Tracey in Maine

Sometimes life is about the simple pleasures. Sometimes it’s just your perspective that separates the good and the bad days. When your simple pleasures come along, relish them before moving on. This morning I encountered a few of them and thought I’d share some of my favorite simple pleasures.

Flowers and plants. I love my plants. I try to take good care of them but if they die or I have to move and leave them behind, I tend to get emotional.

The perfect song at the right moment. When your iPod is on shuffle and all of a sudden the perfect song comes on at just the right moment.

Mornings. I love mornings. Whether it’s the birds singing and the sunshine or the smell of early morning when it’s still a bit chilly and everything is covered with dew or frost.

My leather jacket. It’s perfectly worn and fits…

So, earlier today, I wandered into the kitchen to make some lunch.  A cloudy day and chilly to start so I decided on a cup of tea.  As I walked toward the stove past the little table where I keep herbs, cut flowers and things like that, I glanced at a vase of old daffodils.

I could not help but think, “I’ve got to throw these things away before the petals fall all over the floor!”  Then I’d have to vacuum … though I already needed to vacuum.  I spritzed a few stems with water.  Maybe a little moisture would help.  Instead, a petal drifted free of its stem and just managed to land on the table.

I turned away with a curmudgeonly sigh.  I put the kettle on to boil.  While waiting for it to whistle, I felt a bit of warmth on the back of my neck.  Perhaps…

Today’s challenge was quick–but necessary to the animation process! Scavenging around the house, I found my lighting and supports (big box, tissue box) for my backdrop and camera. Here is my resulting stage, set and ready for production:

Tomorrow begins the busy work! For tomorrow’s challenge, take the series of still images for your stop animation.

A FEW TIPS:

1. Remember to make small movements/changes to your characters and set in between camera shots, in order to make the resulting animation more smooth.

2. Make sure your digital camera is firmly attached to it’s tripod (or makeshift stand). Using masking tape can be pretty helpful.

3. Use at least 2 light sources in order to eliminate shadows in your animation.

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

I can’t believe it’s already the fourth day of this month’s challenge! As my animation set continues to move closer to being ready for LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, I am becoming increasingly excited to see the final results!

For today’s challenge, I focused on creating the flower for my animation. Just as I did when I created my flying character, I took short walk to gather supplies. I then began building the flower, keeping in mind my storyboard and the movement that the flower would be making in my animation.  Here is the result of today’s explorations:

For tomorrow’s challenge, add all finished touches to your stage. This includes any additional props that you will need for your animation, as well as your lighting and tripod (or alternative camera support). When setting up your lighting, use at least two light sources to diffuse your light in order to avoid shadows (unless…

After successfully creating my main character yesterday, I focused today’s artful explorations on the storyboard, or visual script, for my story. The story almost seemed to write itself, as I thought about my little flying character and his interests/motives/actions. In line with my suggestions for the storyboard, I decided to limit my board to 6 frames. I kept the sketches relatively simple and quick. (The entire 6 frames took me approximately 10 minutes to draw). Here is my resulting storyboard:

For tomorrow’s challenge, work on the background/stage for your animation. Be sure to include something for a backdrop and base/floor. Using your storyboard and main character for inspiration, create a background that will not distract from your storyline or subjects, but will rather enhance everything.

‘Til tomorrow..happy explorations!

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as I am! Today has been an absolutely gorgeous–albeit hot and humid–Austin day! Lately I’ve been getting the sneaking suspicion that spring has been skipped altogether, as we seem to be creeping closer and closer to the summer 100’s! However, today’s sunny, high 80’s/ low 90’s provided a nice beginning to April’s Nature Animation Challenge!

Apologies for not posting this yesterday— For today’s challenge, I focused on creating the MAIN CHARACTER for my animation. Since I had absolutely no story in mind for this animation, I decided to head outside for a little walk to gather inspiration (and supplies!). During my walk, I found a nice pile of sand, so decided to gather a few handfuls. As I was filling my little bag with sand, I noticed this poor fellow out of the corner of my eye:

Main character. Check.

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s challenge focused on creating a stage for the animation! So, I began this process by finding materials for my stage construction. I ended up using two white sheets of paper (which I then decorated with natural/organic shapes using glue and chalk). The floor was created using chalk rubbings on cardboard. I will probably add a few more movable shapes and/or objects to the background which will add a little more interest and life to the stage! Here is a shot of my resulting stage:

As I worked on the backdrop for my stage, I tried to keep in mind the storyline for my animation, as well as the characters and plots that would be used in my story.

For tomorrow’s challenge, work on building the props and/or additional characters for your animation. 

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

Ever have a period in your life when you’re feeling just a bit out of your routine, or as my fellow likes to say, “discombobulated?”  Well, I’m certainly feeling that way at the moment.  Not sure if it is cosmic in origin (there’s a lot of cool astronomical stuff happening right now) or if it’s regular life stuff (lot of different projects coming due).  To give myself a break over past day or so, I’ve wandered with my camera outside and around the house.  I have found myself drawn to the concrete, like the above dark pansy growing in what has become a local restaurant’s outdoor ashtray, and to the more nebulous and ethereal like these shadowy branches of a dead tree dancing on a wall in my apartment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the kitchen mesmerized by herbs in silhouette like this dill against a clay saucer and rosemary…

This is the penultimate chapter in the story of how I came to be enamored with travel and imbued with wanderlust.

I would suggest reading the first 4 parts before reading this one if you want the back story; otherwise, just dive in and let me know your thoughts.

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4

She wore tight denim shorts. That is the memory that pervades the images in my mind as I consider our walk through the streets of Cozumel that day. I had completely forgotten where I was as I looked often at my new friend and could have cared less about the sea, the sun, or even investigating some new part of the island. Her body and how each component of it made me tingle in places and ways I never had before, was all the exploration I wanted. To this day the physical discovery of…