Probably posted these Santa's already (too lazy to check)I Hope the holidays and the coming new year bring you good fortune, health and great happiness. Thank you all for stopping by to Sonjebasaland, see you next year!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas
Probably posted these Santa's already (too lazy to check)I Hope the holidays and the coming new year bring you good fortune, health and great happiness. Thank you all for stopping by to Sonjebasaland, see you next year!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Emotion Comix
Each one of these books has a section in the introduction that my publisher refers to as the "Comic Book". Here are the pages for this book, based closely on a real life experience of my own...gotta love those assigned group projects huh? Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Happy Halloween!
Did this really quick for my publisher as a joke. Have a great night of trick r treatin! Please, don't drink and drive. Click image for a larger view.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Emotions_More Stuff
Greetings, so I posted a ruff version of the one above earlier, here's the finish.
Here's more stuff below, Can you tell which emotions these are describing?
...If you want to see the ruffs for these let me know.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Constructing For The Rule Of Thirds
Good morning. While thinking about composition it's a great idea to employ the use of the "Rule of thirds" as a basic visual balancing tool. I am just going to assume you know what that rule is about because you can do a search and just about every site that mentions it gives you an idea what it is. Go ahead and do a quick search on "rule of thirds" or even "composition principles"...I'll wait....
Okay so hopefully you were lead to a good site which imbues valuable information about the above topic. Did you notice that in all of the information there are suggestions of what to do with your nine equal segments and four main intersections, but you'll be hard pressed to find a site that tells you how to actually divide your frame to allow for the rule? Now I now that there are those sites that lay down the complex math that the Greeks came up with long ago, and if you're into that-more power to you. And I also know that the human eye can see in thirds nearly as easily as seeing in halves or quarters, but it takes practice. If I asked you all to simply draw a frame and then eyeball divisions of thirds, you may make a good guess but how do you know your guess is exact?
Well friends, here is a quick method to construct intersections to help you with following the rule.
First, you have to start with a frame. This method will work for ANY rectangle or shapes with four corners (it also works with shapes with more than four but I'm trying to keep this easy). above, you have the basic 1.77:1 aspect ratio most of you'll know it as 16x9. If you need me to explain the proportions of the frame, leave me a comment.
Next draw a line from opposing corners, bottom to far top corner, etc as shown above.
Repeat this with other opposing corners.
The "x" you get will denote the center of the rectangle. High school geometry is suddenly coming back, huh? Draw a line parallel to any side so that it passes through the "x".
Now draw a line from an opposite corner to the medial intersection - the middle top. Where the original diagonal and the new diagonal intersect is a THIRD! Really. Neat huh.
Now the rest is easy but I'll just show you in case. Drop a line parallel to the short sides down and where it intersects the diagonal is another third as shown above.
A parallel line with the long sides (top or bottom) will give you the next third at the intersection of the diagonal.
Almost done now, draw a line parallel to the short side again, this time so it passes through the intersection of the new third aaaaand WHAPPO! you've got your four main intersections.
Now just draw lines that are parallel to the sides through the intersection and you've got your nine equal unit divisions.
Leaving you ready to work in the thirds for your composition. Take time to memorize this process, seriously draw frames this way at least one hundred times with the thumbnails you do and you'll get so used to seeing the intersections, you won't have to draw the lines that make up this method.
Next up, some composition tips
Okay so hopefully you were lead to a good site which imbues valuable information about the above topic. Did you notice that in all of the information there are suggestions of what to do with your nine equal segments and four main intersections, but you'll be hard pressed to find a site that tells you how to actually divide your frame to allow for the rule? Now I now that there are those sites that lay down the complex math that the Greeks came up with long ago, and if you're into that-more power to you. And I also know that the human eye can see in thirds nearly as easily as seeing in halves or quarters, but it takes practice. If I asked you all to simply draw a frame and then eyeball divisions of thirds, you may make a good guess but how do you know your guess is exact?
Well friends, here is a quick method to construct intersections to help you with following the rule.
First, you have to start with a frame. This method will work for ANY rectangle or shapes with four corners (it also works with shapes with more than four but I'm trying to keep this easy). above, you have the basic 1.77:1 aspect ratio most of you'll know it as 16x9. If you need me to explain the proportions of the frame, leave me a comment.
Next draw a line from opposing corners, bottom to far top corner, etc as shown above.
Repeat this with other opposing corners.
The "x" you get will denote the center of the rectangle. High school geometry is suddenly coming back, huh? Draw a line parallel to any side so that it passes through the "x".
Now draw a line from an opposite corner to the medial intersection - the middle top. Where the original diagonal and the new diagonal intersect is a THIRD! Really. Neat huh.
Now the rest is easy but I'll just show you in case. Drop a line parallel to the short sides down and where it intersects the diagonal is another third as shown above.
A parallel line with the long sides (top or bottom) will give you the next third at the intersection of the diagonal.
Almost done now, draw a line parallel to the short side again, this time so it passes through the intersection of the new third aaaaand WHAPPO! you've got your four main intersections.
Now just draw lines that are parallel to the sides through the intersection and you've got your nine equal unit divisions.
Leaving you ready to work in the thirds for your composition. Take time to memorize this process, seriously draw frames this way at least one hundred times with the thumbnails you do and you'll get so used to seeing the intersections, you won't have to draw the lines that make up this method. Next up, some composition tips
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Framing Help
Hi Welcome back.
So, if you want to frame a character or any subject, here's a 'little' handout that is general enough to be applicable to all frames and aspect ratios but shown in 1:1.85 Widescreen.
ECU = Extreme Close Up
CU = Close Up
MCU = Medium Close Up (Also called the Medium Close Shot)
MS = Medium Shot ( in this case, not to be confused with Master Shot)
MFS = Medium Full Shot ( head down to the knee)
FS = Full Shot ( The whole figure, head to toes)
Click image for larger view.
Up next, more composition information. Hopefully this helps somebody.
So, if you want to frame a character or any subject, here's a 'little' handout that is general enough to be applicable to all frames and aspect ratios but shown in 1:1.85 Widescreen.
ECU = Extreme Close Up
CU = Close Up
MCU = Medium Close Up (Also called the Medium Close Shot)
MS = Medium Shot ( in this case, not to be confused with Master Shot)
MFS = Medium Full Shot ( head down to the knee)
FS = Full Shot ( The whole figure, head to toes)
Click image for larger view.Up next, more composition information. Hopefully this helps somebody.
Monday, June 1, 2009
What Got Me Into Skeletal Structure....
Hi...I am about to torture you with something from college. Stop looking now if you don't want to see. 
Too late.
Commemorating the break up of the Soviet Union and the shelving of the SR-71 Blackbird. What year was that?
Too late.Commemorating the break up of the Soviet Union and the shelving of the SR-71 Blackbird. What year was that?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Fun With Warning Labels
FARM EQUIPMENT
For the storyboarding class we take a look at images that may or may not convey the basic idea. Warning labels seem to be a good place to start and this time we will have a look at labels found on tractor attachments such as threshers and spreaders.Now storyboarding is build a sequence of images (panels) to show story progression and action as well as other factors of story. Bujt the point of this excersise is to be sure each image is clear and readable on its own and works with the other panels that will preceed and follow it.
Warning labels like these may be difficult to understand without text. So I encourage my students to use clarity and not muddle their compositions. However the captions one does come up with when ignoring text on some of these labels can bring about a smile or two. Even better are those cations that go with teh warnings that are not accompanied with text. FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN!!
Hmmm....Danger: babies may crawl out of implement while in use. Your ankles and wrists will be beaten with rulers if they opperate equipment in a disembodied state.
It looks like that "bistander" is moving...don't bi-STAND-ers stand? Shouldn't it say pedestrians? Those move...anyway...
Danger: On rare occasions little sparkly things will shoot out at people who dance or cheer to close to equipment. Operators will always look indifferently at vicims.
Danger: Avoid mating with equipment for obvious reasons.
-or-
Danger: getting wrapped up in your work can be hazardous to your health.
Here's a spreader nozzle. I don't even have a clue what this label is trying to warn me about.
Danger: Sometimes pulling the key out of the ignition will throw a wrench into your manual.
Danger: You may find yourself in box if you use this equipment. Sometimes the box may be in you.
Danger: There is a big black box in your pants that wants to come out.
Danger: NO Hand Jives
Below are examples of no text labels. Did you get the same things out of these?
danger: Do not kick the spinning ninja star.
Danger: Do not try to catch the spinning ninja star with your foot.
Danger: Do not stick your left foot in, pull your left foot out, don't shake it all about and whatever you do, DON'T do the Hokey Pokey and turn yourself around...
Operation of this machinery while drunk with friends with rifles, may force you to end up in a pine box or vise-versa.
Caution: The book you are about to read has pages that get progressively smaller toward the center.
Let me know what you come up with.
For the storyboarding class we take a look at images that may or may not convey the basic idea. Warning labels seem to be a good place to start and this time we will have a look at labels found on tractor attachments such as threshers and spreaders.Now storyboarding is build a sequence of images (panels) to show story progression and action as well as other factors of story. Bujt the point of this excersise is to be sure each image is clear and readable on its own and works with the other panels that will preceed and follow it.
Warning labels like these may be difficult to understand without text. So I encourage my students to use clarity and not muddle their compositions. However the captions one does come up with when ignoring text on some of these labels can bring about a smile or two. Even better are those cations that go with teh warnings that are not accompanied with text. FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN!!
Hmmm....Danger: babies may crawl out of implement while in use. Your ankles and wrists will be beaten with rulers if they opperate equipment in a disembodied state.
It looks like that "bistander" is moving...don't bi-STAND-ers stand? Shouldn't it say pedestrians? Those move...anyway...Danger: On rare occasions little sparkly things will shoot out at people who dance or cheer to close to equipment. Operators will always look indifferently at vicims.
Danger: Avoid mating with equipment for obvious reasons.-or-
Danger: getting wrapped up in your work can be hazardous to your health.
Here's a spreader nozzle. I don't even have a clue what this label is trying to warn me about.Danger: Sometimes pulling the key out of the ignition will throw a wrench into your manual.
Danger: You may find yourself in box if you use this equipment. Sometimes the box may be in you.
Danger: There is a big black box in your pants that wants to come out.
Danger: NO Hand Jives
Below are examples of no text labels. Did you get the same things out of these?
danger: Do not kick the spinning ninja star.Danger: Do not try to catch the spinning ninja star with your foot.
Danger: Do not stick your left foot in, pull your left foot out, don't shake it all about and whatever you do, DON'T do the Hokey Pokey and turn yourself around...
Operation of this machinery while drunk with friends with rifles, may force you to end up in a pine box or vise-versa.
Caution: The book you are about to read has pages that get progressively smaller toward the center.Let me know what you come up with.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Me and My Memory....May 27, 2009
Me and My memory: Why We Remember Somethings and Forget Others will be out May 27, 2009. I just got an advance copy. It looks good as final product here, are some examples below.
Buy some copies and I'll sign them all for you. We can discuss what worked as far as image building and what did not later, there are some things that need to change for the next one. For now, I'll breathe a sign of relief knowing it's finally done. The next one, "Me and My Emotions: What emotions are and how we can manage them" is on it's way stay tuned. I need to get as much done on it before I come to teach summer semester. Thanks for stopping by.
Buy some copies and I'll sign them all for you. We can discuss what worked as far as image building and what did not later, there are some things that need to change for the next one. For now, I'll breathe a sign of relief knowing it's finally done. The next one, "Me and My Emotions: What emotions are and how we can manage them" is on it's way stay tuned. I need to get as much done on it before I come to teach summer semester. Thanks for stopping by.