Period accurate graphic.

For this project I decided to do a World War one letter from the German perspective. I was both inspired by a music album based on World War one and the fact a lot of war stories a told from the perspective of the British and allies. Initially I found coming up with an idea difficult, I feel like I need the subject or concept to be something I’m invested in or something I enjoy. I tried thinking about other stories and setting I could do but I really struggled to think of something. I think coming up with narratives is something I struggle with so ill need to try and improve that somehow. I also struggled with the research, while I enjoyed the World War one theme, it was difficult finding the exact kind of paper they used, and since I don’t know German I couldn’t understand what any of the stamps meant or the writing in the letters. Because I didn’t know German I couldn’t write the letter, I had to try my best to trace an existing letter, that came out looking messy and not real enough. My research told me fountain pens were used in world war one so I choose not to do ink stains like Stelios advised me. I should have tried to dedicate some time to practicing writing in German so it looked more convincing, but I was both running out of time and to be frank, lazy. I know what I need to do, that is to work for at least 8 hours a day, but I often don’t, and it hinders my progress. Let’s see if I can improve.

 

Light entertainment.

I found getting my starting concept difficult, but when I spoke to my tutor, I was guided into doing something I’m already familiar and interested in. I felt this gave me some more motivation, but I still fell short in this project, I didn’t manage my time effectively and struggled to get a good design. In my head I wanted a minimal atmospheric set, but I also needed to try and push my design to be as best as it can be, because I struggled to design it, I started to fun out of time and had to just do what I could to meet the brief. And looking back at my model, I wanted to have done more, used laser cutting and 3D printing to add to my model, so it looks neater and more professional. My feed back was that there wasn’t anything in the chat area, and I didn’t have any décor in that area, that was due to me struggling to design it and to make it in the model. My visual was poor also, I’m also annoyed at it, because I want to be better at digital illustrations but due to running out of time and being annoyed at the lack of skill I have I rushed it. the only way to get better at visuals is to practice doing them.  My presentation could have been better, I don’t know why, when I present its like my brain just shuts down, I try and focus on my project rather than the people around me but it doesn’t seem to help, I’m not sure what I can do about this other than continue trying to practice.

 

Quick fire skills

Story boarding: I started this too late, I left it until Wednesday to start gathering photos and started doing some ideas of how my shots would look, then the weekend came, and I didn’t put the effort into the work, I traced what images I could, Sunday night I quickly drew up the rest of the images making them look a mess. I felt relived to get it over and done with, but I’m also annoyed at myself that I didn’t do better. How am I supposed to get better when I don’t put the effort in?

 

Location survey and drafting: because I had limited knowledge of drafting, I struggled to draw up the building. But once again my time management was bad, leaving it to the last minute. If I had just spent 8 hours a day on it, I could have felt less stressed and came out with a better outcome. I didn’t put enough detail on such as brick work and pipes. I also struggle to keep my drawing neat so that’s something I need to try and work on too.

 

White model: I found this a bit easier to do, I had to improvise on some areas as I wasn’t sure how to cut the shapes out as I couldn’t just copy them from the drawing. I also noticed I did a few parts of my drawing wrong as I was building my model. While it is too late to correct now, I need to try and be more accurate in the future.

 

Visual: I really struggled with this, not just because I also left this until late, but because I was struggling to draw up and paint how I wanted it to look, I ended up getting frustrated and wanted to just get It over and done. The debris didn’t look how I wanted it to look, and I struggled to paint an interior of the exposed house, so I left it dark, and I generally feel bad about my work. My work and motivation are just plateauing. I must fix this if I want to get a decent grade.

 

Classic set revamp

Week one: I started to plan out what I wanted to do each week, this week get concept, and research done. I fell short of the amount of research I was supposed to do, since I decided to do it in the future, I needed to really think about what life would be like, and what we would have. I ended up stealing a concept from game and turned It into my own. I was frustrated with myself for not being able to come up with a narrative on my own, but at least I had something to go on. Now I just need to come up with designs.

 

Week two: my plan was to start my tech drawing this week, I did on vector works but nearing the end of the week, I struggled to get measurements for the set. I keep thinking about how I need to get it as accurate as possible, but some details were too difficult to see, and it was frustrating me. Eventually I tried to just estimate the dimensions on my vector works plan. At this time I still didn’t have a proper design, I was struggling to get an idea of what I could change in this room to make it different.

 

Week three: I have only just finished my technical drawing, I’m a week behind, I have my model and visuals to do, I wanted to give myself a good week at least to give myself time to improve on my visuals, but I guess that snot going to happen. I think my tech drawing is good though.

 

Week four: working on my model is taking longer than I thought, I’m constantly trying to figure out how to build parts of it, I end up just trying to improvise and make it as best and as quicky as I can. not really learning any good techniques. I think I need to try and approach the model making differently next time.  

 

Week five: I had to do my visuals the night before the deadline. I tried my best at photo bashing and adding in colour and lighting. I made some things up on the spot to add into the visuals as I still didn’t have a complete design. My presentation went as well as it could have, not bad, not good either. I was told what I could improve on my visuals as they were good but could be better if I added some more layers to it, like scuff marks, vomit, signs of use and age. So ill try and do that for my portfolio.

 

Blood wedding.

Week one: I was enthusiastic about doing a time zone I would love to learn more about because we were told this project would be good for contextual research, I initially wanted to do it in medieval Europe. So I tried doing as much research as I could, but soon found it’s just not feasible as there isn’t enough information about society and about the buildings there, this was a wasted week. I’m going to try Napoleonic France as I find the wars interesting.

 

Week two: I again struggled to get the relevant information, so this is another week wasted. I very quickly changed my idea to early 30s Germany. I gave a quick idea of what I had in mind for the concept presentation, I just need to do more research now.

 

Week three: I didn’t do much research over the holiday as I was busy with other things. So I’m going to have to spend this week doing research and making sure I know how the characters will fit.  

 

Week four: I didn’t do as much research as I should have; I’m struggling to get a good concept; I haven’t really thought about my characters. And I feel like I’m going round in circles. I need to just go with one location and draw up a design.

 

Week five: I started my tech drawing, I’m just winging it, coming up with a basic idea and then filling in the detail as I go.

 

Week six: I couldn’t compete my tech drawing, but I got most of it done, I’m going to finish the rest of it this weekend so it’s done for Monday, then I can start on my model. My drawing is rather messy, and I’ve left some less important things off as I’m running out of time and getting sick of this project, it doesn’t help I still don’t have a clear concept.

 

Week seven: I started to struggle getting my model done, I didn’t spend as much time on it as I should, I got it done, but it could have been done better. I’m envious of some if the other students and because of my bad habits and laziness I feel I will never be as good as them.

 

Week eight: due to being sick of this project I just half arsed the rest of it, I just didn’t want to put the time and effort into it. I know that’s not the mind set to have but at this point all I care about is passing and getting it over with. Regardless of whether I really want to go into this industry or not, I told myself ill see this course through as see where it takes me. my visuals were bad as I did them quickly the night before hand in, I couldn’t paint forest in photoshop, so I gave up. If I find the motivation ill revisit it. I still need to learn how to paint in photoshop but Its only up to me to put the hours into doing it. and my presentation was bad, due to feeling bad about my project and generally just wanting to give up on trying I said what I could when I was up there, I had tried to go over what I was going to say in my head, and I was calm right before I got up, then I forgot what I wanted to say, and I struggled to get my words out. Its every time, it doesn’t matter how calm I try to be just before I present, as soon as I get up there my brain stops working.  I’m ready for a holiday, to get away from this and come back with in happier mood hopefully.