Here is a much more elaborate stop motion test, where I explored lighting and camera position. No eggs were harmed in the making of this video, and the spoons were a delight to handle! <- see what I did there?
Tag: F15
The Virgin Toenail
Based on the idea of a Virgin Thumbnail (explored previously), I wanted to see what happens if one extends the scripture to the another appendage.
Featuring my very old Skool Vans sneaker and paper-cutouts.
Inside the Egg (prototype)
To explore more delicate containers for my dioramas, I decided to try egg shells. I used a pin to poke holes in the top and bottom of an egg, and then used a screwdriver to make a larger hole at the bottom. I used the bulb of a turkey baster to push the contents of the egg out through the larger hole in the bottom.
I then bleached the inside of the egg and rinsed it with soap and water.
I used a dremel/engraving tool to make the hole(s), and then added the scene. I can light the egg from the hole at the bottom, too.
Coo Coo Cachoo
Here is a stop motion short featuring that I made with features both hand drawn frames and object animation.
I started by drawing the actor, “Egg,” using a light table. I have a round plastic peg bar, made by Lightfoot.
I then photographed each drawing…
And I used Dragonframe to export all the images as video.
I’m learning a lot from this process, especially the need to pay attention to the lighting. This little clip took more hours to produce than I’d like to admit, but I can see ways to streamline the production. I was very interested to see how the line quality of Egg’s tie and jacket would present when animated. I then switched to a thicker marker as he approaches his “freeze” scene. At one point, I accidentally blew on the “Jimmies” coming from his head, which scattered them across the table. I laboriously recreated the original position of each piece. And I didn’t notice until after shooting the entire sequence that I am visible in the spoon. I left it, but that was a “mistake.”
Here’s a cool thing – I got to use a laser cutter last night. I want to put the Yellow Cowboy in his own box, and I like the idea of him standing among a bunch of flowers. I do not feel compelled to hand cut those flowers out (I did the ones he’s holding).
I drew some flowers in Illustrator.
The focus was off on the first pass, so we did it again.
I had connected the flowers to each other in chains because the machine has a vacuum for pulling the small bits away, and I thought they small ones might get lost. But there’s also an etching plate, shown below:
Here’s a short clip of the machine working: