Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Adore Woman - Final Animation

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Final Render (Soundless)

The final render of Adore Woman before adding sounds.
I only just now noticed a little problem with the boil lines that needs fixing, but apart from that I mark this part done. Any feedback and comments before final pushes will be much appreciated.
Thank you!

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Head Animation .02

A playblast of the animation with added details on the eyebrows, lips and around the nose. I hope it will still look good with surface shader applied.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Head Animation .01

A playblast of the head animation. The beginning is a steady model because of the transition from 2D to 3D. So far it's the neck, blink and a bit of jaw which means I still need to add eyebrows, mouth and general facial animation.

Any feedback at this point would be very helpful!

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Animation Update

This is how the project is looking at the moment. There are still few timing issues and obviously things to add, although I believe it's good to share the progress and ask for comments and feedback.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Assets

Few of the assests that appear in the video so far. 

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Working on Intro Animation .02

This is the opening sequence so far. I am still unsure about the colours dripping from the top of the picture but I might adjust it later, when majority of the animation is completed. 

The 'leak' of colour has been done by use of Maya particles and multiple AE effects.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: The Woman Model

There's still the interior of the mouth left to be modelled, however the head itself I consider done. Texturing should be a quick process as I am intending to leave it all white, possibly with a black outline.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Animatic Draft.02 (With Sound)

Below is a second version of the animatic. It's still very raw, but I will be refining it as I move along with the project. I think the main music theme suits the concept, but I am still unsure about the beginning and end.

My next step on the list to do is either the 3D model of the girl or creating keyframes for the 2D boil animation.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Initial Animatic (Incomplete)

Initial animatic for the Adore Woman artwork. It is still incomplete, but please let me explain the vision, because unfortunately the animatic is not explaining everything like I would like it to.

00:00-00:13 
I would like the lines of the drawing to be boiling and the female to be making some subtle facial movements (blinking, smiling, etc.) showing that she's rather happy with how she looks like. I believe it would create a nice effect with the shift in hue of the colour splatters.

00:13-00:30
This bit, I want to be mistical, a bit overhelming in colours and kind of confusing at the same time, to create a feeling of many layers and to rise the question "what is happening to the girl behind the colourful fog?"
I also want to add a 3D camera AE effect with the camera actually moving through the fog (kind of like Harry Potter intro and the clouds).

00:30-00:50
During this sequence we can see the girl between the foggy clouds, a bit less happy, perhaps concerned, still in 2D boiling line style.

00:50-01:05
The colourful puddles get erased and reveal a completely clean and makeup free 3D model (I am still deciding whether she should be bald or with dreadlocks).
The girl seems unhappy at first, a bit uneasy because of the lack of colours on the face, but eventually she smiles because she realises she's still beautiful even though there is no 'make up' on her face.


After this bit, I am not quite sure yet how to return to the original drawing. It could either be another journey through the colourfull fog or simply just a fade in? Something to think about.

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Influence and More Research

I have been trying to narrow down the idea and approach to Adore Woman. I am leaning towards mixed media approach, or perhaps a faux mixed media (digitally achieved effect of traditional watercolours/paint/splashes).

Two gifs below show two different ways:
1. Boil animation, where the watercolours move

2. Still watercolour areas with moving and changing colours. 

Perhaps both? Next step will be an initial and rough sketches or a storyboard, with an idea that I have in mind for the beginning and end of the animation.

I would like the face to be a 3D model and all the watercolour splashes to be flat, 2D effects. Experimenting will have to start soon so that I can figure out if that idea works not only as an abstract concept. 

Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk: Adore Woman Video Research

I have recently started researching various styles and approaches to watercolour that could help with figuring out the animation of Adore Woman. Below are some initial thoughts and influences that I've found around the web.


Few examples of watercolour-like animations:







Below are examples of different effects that could be achieved with After Effects. Some paint dripping and watercolour bleed, although still not something that seems very useful to me.



Perhaps a different direction could be a better idea? The image revealed from the watercolour drips and splats, instead of aquiring them during the animation. Still, early days and only an initial research.

Introduction - Edwin Wainaina // Samantha Niemczyk

Edwin Wainaina . Adore Woman

My name is Samantha Niemczyk and I will be working with Edwin Wainaina on animating his artwork Adore Woman that is shown above.

I have graduated from CAA course last May and since then I have been working on personal projects. My interest in art is strongly connected to character and figures. I like using both 2D and 3D tools to fulfill my ideas.

My first thoughts upon the artwork have been circling around some delicate effects, playing with colours and perhaps some dripping effects, as the drawing is really paintily and seems to have an impressionistic approach to female features/make up.

Samantha Niemczyk . Examples of 2D work