Fleeting/Progress

One of the most difficult things I have ever attempted in life it to be creative when in a miserable mood. I know that many artists – especially famous ones – have used their misery to create breath-taking works of art. But that just doesn’t work for me. When I’m in a foul mood, I cannot think. If I cannot think, I cannot let things flow in my head. If there is no flow, then there is no spark of inspiration. And without inspiration there is no creativity, at least for me. But one shoulders on, regardless. Deadlines have to be met and time stops for no one.

So, what have I got this week? A title for one: Fleeting. That word seems incredibly appropriate for this piece and the time in which it is being created. Now, I have always found that a title solidifies a project. If you can call it something, then you can answer other questions about it – you can quantify it. That takes it from the nebulous void of thought into the physical realm, and there I can make some progress. To wit, I have completed the first three scenes of rough animation for this film. That was very hard, since I haven’t done any traditional cel animation in a very long time. Yet, at the same time it was very easy. Once I got the drawings done, processed, and into After Effects it was very easy to manipulate them into was I had seen in my mind’s eye. That’s the trick. Because what is drawn initially looks absolutely hideous to me, it’s only once it has been manipulated that it begins to look right. And it does look right. So out of this mess has come something I’m kind of happy with.

That having been said there is an enormous amount of additional work to be done before this project wraps. Given my track record with previous projects, and what is unfolding in my personal life, I know that things are going to get a lot worse and more intense before this project is finished. I honestly hope I can do this, but I really don’t know that I can. Regardless, I have to get back to animating…