Google Docs for Animation

This is just fun, and a creative use of free tools.

Coming Soon - A Digital Arts Curriculum Website

It's been awhile since I have blogged because I've been working on a BIG project. I am building a website with ALL the curriculum I've written for Digital Arts classes including projects in Graphic Design, Digital Photography, Web Design, Digital Video, Interactive Design, Animation. The site will be up and running soon, and this blog will be the first place to hear about it's launch. For now, here's a teaser screen shot:

A time lapse journey through Japan

I absolutely love time lapse photography!! This is a beautiful example:

Hayaku: A Time Lapse Journey Through Japan from Brad Kremer on Vimeo.

Yourself as an Avatar - Fun Photoshop Project

Such a fun project to build Photoshop skills! There are lots of tutorials online, but here's a good one.

Here's my personal example:

The Monster Engine

Okay, so occasionally I come across an artist who is so inspiring that I have to include it on my blog even though the work is not digitally created. An artist by the name of Dave Devries created a book, The Monster Engine, in which he uses child-drawings to create fully shaded, textured finished pieces. The results are amazing and beautiful. Studios like Pixar and Dreamworks would do well to work with character designs created by children. Maybe this would be a fun project in an art room, working in cooperation with younger students. See more examples here.

Image copyright Dave Devries

One take music video

I love this video because it is both playful and technically masterful. Students could try something like this on a much smaller scale. A project like this generates a fantastic discussion on the level of planning, practice, and attention to detail required in order to capture it one take. Have fun with it!

HD Video with Canon 5D and 7D

Digital video has made amazing progress in the last 10+ years since I first started using it. Just as with all technology, it started out clumsy and expensive and now it has become incredibly streamlined and affordable. And some how the quality of video has gotten better and better despite the diminishing size and multi-functions of video recording devices.

Canon makes some great SLR cameras - now with the capability of creating HD video. Below are a couple of examples of the impressive quality of these cameras that will hopefully inspire you and your students.

PUSH PULL from Landis Fields on Vimeo.

HANGAR 7 from Landis Fields on Vimeo.