New Chapter: 07/05/26

After a few years away from this blog, I can say I have returned.

What has changed? Well, some things. I can now say that I’m an animator to go along with the artist tag, and I’ve lost a few important things along the way. As it turns out, Autistic Burnout has played a major role in my life and I didn’t realize it…and the problem is, when you’re an adult, there isn’t really a lot of support. Other than through friends who have been there and done that, and others who have studied it extensively while also going through the experience of it themselves…and I’m very thankful that they exist, because this would be quite a lonely road otherwise.

I’m not sure if I’ll be doing reviews here like I did, but I may try to incorporate this blog into something new and hopefully exciting. Interests have changed. I still love stories in various mediums, and would like to continue talking about them. But I would also like to somehow apply them to both my life and my ministry (I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, to anybody who doesn’t know that), as getting those right have been become an enormous priority, and everything else can flow from there – with the quality of my mental health included.

If Faith, Stories, Lifestyle and Art are things you like to talk about or are involved in, then I’d be happy to see you along the way.

Watch this space, and see you later.

Aaron

Mid 2023 and onwards…

If you followed my blog for any length of time, you might notice that I haven’t been posting new material in a while. The reality is, I have been busy. For those in the know, I’m at University studying Animation. A year has gone past since I started, and honestly – I’m excited, but also ready to make a few sacrifices.

I plan to return to using this blog again, but I don’t think I will be doing Reviews on it anymore. One thing I would like to do though, is move some stories I wrote in a different wordpress, post them here, and then delete that other blog (there’s only about 4 stories). That way everything will be altogether.

I would also like to use this to share my new work: Illustrations, animations (if possible), Vlogs, other writings, and so on. A reason I want to do this, is so I could be free to create. Social Media is not what it was. Neither is Youtube. But that doesn’t stop me from perhaps using them to point people towards this site. If I can’t get animations up here, I might add links instead. We’ll see.

Until then, lets dust the cobwebs, remove the cloth throw-overs, wash the windows and fix the roof. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Aaron

Short Blog 11 (8/1/22)

I mentioned in my last post about April Fools happening the following day, and hoping for more fun than offence for everyone who may get pranked. Well, on April first while waiting for a Fish and chips in the car, I got an e-mail that I wasn’t expecting so soon: An unconditional offer to do an Animation Degree. To add weight to the situation, I have been interested in getting on this course since July of last year. Sending the application in September, giving them my new portfolio in February (after receiving advice on how to improve it, and watching youtube videos of portfolios that other students had done), and then waiting to see if they would reply before the middle of May. They did. And literally, while life continues to be life and stuff happens – I haven’t felt this glad in a very long time.

I mention this, because I believe that blogging about my experiences on this course will be an important part to the creative process, as well as helping out anybody else who might either be doing it, or are interested in it. I acknowledge that upon entering, I will be starting at the very beginning. Deliberately entering it as if it was a new medium that I have no experience doing. To build a foundation that doesn’t collapse, and could hopefully be there for the rest of my career. And with this I say, I’m looking forward to this journey. See you along the way!

Short Blog 10 (31/3/22)

I’ve decided that despite the attempt at fitting a post into two hundred words was good for a time – sometimes I only have a hundred words in me. Sometimes there are three hundred, four hundred or more. If I have two thousand, it might be better to put it in a story. So instead of setting this like it was a challenge, as life may end up more complicated than before, I will simply free-write regardless of length. So from here on, welcome to the Short Blog post.

Life is changing. Revelations that where not seen before are being revealed. Treasures are being found. A time of new beginnings. The Winter is more or less over…unless you are in that part of the UK that got snow recently. I am hopeful, but also busy. It is a matter of bringing more discipline into the time management in order to juggle the many responsibilities that will be ever-expanding from here on. In my natural strength, it could end up being overwhelming. So I’ll be trusting in the Lord the whole way, because things could get crazy. An adventure that would have terrified me a few years ago. Possibly, it is an opportunity to see dreams become dust, shadows and history. Not my most poetic or grammatically correct post – but maybe my most honest in this circumstance. May you not be offended by any pranks that could happen tomorrow morning. Peace.

200 Word Blog 9 (22/2/22)

I guess I could play the game of trying to post this at twenty two past ten tonight, right on the twenty-second second. But enough of that silliness, because there is no twenty second month and this will only truly work in another two hundred years time. By then, will we still even have the Gregorian Calendar?…If only it was possible to get a computer or app to read this in Rod Serling’s voice. That would be awesome.

So this week has been an opportunity to truly get the year’s wheel rolling. Spring is around the corner, and despite the portfolio already being submitted and the wait is on – I’m still learning how to animate on the side. On top of this, I will have to develop an adaptable style, and let us be honest – Disney and Anime are good influences for that kind of thing. I’ve been studying the Nine Old Men, as well as several anime directors and Mangaka I enjoy, and hopefully I’ll be able to find “the style” that somehow gets recognised. We’ll see. Until then, here’s a sketch I did using a frame in Fantastia as reference. In particular, Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

200 Word Blog 8 (13/2/22)

Hello Everybody, and hope you had wonderful Christmas and a Happy Holiday, and aren’t too bogged down by the potential Seasonal Affective Disorder (or S.A.D.) that can affect those in the northern hemisphere at this time. Especially if, when it comes to Hygge, they are out of practice. I will also say Happy Galentine’s Day for today & Valentine’s Day tomorrow.

So, what has been happening? Well, I had a portfolio to submit for February the eleventh. It could determine the structure of my life for the next four years, and if I had to choose between fear and excitement when juggling the mental chemistry, I would have to go with excitement on this one. Because let’s be honest – outside of fight or flight, fear is useless. It was an interesting time – a lot learned, and a lot to still learn. As Ken Harris used to tell Richard Williams: “You know…you could be an animator” then later saying “Ok, you’re an animator:”. Followed by “Hey, Dick, you could be a good animator”. Williams went on the direct Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I learned the hard way to enjoy the journey, and I encourage everybody else to do the same. Good night!

200 Word Blog 7 (16/12/21)

So, Christmas is coming up, and I hope you all have a good one this year! For the last few weeks I worked on a Nativity Animation as a way to practice animating in Clip Studio Paint, while also helping friends do something different. It is the first animation that I have ever done outside of a Cartoon Maker (remember those? Spiderman, Simpsons, Nickelodeon 3D Movie Maker? Good times) and a bouncing ball. So – while it has been embraced – It wouldn’t be an industry standard item. One thing I will say though – I learned a lot in such a small period of time, as one person trying to animate seven minutes of footage and edit the sound before it, and I’m looking forward to seeing if I can do more and better animation in the future, now that I’ve figured out how to put it together.

Speaking of Clip Studio Paint, there’s are some new updates to it. Including liquify, which is basically the one tool that was exclusive to photoshop up until today. Is it as good? Maybe and maybe not. All I can say is that it can make a good abstract picture of Hell, as seen below.

200 Word Blog 6 (11/11/21)

I remember this day well ten years ago, because today marks the tenth anniversary of the video game Skyrim. A game so good that they released it again on current generation consoles and it is still a fun, engrossing and beautiful piece of fantasy escapism. I also remember getting it for twenty five pounds in a shop called GAME that December – making it a memorable Christmas. Today is also the Birthday of a good friend, the birthday of Roronoa Zoro from One Piece, and of course Remembrance Day, which will be observed in Churches in the UK on Sunday as Remembrance Sunday. I am reminded of the ending to the TV series Blackadder Goes Forth. In which the character of Blackadder is in the trenches fighting for Britain in World War One – The show itself is incredibly funny. But that season provided us with one of the most powerful endings in television history. A contrast to the rest of the show. One that said “Yes, these men lived, and where full of life. But many of them didn’t live to become the men their worlds wanted to love back.” We will remember them, and may they all rest in peace.

200 Word Blog 5 (10/11/21)

I might as well say this. You might need to hear it or, based on experience, you might already know. In a world where everybody is trying to be funny or colourful or unique or interesting or an individual – and I say this because I have been there. I went through the motions and the headspace, and tried to be a clown or an eccentric to people with the hope that they will tell stories about me somehow and therefore never be forgotten. So here goes, roughly at the one hundred word mark: It is perfectly okay to be boring. I say this, because it is not an ‘if’, but a ‘when’. There is a time for everything. There is a time to be the most fun person in someone’s life, and then there is a time to disappear into yourself and settle down. I also say this because it is also a test. Your friends. The people you are trying to please. If they witness you when you are boring and still want to hang out, you are doing better than most people. Fear not your boredom and go have fun on your own. Everyone, have a great day!

10 minute sketch of a Robin that may have been ruined by colour – some of you might disagree.

200 Word Blog 4 (8/11/21)

I hate headaches. Hate them! And yet they are plaguing my quality of life at this time. Despite receiving a Litre of Monin Gingerbread Coffee Syrup in the post this afternoon (tis the season), I may have to cut down on coffee again for a few days…and drink more water…and ride the stationary bike again because of all of the adrenaline. Anyway, the scarf I ordered for a Secret Santa gift has arrived; One based on a frame from the manga called Lady Snowblood by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura. A story that would go on to inspire Quentin Tarantino’s movie series Kill Bill. It also occurred to me how much fun I have when sketching with two hands. Perhaps it’s impatience for a final product in which this method releases endorphins – but a portrait in five minutes is strangely satisfying – even if it doesn’t have much of a likeness or decent proportions. Anyway, it was quite a rough few days there, but hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be awesome, and the weekend even better again. So with that said, Everybody, have a great day!

A 5 minute sketch of Robert Downey Jr. ‘Might try a 10 minute 1 later

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