What the Noise Gave me: Storyboard draft v.1

This is a rough draft of the potential animation for What The Noise Gave Me. One of my thoughts was to keep the animation abstract, but with keeping a kind of story to it. So far my idea is:-

• Figures slowly reveal their emotions - fear, anxiety, stress, panic, depression.

• 'The Golden Hole' is entered. Revealing an emptiness and representing an isolated state. The figure is engulfed in the 'noise'. 

• The noise moves around and recreates the hole. 

• A hand reaches through. The two figures reunite and reach out to each other representing support, strength, a sense of light at the end of the tunnel (or hole).

• The figures eventually move back into their original poses with maybe a new feeling to the viewer of what the figures are going through. 

Production Thoughts  

• My other thoughts were to play with the colours, and give a sense of light and dark. Also Phil gave a great idea to experiment with sound to represent the 'noise' in the way Paula describes it to be.

• In terms of camera movement - I was thinking of making the space a place where the viewer feels they are moving around in a 3D space. So moving around the figures etc. I was thinking that the noise would have less of a sense of being in a real space. (If that makes sense!)

• For the animation side, I was thinking about how Paula used mixed media for her piece. My thoughts are to go for a similar feel, by maybe importing textures of real things such as fabrics, metals, and gel pen textures. I would also like to combine after effects 2D planes with 3D models. 

• I am thinking that creating 2D polygon planes, slightly extruded out to look like a thin cut out shape may be the way to go, These will be experimented with next!

Edit: Test Model of the 2D plane idea 

Paula | Vikki: What The Noise Gave Me - About the Artwork

I asked Paula some questions about her piece 'What the Noise Gave Me'. I found her responses fascinating and I can visualise how the animation may look much more. 

'What The Noise Gave Me' By Paula Karanja

1) What inspired you to make the artwork?

"What The Noise Gave Me" was inspired by a personal experience. I wanted to isolate a time that was pivotal in my decision of what I was going to do after high school graduation. What was I going to do with my life when I grew up? Was it going to be socially acceptable in earning a living? How was I going to start?Those were some of the questions I'd ask my self over and over again. That was the noise. The angst about following what I wanted to do and what I was expected to do. It was a dark and confusing time and the 'Noise' clouded my thoughts and being. 

2) What message did you want to get across to a viewer?

This piece was based on a subjective association. However, I hope to incite the viewer to make new personal associations.

Being a personal experience, the composition revolved around my academic life and the decisions I had to make after graduation. The 'Noise' was my fear of failure,confusion,depression and loneliness experienced in my final year and what lay ahead of me. I was conflicted between pursuing something  considered worthwhile and following what I earnestly longed for; a career in expressing myself in the most fulfilling way. Did I eventually come to a decision? What the 'Noise' gave me was a choice. Each choice with it's own consequence that I'd have to live with.

3)Why did you pick those colours/prints?

As I said, I isolated a movement in my life, to reveal the various emotions going on then. By emphasizing on the aesthetics of the composition I wanted to formalize my conscious. 

The black background shows the darkness and lonely feeling I experienced. My thoughts were negative and were clouded with fear.

The gold specks represent the choices or windows of opportunity that come our way. Because of the overpowering darkness we can't really see anything positive from the situation.  

The golden hole represents the pathway or overt direction the choice gives me. A window of hope or failure.

The silver patterns are the meditative periods it takes to make a conclusion.  The battle or contrast between the gold (choices) and black background (the noise). Drawing each swirl or bend is a therapeutic reminder of the journey. The movement of events.

The abstract forms in the foreground appear to be engaging in an activity,but are partly attentive because of the 'Noise'. So what does the 'Noise' give them? Does it cloud their judgement or do they see the light at the end of the tunnel?The fabric simply identifies the forms as humans,granted with the ability to reason unlike an animal.

4)What art medium did you work with?

I like the flexibility and experimentation of a mixed media composition. Therefore, I used paper as my surface,and layered the piece with gel pens, acrylic, gold dust and fabric to give it a 3D surface.

Initial Inspiration ideas

I've began looking at some after effects videos of the kind of movement I imagine the animation could look like. I've mainly focussed on movement ideas - my initial thoughts were quite slow moving kinetic type pieces, where we can travel in-between the wires and around the characters, etc.

For the type of 3D space to create I was also looking at wire sculpture designs, and also some possible 3D shapes for inspiration for the kind of 3D spaces the work could be made into.

Introduction: Paula Karanja | Vikki Kerslake

My name is Vikki, I am one of the artists who will be collaborating with fellow artist Paula Karanja as part of the MASK Project. My task will be to create a 90 second animation using Paula's work. I was very much drawn to Paula's style and look forward to the collaboration over the coming weeks.

Artwork by Paula Karanja

I am a graduate of Computer Animation Arts course in Rochester UCA. My style tends to be illustrative with painterly qualities. I enjoy working with abstract and delicate designs and mixing 2D and 3D together.

             


I am very much looking forward to seeing how this project evolves in the coming weeks.

Vikki