The Crippling Self-Doubt of an Artist...and Overcoming it

It can be hard, finding your way as an artist. One door closes, and you wait for the other to open. Whilst you wait, you're in that strange void-like, uncomfortable space. It's up to you to maintain your talent and artistic spirit by creating more work, and keeping yourself sharp for your next job.

Whilst putting together final plans for my wedding (8 weeks...stop-bloody-counting-the-weeks), I'm taking a breath to reflect on the work I've done so far in my animation career, and look to the advice from my teachers, seniors and peers.

My first animation tutor, Alex Williams, always said to us that we need to have skin like a rhino. Being an animator, is like being an actor. You'll get rejection, for many different reasons, but the most important thing is that you pick yourself up and keep going. You need thick skin.

Just to remind myself, here are some lovely blog posts, he has written about me:

The Animation Student Who Created His Own Job in The Theatre

Marc Godfrey Animator at Blue Zoo

Marc Godfrey Takes the Magic of Disney Animation Tour at Disney World

I must be making an impact with Alex, has he has asked me to help him with support for the new students at Animation Apprentice, with feedback to help improve their shots... Marc Godfrey Joins Animation Apprentice! (All that aside, it's nice isn't it, to reflect on successes... Y'know, instead of listening to that voice in your head, trying to convince you, you suck!)

Alex also wrote this about me, on a different blog. It's funny to scroll to the bottom, and to read, and take in my own advice... Escapee Success Stories - Blue Zoo Animator Marc Godfrey

I've also looked at a couple of Recommendations I've received on Linkedin, from some past Directors. Ahhh.

So, whilst I feel renewed, confident and ready to approach all challenges coming my way, I'm going to get on with a freelance logo design project (which I've nearly finished, I'll write a blog about it soon). As well as designing more stationary and order of service handouts for our big day.  

Remember - be a rhino!

Love Marc x

2016 is nearly over! Bring on 2017!

2016 has been a dark year. Even the most positive of optimists (and I include myself amongst them) can't fail to see how this year has proven to be the most miserable in at least, the last 10, if not more years.

We lost a great deal of talent. A very sad loss to their industries and fans - David Bowie, Victoria Wood, George Michael, Caroline Aherne, Alan Rickman, Carrie Fisher and Prince amongst those who left far too young. We also lost some who had a few more years on them, but will be still missed by many, including Terry Wogan, Carrie Fisher's mum Debbie Reynolds.

It was also the year anniversary of one my best friends passing.

In the political world, we lost a young politician, mother and wife, who was brutally killed for just doing her job, Jo Cox. Not forgetting the many victims of terrorism and violence - Aleppo, France, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, as well as the countless shootings in America from Orlando, through to Ohio State University. When will the USA ever tighten up their gun laws?

We had Brexit. The less said about the better...unless anyone can give me any actual facts, about what 52% of the UK voted for. Even still, no one knows what "Brexit means Brexit" means! We have a new Prime Minister, put in place after all the politicians responsible for the referendum and the scare mongering of the nation, did a runner!

We have Trump. Some how he became President of America. The chaos of the US election puts even more people into a greater state of WTF-ness. Things might not be so bad, if someone could just deactivate his sodding Twitter account!

2016 also saw random crazes like the Mannequin Challenge, Killer Clowns and the bonkers Deconstructed Coffee...and of course, who hasn't heard the mighty power of Pokemon Go!

Looking on the positives...I got engaged (I become a husband in 2017, how cool is that??)...and I finally got to see long awaited stage "sequel" to the Potter books, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I worked on 6 projects with Blue Zoo, became a BAFTA guru-pro and finally got to go Annecy Animation Festival. So, although 2016 was crappy for many, it wasn't all bad.

Wishing everyone a very successful 2017! Although its unlikely we'll get a BrexitEXIT, or a DumpTrump, I hope all your wishes for the new year come true.

Cheers
Marc x

3 Recommended Books for Animators (...not including the Animator's Survival Kit)

Anyone who has trained to become an animator, will have encountered Richard Williams go-to book, the Animators Survival Kit. It's excellent, and often revered as a bible for any self respecting animator. I like it, it's a very useful book, but there are other books too, just as worthy of high acclaim.

There are three in particular, that I've found just as invaluable. Funnily enough though, not so much for when I was doing homework assignments/training... these are the books I have on hand at work, in the studio. They are my go to books if I need to remind myself of certain techniques and they all help me to become a more accomplished animator.

1) Character Animation Crash Course by Eric Goldberg

I came across the first book, Character Animation Crash Course, whilst I was a student, but it really came into its own when I was at work, trying to create strong cartoony animations. Eric Goldberg is the genius behind bringing visual life to the Genie in Aladdin, and also features as an animator in Disney's Moana. When I was working on Tree Fu Tom, we introduced a new character, Muru, who was very zippy in motion. NOt that I ever had any shots with him, but this book really helped break down for me the best way to make a convincing smear and jump across the screen. I mean, you couldn't be in better hands than with a Disney legend like Goldberg. Highly recommended.

2) How to Cheat in Maya (various editions)

The second book is How to Cheat in Maya (using the right edition for whichever Maya version you are using). Firstly, this title is really misleading, it isn't about cheating at all. The title gives a stupid suggestion that you'll find out how to take a short cut in animation technique to make substandard work or something, but it's not. It's more like an easy to read, "help" window in Maya. It explains how to use elements and tools that you might be unfamiliar with. For instance, one of the most simplest things I found out was the "select by type" feature within the Graph Editor. For instance, when I'm using a rig but only intersected in Y translates, I can easily see every one of the selected joints, neatly arranged together in one easy display. Admittedly I don't use it a lot, but it has certainly saved me time by quickly working out why I might have a glitch in some of my curves. This book sits on my desk at work, and will probably stay very close by me whenever I animate! It looks like there's a 2017 version available here too.

3) Cartoon Character Animation with Maya by Keith Osborn

Lastly, Cartoon Character Animation with Maya: Mastering the Art of Exaggerated Animation. Similar to the first book, this book is great if you're looking to improve your character animations, adding a polished cartoony feel. Full of examples (and links to get a pretty sweet rig) it shows you ways to push your poses and how to stretch your work (literally and figuratively) to achieve the desired cartoony feel. Easy to read and follow, very recommended again.

I'm sure everybody has their own go-to books, to keep on hand and refer to, but this little selection would certainly help start a decent library of animation guidance and tips, that would help you with your characters. Do you know better and more useful books too? Drop me a tweet (@animatormarc) to tell me, or leave a comment...let's share the knowledge!

Thanks
Marc :)