Art & Music Discussion - For on-topic chat times!

[catharticCarnifex]

Don't have the soundtrack at hand right now, but there's Snow Pollen from the fifth album. It's easily one of my absolute favorites, and I think it would be good arranged for those kind of instruments.

[Isoraqathedh]

I don't know how to interpret this: am I working too slow, or is my brain working too fast?

Over the last week or so (18.10.2010) I manage to make 6 melodies, during the devolopment of the 11th song Tikijona:

A B I S X // Z K Q D G // T C ? ? ? // ? ? ? ? ? // ?

Ordered by date of creation:

1. Cilstao
2. Ciltre
3. Cetena
4. Ciciçono
5. Cananiu
6. Cletona

(I don't know, maybe I know how to translate the notes from mouth to paper in the music creation room a.k.a. the bathroom.)

[nextian]

I maybe don't know exactly what you're asking, but it's normal to want to work on one goddamn song and find fifteen other motherfucking songs intruding, NOT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW, WHY DO YOU ASK, FUCK BIRTHDAY GIFTS TO A FRIEND RIGHT LET'S WRITE SONGS ABOUT STRUDEL. Being a musician is weird.

[orngjce223]

Being a musician is weird.

Agreed.

I now have a reputation for putting out good songs for animations at a ludicrously, absurdly fast pace. I'm not sure what to think about this.

Speaking of which a solo album of MSPAFA-animation music suddenly seems like a plausible thing to do. Oh, Prospit. I don't even know if I need to establish a business before I'll be allowed to sell it, or if someone in the MSPA higher echelons would object to it, or what -

[catharticCarnifex]

I don't know how to interpret this: am I working too slow, or is my brain working too fast?

Over the last week or so (18.10.2010) I manage to make 6 melodies, during the devolopment of the 11th song Tikijona:

A B I S X // Z K Q D G // T C ? ? ? // ? ? ? ? ? // ?

Ordered by date of creation:

1. Cilstao
2. Ciltre
3. Cetena
4. Ciciçono
5. Cananiu
6. Cletona

(I don't know, maybe I know how to translate the notes from mouth to paper in the music creation room a.k.a. the bathroom.)

Okay I have no idea how to interpret that list of letters there, but I think it's pretty cool that you got down so many melodies :O

[Isoraqathedh]

On this:

A B I S X // Z K Q D G // T C ? ? ? // ? ? ? ? ? // ?

It's actually sort of simple.

Watch as I list all my completed pieces by chronological order:

1. Akdoyvonren
2. Baptikonyen
3. Istojabeȝo
4. Saltovahr
5. Xastorojo
6. Zerehanda
7. Kastoronda
8. Quensindara
9. Degrutos
10. Galsordokan

The best thing is of course that all the first letters are different and so for those who cannot (or will not) pronounce the names can just write, say, "D", and I will know what on Earth he's on. It also helps to sort them by date of creation without looking around Windows Explorer which has "Date created" hidden so far down that list.

That means, of course, that I get an increasingly limited pool which will exhaust itself on the 26th piece, which is why I will recycle it anew.

[Xenocidebot]

Don't have the soundtrack at hand right now, but there's Snow Pollen from the fifth album. It's easily one of my absolute favorites, and I think it would be good arranged for those kind of instruments.

That or Lotus or something in between is on the list, yeah. Probably woodwind fodder. Currently considering some variation on Doctor for brass too, and then strings would get...Showtime? It'd be easy enough.
First, though, I think I need to maul something from the last flash (and get a new avatar.)

[catharticCarnifex]

This is pretty rad. I heard some NES Kung-Fu sampling in the Versus song from the fifth HS Album. Doeth mine ears deceiveth me there?

[RappinPicard]

Just curious, how many photographers are on these forums?

I do a bit of it myself in addition to video and film (which I consider to be my main passion).

I'm just wondering how many other photographers are on these forums, in addition to the tons of talented artists and musicians.

[gingerale]

Just for those people who are interested there's an open job application for animators in the Iron Sky team. I couldn't find a blog post of it so I'll just copy paste the email the best I can.

show spoiler

hide spoiler

The Iron Sky CGI team is looking for experienced artists

The visual effects production for the feature-length scifi comedy “Iron Sky” has begun. Currently we have an inhouse team, led by Samuli Torssonen – the man behind Star Wreck. We are now calling all talented CGI artists around the world who have a passion for motion picture visual effects. We offer a competitive pay and a bunch of extremely dedicated coworkers. A project featuring Space Nazis is not something you want to let pass lightly!

Iron Sky is a science fiction comedy being produced by Blind Spot Pictures and Energia Productions in Finland, and co-produced by 27 Films in Germany and New Holland Pictures in Australia. The budget is roughly 6 million euros. The primary language of the film will be English, with worldwide theatrical and online distribution.

WHEN AND WHERE

Iron Sky is starting shooting in less than two weeks and principal photography will be finished by the beginning of February 2011. CGI production will take place in Tampere, Finland. Post production will be finished by the end of October 2011.

WE OFFER:

• Competitive salaries
• An interesting and challenging project
• A creative and passionate team
• We will also help you find an apartment near the production facilities

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Maya Lead Animator

• Able to lead a team of animators
• Experience in working with 3D tracked camera solutions
• Experience with character animation (digital stunts)

Maya Lead Shading & Texturing artist

• You can deliver realistically textured & shaded assets ready for rendering
• Knowledge of advanced lighting techniques (for example HDR environments, ambient occlusion, texture baking)
• You know Maya Mental Ray shaders inside-out

Maya Dynamics Technical Director

• Extensive experience in Maya particles and fluids
• Experience in creating effects such as fire, smoke, destruction, explosions, mist, dust, etc.
• Experience with objects dynamics (destroying various kind of things!)
• Experience with Mel scripting

Maya Lighting TD

• Previous experience in lighting photorealistic CG in live action environments is essential
• Comprehensive experience with Maya Mental Ray is required
• Can set up the scene for the final render

We might also consider a Softimage / Houdini dynamics TD

• You know how to transfer data to Maya

Very experienced Lightwave generalists

• Able to animate, create dynamics, shade and render out the final frames
• Able to transfer data between Maya and Lightwave

Nuke / After Effects Compositors

If none of the described positions seem to fit, but you are sure you’d be a great help, feel free to send in an open application.

Contact
Send your resumes/portfolios/showreels to: jobs@ironsky.net

Internships
If you are a promising student or self-taught 3D artist without work experience, ask for an internship. We generally cannot offer paid internship positions but we offer you real work experience in your field – not just making coffee at a fancy office.

We are always on the lookout for talented people to create amazing visual effects and animations.

Is you’re interested call Samuli at +358-40-749-9765 and send your resume with samples of your work to jobs@energiaproductions.fi.

Yeaaaa, I've never even heard of "Maya" before. xD

Edit: I guess I should link the video the email had too.

[Decker]

Trying to learn to draw. Circles and heads are hard guys.
I keep on looking for some kind of trick to make it easier, but I'm starting to realize that the best way to learn to draw a good face/head is to make about a thousand crappy ones.

[Lexxy]

That's certainly part of the battle. The other part is study and direct observation aka drawing from life. That's how you get things to look convincing, even if you're doing heavily stylized cartoony stuff. Repetition will help your technique and line quality, observation will help your technical accuracy.

The best cartoonists and animators have done years of traditional studies, I guarantee it.

[Decker]

I'm not looking to be an animator. More like drawing comics.
I know what you're talking about with the observation, but right now I think my biggest problem is muscle control. I have a hard time drawing a straight line and I keep getting things wrong even when I'm copying something right in front of me. Bangs and hair are what's killing me right now. They end up looking like \/\/\/\/\/\/ even though I'm trying very hard to not draw them that way.
Thanks for the advice though. =)

[Lexxy]

(A cartoonist is actually someone who draws comics, not animates :B )

Repetition will definitely help you get rid of wobbly lines and such, so keep ats.

[Decker]

(A cartoonist is actually someone who draws comics, not animates :B )

Ah. I was thinking of...just newspaper cartoons for some reason. Ziggy and Dilbert.

[Lexxy]

It's an antiquated term. Most people probably just say comic artist I guess?

[TheIllastrator]

I always thought cartoonist was kind of a catch-all term for anyone that draws cartoon-y, whether it's for illustrations, comics or animation. I just say comic artist though.

[Decker]

It's just that there are a few things I would have a hard time saying that they were drawn by "cartoonists". It's a term that I hear more often referring to...less complicated art? Less serious? I'm not sure.

[tynic]

Most people would probably say comic artist as a catchall, but in any case, lexxy's point was that cartoonist /= animator.

The broader point is that it doesn't matter what anything is called. Cartoonist, comicker, animator or fine-art professional will all have to do the same basic training and exercises.

[Almost Human]

Just for those people who are interested there's an open job application for animators in the Iron Sky team. I couldn't find a blog post of it so I'll just copy paste the email the best I can.

show spoiler

hide spoiler

The Iron Sky CGI team is looking for experienced artists

The visual effects production for the feature-length scifi comedy “Iron Sky” has begun. Currently we have an inhouse team, led by Samuli Torssonen – the man behind Star Wreck. We are now calling all talented CGI artists around the world who have a passion for motion picture visual effects. We offer a competitive pay and a bunch of extremely dedicated coworkers. A project featuring Space Nazis is not something you want to let pass lightly!

Iron Sky is a science fiction comedy being produced by Blind Spot Pictures and Energia Productions in Finland, and co-produced by 27 Films in Germany and New Holland Pictures in Australia. The budget is roughly 6 million euros. The primary language of the film will be English, with worldwide theatrical and online distribution.

WHEN AND WHERE

Iron Sky is starting shooting in less than two weeks and principal photography will be finished by the beginning of February 2011. CGI production will take place in Tampere, Finland. Post production will be finished by the end of October 2011.

WE OFFER:

• Competitive salaries
• An interesting and challenging project
• A creative and passionate team
• We will also help you find an apartment near the production facilities

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Maya Lead Animator

• Able to lead a team of animators
• Experience in working with 3D tracked camera solutions
• Experience with character animation (digital stunts)

Maya Lead Shading & Texturing artist

• You can deliver realistically textured & shaded assets ready for rendering
• Knowledge of advanced lighting techniques (for example HDR environments, ambient occlusion, texture baking)
• You know Maya Mental Ray shaders inside-out

Maya Dynamics Technical Director

• Extensive experience in Maya particles and fluids
• Experience in creating effects such as fire, smoke, destruction, explosions, mist, dust, etc.
• Experience with objects dynamics (destroying various kind of things!)
• Experience with Mel scripting

Maya Lighting TD

• Previous experience in lighting photorealistic CG in live action environments is essential
• Comprehensive experience with Maya Mental Ray is required
• Can set up the scene for the final render

We might also consider a Softimage / Houdini dynamics TD

• You know how to transfer data to Maya

Very experienced Lightwave generalists

• Able to animate, create dynamics, shade and render out the final frames
• Able to transfer data between Maya and Lightwave

Nuke / After Effects Compositors

If none of the described positions seem to fit, but you are sure you’d be a great help, feel free to send in an open application.

Contact
Send your resumes/portfolios/showreels to: jobs@ironsky.net

Internships
If you are a promising student or self-taught 3D artist without work experience, ask for an internship. We generally cannot offer paid internship positions but we offer you real work experience in your field – not just making coffee at a fancy office.

We are always on the lookout for talented people to create amazing visual effects and animations.

Is you’re interested call Samuli at +358-40-749-9765 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************+358-40-749-9765******end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************+358-40-749-9765******end_of_the_skype_highlighting and send your resume with samples of your work to jobs@energiaproductions.fi.

Yeaaaa, I've never even heard of "Maya" before. xD

Dang, if only I'd kept up with my 3D animation! Maya is the program I was taught to use, just in time for all the local studios to switch to 3D studio max :P

[gingerale]

Dang, if only I'd kept up with my 3D animation! Maya is the program I was taught to use, just in time for all the local studios to switch to 3D studio max :P

I figured it was something like that. But that's a pity. Would've been cool to see someone I know working on the movie. ^^

Also unlucky with the studios switching like that. xD

[Isoraqathedh]

Whellllp I finally completed the song. It's been a while has it? A month and two days.

The only problem is this: which one should be my next?

In alphabetical order:

1. Cakanyüron
2. Calolunan
3. Cefūlto
4. Ceguros
5. Cehonlho
6. Cenaniu
7. Censtulay
8. Cetena
9. Cetestifre
10. Cetresto
11. Cforenso
12. Cfornado
13. Ciciçono
14. Ciferhof
15. Cilstao
16. Ciltre
17. Cilzako
18. Cisova
19. Cistornon
20. Civino
21. Ciťotafo
22. Cletona
23. Clivensa
24. Cresna
25. Cřonsaon
26. Cťūllü
27. Cusōto
28. Cvenstian
29. Cwerso
30. Cyeřon

Yes. On average I managed to create a new melody once a day.

You can hear the pieces back on my thread.

[Vertigo Ambrosia]

Trying to learn to draw. Circles and heads are hard guys.
I keep on looking for some kind of trick to make it easier, but I'm starting to realize that the best way to learn to draw a good face/head is to make about a thousand crappy ones.

Oh hey learning how to draw buddy! I'm taking a drawing class, and I'm running into the same thing, except with body posture and hands. The only thing that's really helped me is taking extra time to sketch things (often during class). I've got so many half-drawn Dave drawings it's not even funny (Strider really seems to catch my eye.)

(I don't know if you have a sort of boring class or if you're even in school, but I've found that's where I get a lot of practice drawing hands...)

[orngjce223]

Is anyone still keeping track of the MSPAFA Music Request Thread? There are at least three consecutive untaken requests right now! Two of which are for really famous people so there's a prestige factor right there!

[Traikan]

If those requests are still there in 3 weeks, I'll take them, but I'm way swamped with projects at the moment.