Rachel Thorn

Life drawing bonanza, part 2

2011-09-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Lots more drawings here. I tried some inks and watercolours too which was good practice as it has been a long time since I picked up a brush.

Life drawing bonanza, part 1

2011-06-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of life drawing recently, here's the first instalment... there will be many more to follow as soon as I get scanning.

World AIDS day animation

2010-12-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

Recently myself and my friend, Valentina, made a short animation aimed to educate young teenagers about HIV. The animation was commissioned by EWAV and made for World AIDS day which was on the 1st of December 2010. We had two weeks in which to come up with a concept, storyboard, design, animate, composite and edit so it was tight... very tight.

Now that I've covered the animationy part, when was the last time you had a HIV test?

BEING Red.... from EWAV Works on Vimeo.

All Consuming Love (Man In A Cat)

2010-09-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am currently working from home on a short film produced by Dice Productions in Birmingham called 'All Consuming Love (Man In A Cat)'. See tester trailer below.

Will be posting animation a soon as I've done it and cleaned it all up.

Bitbots

2010-09-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend of mine launched his own toy company Bitbots selling viynal toys. For the launch of the first series of toys 'Series Zero' a number of custom toys were made, here's the one I did:

Bit of a Jekyll and Hyde theme going on. To see and/or buy the toys you can either go to the wesite which I put a link for above or vist my friend Jats in his Pop-up store at 1.11 Kingly Court in Carnaby Street, London where he will be for the next couple of weeks.

I also made a little animation for the launch party but being the slightly obsessive person that I am it needs a little tinkering before I post it up. Should be with you in the next couple of weeks.

Summer time post

2010-07-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's sunny and lovely outside, where else should an animator be but in a basement. And this is exactly where I am at the moment, I'm back at Bold Creative working on a five minute short film. I wont be able to upload clips unill project is finished so for now where's some stupid stuff I've done recently and not so recently.

Recently I've enjoyed photoshopping friends

Not so recently I tried designing the alphabet with pictures for my young nephew (and godson) but the challange was too great. I did A, B and P, then got half way through F (fermentation) and gave up.

And now I'm trying to get a picture done for a friend in my spare time. I've planned it in photoshop now all I need to do is paint it on watcolours on a large peice of watercoulour paper. Here be the design.

May showreel. Woop! woop!

2010-05-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Did it! Reel includes animation done on the third series of 'Little Princess', the BAFTA award winning 'See Something Say Something' and for clients such as T-mobile and the BBC. This reel also includes some of my own personal projects including 'Study Door', my short film.

May showreel from Rachel Thorn on Vimeo.

I work on 'Little Princess' no more.

2010-04-06T13:58:00.002-07:00

Not last Friday but the Friday before I finished work on 'Little Princess' after a 11 months. Here I will take the time to reiterate the sentimants I posted on facebook:

Dear 'Little Princess' team of 2009/2010,

It's been fabulous! Thank you for: cups of tea, coffee, glasses of beer, water, slices of cake, and a pair shoes, an umbrella, the pen/sex toy, the laughs, the links, the opportunity, the intellectual conversation, the silly banter and of course 'thank you for the music'. In the words of a great modern day poet, 'MISSING YOU ALREADY!'

Yours staunchly, Rachel

I intend to put together an new showreel with animation I did on the series but I find myself a little busy at the moment. This week I am teaching a little animation and after that I will be working as a keyframe animator on a short film. So until I am less busy you'll have to settle for a selection of doodles drawn whilst waiting for previews to render. Woop, woop.

And I'll finished with a cartoon of the lovely Betti, the line manager, which I drew for her as I kind of goodbye gift.

Character drawings

2010-03-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

I live not too far from Turnpike Lane and the other day I decided I would draw a couple of characters it has recently been my misfortune to encounter - scray, crazy, men.

And now for some unscary charaters

And a couple of randoms and a self portrait

Huskie run cycle

2010-02-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

This time last year me and a couple of friends put together a pitch to do a title sequence for a BBC programme. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful but here is a run cycle I did (taken out of it's context)for one of the scenes. I edited together the progress the animation went through from rough drawings to the final product... enjoy.

Huskie run cycle from Rachel on Vimeo.

A stealthy fox

2009-12-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

Just a little bit of animation I've been doing in my spare time. Wanted to do something silly and fun with a smattering of squash and stretch. It is 'to be continued' so watch this space...

Stealthy Fox (Part 1) from Rachel on Vimeo.

And the BAFTA was won.

2009-12-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

We got it! 'See Something Say Something' one a BAFTA in the short form catagory. Here are some pictures to prove it.

This is me kissing a the BAFTA:

This is the animation team (left to right: Will, Ben, Ali and me):

And team Bold Creative (left to right: Ali, Will, Lindsey, Ben, Martin, Greg, Becca and yours truly):

Life drawing again

2009-11-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

I went life drawing for the first time in over a year the other day, below are the results. Plenty of room for improvement so I'm going to try really really hard to go at least once a fortnight. I other news the animation I worked on for Nickelodeon, 'See Something Say Something' is up for a Bafta, not sure what catagory but still pretty cool. Also the childrens series, 'The Little Princess', that I am currently working on is up for a Bafta too. Twice Bafta! Fingers and toes are currently crossed for both nominees and will remain so untill the results are know to me. With my didgets in tangles it will be hard to draw, walking will be a struggle but no one ever said animation was easy.

Soft pencil drawings

2009-09-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

Enormous post making up for the past few months.

2009-08-25T14:01:00.000-07:00

I’m sorry. It has been some time since my last post. It’s likely I’ve disappointed you, my family, my friends, God probably but most of all yours truly…myself.

I have a goodish excuse though. For the past three/four months I've been at Illuminated films in Hammersmith working on the third series of 'The Little Princess'. I'm having a great/busy time of it doing allsorts of stuff but mostly storyboard and animation corrections. The major plus’s are that I’m learning Cel action, which is ace, and getting to spend a nice length of time in a good studio full of lovely people. Thusly, no posting.

And so to the point. Here are some recent and not so recent morels from my sketch book and a couple of randoms. What’d ya think?

This is what happens when I'm drunk and on a train listening to Prince. I should doit more often,you should do it. It's ace.

And now for some Randoms:

And that's that. Will try to get round to finishing a little animation I've been working on soon and post that baby too.

Drawings. Mostly non-observational

2009-04-20T01:32:00.000-07:00

After Effects Practice 4

2009-04-20T01:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've been practicing again. This time using the cameras focus and adding motion blur. A lot of my time was spent playing around with the speed (and hence the placement) of the train. I still don't think it's quite right in places but I'm not changing it now.

20th out of 117.

2009-04-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

I came 20th out of 117 in the 11 second club competition last month. Quite happy with that. There were some really ace animations and the winner was definitely worthy. Got some helpful comments too but I don't think I'll be doing it again this month. Definitely soon.

Anyway, here are some recent characters I have drawn. Enjoy.

11 second club

2009-03-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

This month I decided to enter the 11 second club competition. I wanted to keep it quite simple so there's just one MC shot, one character and no gimmics. I'm quite happy with how it turned out however there is one frame where the characters trousers are black instead of grey. Flash with all its stealth and cunning managed to slip that frame under the radar. Here it is, what do you think?

Annecy Animation Festival

2009-03-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Some great news came to me the other day. An animation I worked on has been accepted into the Annecy animation festival.

'Caroline's Story' is in the Educational, scientific or industrial film catagory.

"!£$6@{:~@£$(+_" yeah!

It was produced at Bold Creative, Directed By Johnny Lighthands and animated by myself and Ali Assaf. I think I already have a link to it on my blog but here is is again, just for fun.

TXT UP: Caroline from Bold Creative on Vimeo.

No posts this month so far because...

2009-03-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

I have been doing the 11 second club competition this month. Currently I am about 5 seconds through but my eyes have been going fuzzy so I'm having a little break. As a result I've booked an eye test, my first ever and I have a feeling I will need glasses. Eeeeep. Other that that I've been slowly designing my website which I can now say is 'coming soon'.

Anyway, when I have finished the animation I will post it here.

An ensemble of resent pictures

2009-02-16T04:03:00.000-08:00

I picked up a paint brush the other day for the first time in a long time, below are a couple of the more successful results. I have done a little altering in photoshop of one of them, trying to make it look like ink on paper with gold leaf, you be the judge!

Other than that there are some drawings from my time on public transport and a couple of photoshop images I've been working on.

After Effects Play

2009-02-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to improve my after effects skills over the past week and here are the results. Two of the videos are re-wored scenes from animations I have already done in flash. In 'After Effects Practice 3' I have worked with imported images and animated them in after effects. If you are knowlegeable in the subject of after effects it would be great if you could give some advice or pointers

Where'd January go? I forgot to post!

2009-02-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

Some drawings of chickens here from before Christmas and two images I've been working up in photoshop for some time now. I have finally managed to stop fiddling with them, horay!

Gordon the dog character designs

2008-12-13T09:15:00.001-08:00

Here are some of my character design drawings of the dog, 'Gordon', from the 'See Something Say something' project I worked on.

Links are ACE! but I can't get them to work. Sorry, it's copy and paste time.

2008-12-12T06:53:00.000-08:00

I am a fool! I have forgotten to put a like to the Nickelodeon project, 'See something Say Something', up here. What have I been doing for the past few weeks! Well here it is:

http://microsites.nick.co.uk/saysomething2008/

Annoyingly 'Marks story' won't play off the website and the video and sound quality is poor to say the least but you can kind of make out what's going on. Right?

Also The National Gallery's website now has my years final films up and running.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/collection/transcriptions/new_animation/rachel_thorn/default.htm

Voila!

Some more drawings.

2008-11-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some drawings I've done. Some old, some new and some worked over a bit in photoshop.

I'm in Imagine magazine

2008-11-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

I found out the other day from a friend that I'm in Imagine magazine (the education issue, No.20, pg34). Annoyingly I wasn't told about this as I would have to rewritten the text that was put in as I never expected it to be printed. That aside it's pretty ace news and something I will be putting on my CV from now on.

Nickelodeon and Aardman

2008-10-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Well myself, Ali, Will and Ben are all still plugging away on this project for Nickelodeon and I have to say it's looking ruddy good. Using after effects makes so much of a difference, gives the animation an extra little lift and makes the whole thing look utterly professional. Plus having the sound effects and music helps millions, come to think of it, maybe I don't need to be animating my ass off. I jest, I'd feel dirty if I knew I didn't try to make the animation as good as it can possibly be.

I got some good news on Friday when I checked my e-mails. As well as being accepted into the IICFF (Istanbul International Children's Film Festival) my final animation 'Study Door' has been accepted into the Aardman Talent showcase which will be taking place this November in Bristol. I am so going, can't wait. Got to go now, got a friends wrap party to attend to. Free booze. Excellent.

Running at Passion Pictures & animating for Nickelodeon

2008-09-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well the title gives this away a bit. I've been been pretty busy this past month and a half. I was running a passion for a bit after I got a call from out of the blue from them. All good stuff, lovely people there and great experience to be able to loiter around a big animation studio and chat to the animators and the directors there. But then following a tender that me and a my friend Ali put forward to a small production company called Bold Creative I have now begun animating on a anti-bulling project for Nickelodeon which will be broadcast in November. All done in flash, there's lots and lots to do, but hopefully well get it all done in time and still be alive to but it on our reels. Can't really show you anything at the moment but as soon as I can character designs and animation shall appear hear for your viewing pleasure.

More sketchbook doodles

2008-07-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Characters & doodles

2008-07-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some character drawings/doodles. Some on paper some done in photoshop. Some work is still yet to be scanned but here's something for now.

Life drawings

2008-07-13T09:23:00.001-07:00

Silly pictures

2008-07-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

I was looking at extreem sports to get inspiration for a silly idea I have and I came across a couple of beauties. I suspect the jet ski one and the dolphin one are fabricated in photoshop but I do so wish they were real.

What I've been doing this week

2008-07-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been emailing animation studios like crazy, calling dropping off reels. What you'd expect. Nothing yet, BOOOO. But I'm not going to give up. I've been doing odd bits of animation and I've been using my travel time to draw people while they're not looking. I am stealth incarnate. I've been working on storyboards for a group project which will be underway soon. I've done some looping animation, practicing my symbol work. Here is a man who listens to jazz:

A student no more.

2008-06-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Well had the old final show for the course yesterday and I am now offically a student no more. So if your reading this please consider me for jobs, I make an excellent foot rest and I can make polite converstion!

I don't know about everyone else on the course but I felt a small tear welling in my eye on the train into the city when I thought it's going to be the last time myself and my most excellent commrades in animation are going to be all in the same room. But I was reminded that there's graduation, and next years show. Life goes on. Bring on the outside world!

Final Major Project

2008-06-13T04:49:00.000-07:00

Some current affairs now. Final major project time. I based my animation on a painting by Degas called 'Helene Rouart in her Father's Study'. I had struggled a bit to find a painting that I wanted to base a story around but when I saw this painting I immediately thought of one and although things have changed in terms of the plot (and the lenght) the original story remains the same :) Here is the painting:

Love that massive chair and the random objects. I felt like I could relate quite strongly to this painting because when I was growing up my father always had a study and although the storyline for my animation isn't based on a real event for me his study was a place of intrigue. When I began to think about story lines and character I drew some rough sketches:

I drew my first set of storyboards over Easter, because they were drawn on sticky notes I was able to play about with the order of events before bringing I brought them into flash and decided on the timing.

Next I worked on getting the right key positions, this meant a lot of acting out and drawing and re-drawing etc... Also I began work on the many backgrounds, which turned out to be an ongoing weekend task throughout the eight weeks rather than a solid weeks work. Throughout this whole period I visited my mentor on a number of occasions and conversed via email to get his thoughts and opinions. All of which were very helpful. Thanks again Alex if your reading this :)

My general approach to doing the inbetweening was to go through the whole animation two or three times, the first time roughly, second more detail, third more detail and polishing. You get the picture. I left two days for going through the animation and adding all the shadows.

Whilst all this was going on I was in contact with a student from the Royal College of Music, Moritz Schmitatt, who did the sound track. I told him what style of music I wanted; Schumann's 'Scenes from Childhood' and he sent me sample music. Via email we discussed what would be best for the animation. When I had rock solid timing for my animation I gave him an AVI of the rough, but properly timed out animation and he went to work and produced a brilliantly fitting score. Cheers Moritz!

Soooooo. Here's the end result. Enjoy.

Second term catch up

2008-06-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Ok. Right then. Time for a fast update. Term two. Here we go. The animal run. Here's a horse, it turns a corner, all done in 2d and no rotoscoping here. If there had been it would have been a lot easier.Looks a little strange a one point but overall I'm quite happy with it.

Now some lip sync.

And some more

Here's a guy who thinks he is a heavy weight in the drink department. But he's not!

Here's something from last term that I finished in the second term. She's fat, she's pushing an envelope.

So there are a few more vids, I am yet to put my new and improved task projet together (major project from the second term) but when it's all looking spick and span I'll put it up.

Mood change walk

2007-12-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, this was our major project for out first term. We were told to have a character walk in a specific way according to a mood and then have something happen to them for their mood to change and hence their walk. It took a while for me to get it they way it looks now, I'm still not completely happy with it 'cos I think the guy gets bigger and smaller but see what you think.

Bird and fish

2007-12-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

With my bird and my snake I got a little carried away, as you will see. I had real trouble with the fish but I think the final result works ok.

Snakebite

2007-12-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

Some different animals now. A snake with a hunger for something off screen.

Wolf walking

2007-12-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Here's another four legged walk. It's only one stride, sorry, untill I get that sorted you'll just have to keep pressing play to get the desired effect, that's if you have the desire.

Goat trotting

2007-12-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Now were getting a bit more fun. Here is a goat trotting. I wanted to make him appear young and inoccent. I think having him set in the idealic surroundings he's in is a great help also the animals that crop up add to the mood. Plus the mole makes me chuckle every time.

Severed head bouncing

2007-12-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Huzar! It works.

Now this is a little grusome, it used to be a bowling ball in 3D but instead of attaching a peice of string to the back of it to demonstrate follow-through I decided a head of hair would be more interesting. From that point on I knew I had to go the whole hog. Sorry if this causes offence to anyone, but it's not really, only pencil on paper.

I'm sorry. A boucng ball

2007-12-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is my second attempt at this. To reflect my being a novice at all this blogging business here's something basic and boring to begin with. Yes, that's right, a bouncing ball! More interesting stuff to follow, I promise, that's if I can get this to work. Fingers crossed.