Here is the holster in the printer and on the was and cure machine with its supports still present. The scaring from the supports can be sanded away and any pitting made by them filled with filler. I was really pleased with the look of the model and the general print quality with one exception being the side that was closest to the bed was flattened slightly and therefore required some filler to correct the arc of the top and bottom rings. With the body fully sanded I moved on to priming and adding in the deliberate damage to match that of the game model. I added another layer of primer to seal the scratches. After the priming I used a slightly off white shade that gives the model a unified look; but it kept the scratch marks for my weathering paints to flow into and collect naturally. Spraying the model was tricky due to its shape but I found the hanging on wire technique particularly effective. The next stage to finish the model was buff the clear satin finish sealant coat on the holster to allow acrylic paints to adhere.
I used brown tones and watered them down to a wash which I brushed on and dabbed the excess away. I added a gel medium to some higher pigment brown paint and created splattering dots that stood embossed against the model.
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My Next StepsMy aim as I look to graduate and beyond is to apply to various stop motion companies in the Bristol area using my FMP as my main evidence of ability. I also think that companies with a strong digital side will appreciate any skills in 3D modelling I can bring to the table. When applying for full time, long-term jobs I am looking for stability and a good work-life balance. I am the type of worker who tends to not stop when I am engrossed which results in burn-out. A position that keeps my work away from home is an important value for me. To facilitate ease of interviewing with these companies I will be living with my parents in that area until I can earn enough to move out to my own place. Being in the location will help hugely with this process too as I know from experience visiting flats when staying locally is much easier. While living at home I can continue to network and build my personal portfolio. Arranging more visitations to companies and earning money through side hustles. My initial aim after I graduate is to set up a stable side income so that I can save money and generate a fund for a deposit. Above is a map of Bristol with a purple circle marking the distance to places like Bath. The journey time by car of the radius of the circle journey time is usually 35 minutes but at busy times can be 55 minutes. For commuting I am prepared to do a 2 hour journey maximum but to look for shorter times when I choose my own flat. As my parents are moving at the same time as me to the Bristol area we can coordinate where they will move to that works for all of us. On the other hand the train from Bristol to Bath is 11-16 minutes. This halved journey time could be really useful when commuting in and out of the city. Bristol to Cardiff, for example, by train is an hour; this opens doors to the whole area which greatly helps my parents with their choice of house location. Comparing Cardiff to Bristol by train on a return ticket cost, £15.60, to the cost of fuel for a car (slightly larger and newer than mine) around £13.72. The difference in price daily would add up considerably by train. The benefit of going by train is saving on car maintenance and less stress in the journey. This time could also be used while riding the train whereas the car ride could not. The journey times are very similar if the traffic is not bad. When it comes to choosing where to live and commuting I have the advantage of owning a car that’s fairly new, reliable and small. This means I have more options for travelling into Bristol from a distance or choosing to live in the city where my car is small enough to park quite easily. Aside from this I also own an e-bike which would be good for commuting around the city more efficiently. As an e-bike it doesn’t require me to need a shower at the office and the battery is detachable so I can keep it with me and safe. Below is a map of Bristol zoomed in to see the radial distance of how far 15 minutes of normal cycling can take: with an E-bike this would be a very easy journey length and I could go for much longer. Weather is a factor that plays into the choice down the line to cycle as I will need alternative ways to travel if the conditions are too wet or dangerous. Side HustleAside from this work I want to do more commissions on a regular basis. I have discovered a desire for custom models in the furry subculture: creating ‘fursona’ sculptures and drawings is hugely popular and high demand exists in forums and shops like Etsy. I have a connection in the community who is my source for information on where to look for clients (which forums etc) and I can build up a following on my Etsy shop by sharing the link to it around his friends. To prove I can make a suitable model I will do one commission as a proof of concept and use it as an advertising example. Promoting this on my instagram stories, dedicated Facebook groups and DeviantArt could help spread my work as platforms such as the latter are a popular artist hub for the furry community. Setting up a DeviantArt account as a place to document any commissions of this nature will be a good way of keeping my work separate as previously discussed. Instagram will be my stop motion oriented making, Artstation would be for my 2D digital drawing and DeviantArt for commissions. My current employer pays for my living expenses as a Limited company. This is an advantage if i choose to do any contracting work before I get a full time position as I can be paid through the limited company as though I am being contracted out to them. The accountant for the company I work for can handle my tax so that responsibility is handled by a professional. She is also able to help me with personal ventures like freelancing and will advise me and handle tax on my behalf.
Personal BrandingMy personal branding of the documents such as CV and business cards is styled with elements of water colour drops and strokes: I chose this because watercolour was one of the first mediums I ever used when beginning my artistic career; I think it demonstrates my more artistic style of making as opposed to a ‘hard-edge’ making; the colours are very natural and in fashion this year which I plan on keeping updated by re-painting the digital watercolours when next years trends are announced (if they are very different). To not waste things like business cards they will be very similar but new work updated and the secondary colour changed as soft greens are usually popular. Beyond my physical documentation, my brand is an extension of who I am and what I put forward for other people - and employers - to see. As a maker looking at the stop motion industry teamwork and flexibility is important. Larger companies work on projects as a team with dedicated tasks that come together to form a whole working puppe, so the ability to communicate well and problem solve together is an element of my brand I need to emphasise as I move forward. As well as being a team player, independent thinking and working is crucial to getting jobs finished. I want to convey my helpful nature in the fun and playful designs of my documents without losing the professionalism; this balance is much like my two halves of creative artists and practical modelmaker. Both are essential parts of myself that can contribute to my work ethic. Social Media
Career AnxietiesSome anxieties I face as I graduate from university include my concern that I lack experience with professional environments and workplaces. As an individual I am aware I find things more anxiety inducing when I don’t know what to expect of situations: to help combat this I want to visit more work environments and speak to employees about what their day-to-day lives involve at work. I think this will help me feel less alienated and familiar with how companies work.
Another one is my lack of knowledge about industry standard digital modelling. I have invested in Udemy to learn Blender but I want to learn products like ZBrush and even Maya if given the facilities to do that as the software is expensive to purchase myself. To mitigate this I want to learn to do Blender well and down the line save up to invest in one of the other not free softwares as It will hopefully add to my resume and skill set. To learn Blender I want to dedicate a little time every day to work through the courses on Udemy and build a portfolio of work to expand my digital 3D evidence. Aside from Blender I want to use more Nomad Sculpt to create small things that I can put in my portfolio that better reflect what I am capable of making. Procreate for IPad recently added the function of painting 3D models, this will help me develop finished outcomes, all on a device that can fit in my pocket. For my career I am concerned about the competitive industry I will be trying to enter; my expanding portfolio as I graduate (FMP and personal work) will hopefully help me to stand out. One of my main weaknesses is time management so I am aiming to mitigate this in my final major project by planning a rigid structure and hitting my smaller, more attainable goals.
I want to develop some of the characters I design as 3D printable models and practice painting them to incorporate elements of this list I want to improve upon in one personal project.
Beyond my skills as a model maker I have an innate instinct to help others when working on projects: this became evident at school as I was usually ahead of my peers in art and graphic design classes and acted as a teacher assistant to help the others complete their work too. I was also head girl at my prep school which included my first taste of large scale public speaking to the whole prize giving ceremony; It was very successful and I now am comfortable and confident with any type of speaking in front of large groups of people and contributing to discussions. Between the ages of 14 - 17 I did Combined Cadet Forces for the RAF section. As a cadet, I learnt valuable skills in leader ship and regimental organisation, gained first aid qualifications, navigation skills, survival courses and military parade training. As an Air Force Cadet who progressed to a second stripe I was able to attend flight lessons at an army base; I learned to fly a Grob G 115 and learned aerobatics. Essay writing and research into current affairs is also a passion of mine, so I generally look forward to any assignments of this nature. I have volunteered to be a Co-Editor for Catalyst to practice a different academic skill set. I think it will be a great experience to read and discuss the different essays with the other editors. My interests lie in stop motion puppetry due to the varied range of processes involved; sculpting, moulding, casting, sewing and high quality soft finishes and paint. All of these are set to a film industry framework which has been a personal lifelong ambition. Modern techniques for stop motion that companies like Laika use (specialised replacement piece 3D printing) combine my interests in both physical modelmaking and digital work so in the future I would like to seek out positions that allow me to explore these skills. Before I aim for that kind of prestigious level of making in my career I want to gain more experience in traditional stop motion and animation. In the UK there is a strong stop motion animation presence and specifically in the Bristol area. As this is the area I am interested in moving to, the companies I have earmarked are based in that location:
Aardman - https://www.aardman.com/ (Bristol) A Productions - https://aproductions.co.uk/about/ (Bristol) I am particularly interested in Aardman due to the size and variation in the company and its projects. However, I am keen on visiting other stop motion companies in the UK such as
Within the stop motion industry there is huge amounts of variation in jobs and roles that intertwine: from very organic claymation to very VFZ heavy work. All of these are of interest to me and I am happy to turn my hand at any job put my way which means I can develop the skills to be an asset to any department or company I am a part of. This flexibility should be something that gets better the more time I spend in the industry gaining experience and knowledge from more experienced makers. The early stages of traditional puppet making really interest me as they involve translating 2D concept drawings into three dimensional sculptures which are moulded and cast. As I have a background in both 2D fine art and modelmaking I find this translation an engaging challenge and very rewarding. I experienced it in both my foundation year when I translated a graphic novel character into puppet form and in the first year of my degree working with the animation course to create a maquette reference for their 2D digital animation project. My skills include:
To get into my chosen field I need to practice moulding and casting smaller and multiple part moulds to translate into the puppet mould making. I also want to work on fabricating soft finishes using different flocking techniques that are often used in stop motion characters. To succeed at getting a position I will need to prove I understand the essential parts that make a working stop motion figure: understanding rigging points, finishes that animates can practically work with. Also, evidence of consideration for puppets weakness such as smaller wire joints breaking during filming and providing replacements for these in advance. To show I have achieved these benchmarks with a model in an interview will prove I understand what is required of a puppet maker. |
Third Year
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