master of crookedness lay in the pond of distortion
Perpetual stability to convey with horror
and in this neverending despair
he will scream reclusive again to fulfill the void

Isolated, outcast, cast aside
All that hatred inside;Prepare the stage:
Suicide's state
Left in the desert dealing with void
disorientated disconnected shatered heart
Unnmoved wild-waves of deep despair
No more longingsNo means for belongings
No thought to live
Far from love
So soon to fall
Dreams! alarm refused to be obtained
And all you think of
Exclussion: to any match you detach
Perish days! Perish nights!
Arrogance captures and prevail,
survival is not but succumb
Walls well built upon your hopes
War powerfully inside upon your peace of mind
Unrefuged-minded capable to undefined any ending
but the basis of endless lost
betray its own beat
dancing torment
undesirable chamber
only suitable to owner
Shut in
Waste
it

(Version 1.0)

Wake-less ways
Master of crookedness
Perpetual stability
Isolated, outcast, cast asideAll that hatred inside;Prepare the stage:
Suicide's stateLeft in the desert dealing with void
disorientated disconnected shatered heart
Unnmoved wild-waves of deep despairNo more longingsNo means for belongingsNo thought to live
Far from loveSo soon to fall
Dreams! alarm refused to be obtained
And all you think ofExclussion: to any match you detach
Perish days! Perish nights!
Arrogance captures and prevail,
survival is not but succumb
Walls well built upon your hopes
War powerfully inside upon your peace of mind
Unrefuged-minded capable to undefine any ending
but the basis of endless lost
betray its own beat
dancing torment
undesirable chamber
only suitable to owner
Shut in
Waste
it