[Project 6 - FINAL] Coatepec

Password: 400stars

I was really inspired by my Mexican Art History course, especially with the tale of Coatlicue and her relationship with her 401 children. When I first started this project, I wasn't entirely sure how to go about it; I wasn't sure if I should've pursued this story or if I should have some something else. I'm really glad I stuck with this story, even if it is slightly different than the various tales that have been presented.

One of the main challenges I faced in this project, other than trying to pronounce the names correctly and creating the animation, is when I had to finally project the project. Lighting was a huge issue. Thankfully, the painting students didn't mind when I shut off three rows of lights from their studio, but the lights that kept the third floor lit was a different matter. Due to safety precautions (understandably so), I was unable to turn off the lights. One of the regrets I have is that I didn't take into account of those lights, but I hope that it isn't too much of a distraction.

[Final] 4/19 Update

Mask/Environment Layout

Projection

Process of masking 

Some distortion, but the further you are from the building, the less distortion you'll see.

Prefer the harsh mask rather than the feathered edge

Character Design

Coatlicue 

Coyolxauhqui

Huitzilopochtli

[FINAL] Tests

Tests

 The imagery got lost on the grass and trees. This cannot work this way.

 

 However, there's something really appealing about this shot.  Maybe if I mess around with shapes of the building for the composition... Like the top could be the hill of serpents, while the bridge could be ground level?

Redesigns and REALLY Rough Thumbs

[FINAL] Pitch

Synopsis

Based on an Aztec Mythological tale, this projection animation explores the dramatic (and traumatic) family tale of Coatlicue, the Mother of the Gods. Presented in a narrative almost storybook-like format, it explores the beauty of miracles, the downfall of jealousy, and the price of bloodshed.

The Story

Coatlicue (Qwo-aht-lee-co-ay) lived on Coatepec, the hill of serpents. She had 400 sons, representing the stars, and one daughter, Coyolxauhqui (ko-hol-shahw-key), the goddess of the moon. One day, as she swept on Coatepec, feathers descended from the heavens. She tucked it in her belt, and it impregnated her. However, this pregnancy wasn't seen as a blessing to her children, who were outraged, jealous, and resentful. However... Coyolxauhqui, with her brothers behind her, decapitated her own mother. Yet, instead of falling to her knees, fire serpents emerged from her neck along with her son, Huitzilopochtli (wheats-zeel-low-poe-ch-teal), the god of the sun, fully grown and prepared to fight. He chops Coyolxauhqui's limbs off, then discards them off Coatepec. Thus is the reason the moon and sun fight for dominance in the sky.

The Characters

The Ideal Place

As I was trying to project on Saturday, I faced technical difficulties.

The Inspiration

Mixtec art (Aztecs drew their inspiration from the Mixtec)

Huitzilopochtli

Dismembered Coyolxauhqui

Coyolxauhqui's outfit inspiration

Coatlicue

Coatlicue

Aztec Calendar (not really a calendar)

The Research

The Art of Mesoamerica by Mary Ellen Miller

http://www.ancient.eu/Coatlicue/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-americas/early-cultures/aztec-mexica/a/coatlicue

http://www.ancient.eu/Coatlicue

[FINAL] Concept!

Although I'm not entirely sure which route to take, I really did enjoy the projection project. So I wanted to explore the projection project even further. There are two ways that I could approach this:

1. Inspired by Aztec mythology
I heard about this in my Mexican Art History course, and I couldn't help but to be intrigued by the whole situation! So the story goes a little something like this:

Coatlicue, the Mother Goddess, had 400 sons (the stars) and 1 daughter, Coyolxauhqui, (the goddess of the moon). Coatlicue lived on Coatepec (the hill of snakes). As she was sweeping the floor one day, she found feathers. She placed them on her breasts and became pregnant (a virgin pregnancy). Her children grew resentful and jealous. However, it was Coyolxauhqui who beheaded her mother. From her mother's death came Huizilopochtli, the son of the Mother Goddess, also later known as the God of the Sun. He emerges out armed and ready to fight his sister with fire serpents by his side. He destroys his sister and throws the pieces of her off of Coatepec. Thus is the story of why the moon and sun fight for dominance in the sky.

Aztec/Coatlicue/Tenochtitlan/15th century

I do not want to focus on the whole story. I'm more intrigued by the emergence of Huizilopochtli with the fire serpents coming out of Coatlicue's head. But the problem I'm facing is what material I would project on.

Something in this style though:

Where the drawings are very geometric; It would reflect off of Aztec style

2. Transforming a normal object using projection animation. Sort of an offspring of the leg projection, I like the idea of manipulating objects as such. The question is if it should be inanimate or a living human being.

Visiting Artist Response 2: Ji Lee

Ji Lee was born in 1971 in Seoul, Korea. He migrated to Brazil when he was 10. High school wasn't fun for him, but that changed when he pursued art. He moved to New York to major in Fine Arts before changing his major to Graphic Designs.

He did multiple projects including "Words as Images" (which focused on the letters to form an idea). So, during his college years, what he did was FUN. But then reality knocked on his door and said "HEY, SO A JOB"

So Ji Lee got a job in design, but his interest was in advertising. Design was all about aesthetics, seriousness, and it had a smaller audience. But with advertising, it's all about the concept, for him it was fun, and it presented itself to a bigger audience. He was influenced by Brazil to pursue design.

But his main message was all about doing personal projects. Because you can do professional work, but when you do personal projects, you can find new opportunities. For Ji Lee, it was creating a typeface that made letters into 3D space. He just had fun messing with new ideas. Even on Instagram, he had an idea and he posted it. His Bubble Project was also a personal project that integrated the consumer's voices.

But the thing is, he's not afraid to show his ideas. In fact, when confronted with the question of if he's afraid if someone takes his idea, he states that because he shares his idea the moment he has it, it's then harder to steal the idea. Because the idea is out there, so by sharing it he ends up with the claim.

But his final messages were:

• Work on personal projects
• "Ideas are nothing. Doing is everything."

This artist lecture was one of the best ones I've ever been to. He kept entertaining his audience, and there was never a dull moment. 

[Project 5] Leg Spasms

Password: demlegs

When I found the mannequin leg, I really wanted to use it for this projection project. It initially started with trying to mimic human anatomy, but after seeing the "muscles" form, two things became clear:

1. The placement of the muscles were wrong.
2. The actual motion of the animation was intriguing.

Even though my initially idea didn't work out, it was nice to see how this lead to a different track. I scrapped the bones in my leg because there was a nice connection between how it starts organically and ends organically. It was also cool seeing how this animation was being projected on an object. I mean,  this project was enhanced by being projected on a real object instead of watching it on a flat surface. The forms were pushed further, and it really did seem like that a leg was forming.

If I could do one thing differently though, it would be the way I mounted my project. I would need to find a lighter color for the string or find a different method so the leg could seem like it's "floating". 

[Project 5] Further Concepts

My hope is to construct the leg. From bones to muscle to the skin on the actual leg.

I thought it would be a cool idea to have the bones be shown by x-rays.

With more of a blueish hue. Then having the muscle wrap about the leg, contrasting the blue with pink.

I'm not sure what I should do with the skin. Maybe roll it up?

[Project 5] Ideas and Inspiration

I'm not 100% sure on what I want to do, but here are some of my ideas:

• With the leg mannequin, I could picture a bunch of dolls finding the leg and grabbing it to make the ultimate doll.

But as I was experimenting, I also liked the idea of projecting images onto the material itself like in the video below.

But I also like the idea of manipulating simple shapes. Like having an image already there, but then animating the shapes to create depth and illusions.

[Project 4] Grains of Sand

Password: sand

"Grains of Sand" is an animation that cycles repeatedly. The sand was difficult to work with because of how I needed the sand to cover my whole canvas. I had to make sure to smooth the sand out, so there wouldn't be any odd light spots. But the hardest part had to be making sure the panning up and outs were consistent. It wasn't completely successful, as the person's limbs changed size, but it was definitely a good exercise to do. But I liked how malleable the sand was. It has its downside, which would be that you can mess up the whole image by accidentally having your arm touch a different area. But it was also nice to have the image be very flexible, drawing over the previous image, but also how the sand works with you on this aspect. I just have to find a way to make sure not to get sand in my mouth the next time.

[Project 4] Storyboard Idea

Inspirational Videos:

[Career Services] "Career Fair Prep" Notes

MCACC registration required

• can see employers

art/transformable skills

• BIG SYSTEM

SET UP

• you have to be active at noon
• starts at 1-3:30
• table = office
• something to give away
• resumes, business cards (name, email, phone number)
• professionally done
• opportunity for nice photo (for LinkedIn)

Employers evaluate you (answer some questions)

Road to Success

• PREPAREDNESS
• resume
• portfolio
• research companies
• connections

Resume Basics

• One page
• no "I"s
• achievements
• results orientated
• reverse chronological order

Profile

• "I am"
• "I have"
• "I can"

Portfolio = 12 pieces

• process
• sketches
• storyboards
• presenting work

Dressed

• clean 
• slacks, blouse, clean shoes

REMEMBER:

• CONFIDENCE
• CONCISE ANSWERS
• EYE CONTRACT
• EXAMPLES
• CONCISE AND HONEST
• DESIRE TO LEARN

[Project 3] I Belong

"I Belong" is a piece the address the issue of not fitting in. It deals with the exclusion of several "color" groups before finally finding a place where they fit in. The main issue I had with this project was trying to get the idea to translate. It honestly no longer felt like a piece that addressed the issue of mixed races, but of someone who doesn't seem to conform with everyone else. I also had an issue with making sure that my station was clean. I mean, not the station where everything was, but the area where the camera was taking pictures. Little particles can be seen (and are amplified) on the screen. Another downer is that there is no sound in this piece. But, I did find other ways to animate faster. I did try to find efficient routes to get the story across. This video was definitely a learning process, and I found out that layering transparent paper PUSHES the depth of the picture. I wish I learned this sooner as it was difficult to see the green figure in front of the yellow figures.

[Project 3] More Tests and Concept Work

CONCEPT

Character designs (primary colors = basic shapes, secondary = more complex)

Title will probably be "Belong"? WIP Title. 

TESTS

 Using different tools

 Oil pastel doesn't work on the glass, but does work really well on the overhead sheets

 Frosting is alright to carve stuff out, but I prefer oil pastels