Wednesday, May 25

Possibilities

Hey hey! Some possibilities have popped up this week, which have made this week slightly better than last week! Which is good! I've applied for 2 design jobs (which always makes me feel good, cause I feel like I've actively done something!). Have been given an illustration job to do. Have worked on some more style sheets for the new resource…not sure how they'll go down though! And I've started work on my entry for the E4 stings competition this year! Which is exciting!
So yes, I'd say I've been sort of productive this week! Wa-HOOOO!

And now I am eagerly awaiting 5.30 when I feel I'm allowed to 'clock-off' as it were and have some chicken, beans and chips (with maybe a few onion rings snuck in there…don't worry I'm having salad with it too! …What? I'm REALLY hungry!)…the simple meals are the best…

Anyhoo, thats about it really, if I remember anything else I'm sure I'll mention it on Twitter!

(Oh yeah, I just remembered! I've finished my editing work for my friends project! And I'm sort of happy with it because it didn't turn out as bad as it could have (don't get me wrong, its still probably pretty bad in an editor's eyes), so yes! Plus I showed my sister it last night, an she burst out laughing at it…which is good! Cause its not supposed to be ultra serious! Unless people want to take it that way!) Anyhoo, its being exhibited (alongside the other 2 films) next Thursday in a place called BLANKSpace in ye olde Manchester! Oh the excitement! Yay!)

Wednesday, May 18

Oh the bums of it all

Hello!
I started contacting clients on Monday (those who hadn't responded) about my mini portfolio. I've had a few replies, and everyone has been really friendly and encouraging, but unfortunately don't have any vacancies at the moment. I think I should have prepared myself more so for this response, as I think I was too busy just sending things out and junk; so now I'm starting to find the whole thing a tad depressing…
Oh wello. If this doesn't work out, it will be off to find any old job for me; and my blog and website will become a hobby type thing. I graduated from uni nearly 2 years ago now, and to still not be in permanent employment…well, its a bit crappy to say the least. I'm tired of it. I feel like my enthusiasm for animation/graphics has depleted since university, and now I just want a job.

Anyhoo, I'm working on editing some stuff together for my friend Jen for an exhibition coming up. Unfortunately the topic is the AV referendum, and I am not the most enthusiastic person about politics…I find the whole subject pretty dull and beyond my control, so why waste precious brain power getting annoyed about it?
But the idea Jen has for it does make it a lot more interesting! I'm just not sure if my contribution to it will be any good because I'm not very clever whenst it comes to the world of politics (or maths…or geography…or physics)
Plus I've only made a 2-minute video and After Effects is taking two billion years to export it…

I think the nice weather needs to come back…I feel it will cheer me up…

Thursday, May 12

Arson Around...

Hello hello! Has been a productive few weeks. I sent my little baby portfolios off into the big wide world last Saturday to be seen by companies I had researched. I've had a couple of responses, and although none of them haven't any vacancies, most of them have been really friendly and helpful! Which is nice!

I've also been working on packaging for the Domestic Violence DVD for the Ariel Trust (now named Face up [to abuse]), which has been experience as I've not really professionally designed packaging before. Sure I've whipped together CD labels/covers for friend's mix CD's and such, but it didn't matter then if they were rubbish, they kind of need to look good if people are gonna buy the resource!
I'm kind of proud of it...

I've been asked to undertake another project with the Ariel Trust, which is exciting! I'm currently drafting out some possible 'looks' for the resource...I'm not sure if they'll like them. The Ariel wants it to be hard hitting but because its for primary school children (10-11 year olds), it has to be subtle too; which is a difficult combination to work with. I've decided I can't really go for the cartoon-y style that I employed in the Domestic Violence DVD, as I feel that might look a bit childish for the subject that is being tackled. (Its teaching kids approaching secondary school about the people you will meet and falling into the wrong crowd and the gruesome (in this example it is) results of this - I always deal with such lovely topics. One day I hope I can make a resource about animals in the rainforest or something!)
So I'm a bit out of my comfort zone, as I do like a hand-drawn sort of stylee-o. But shall spend the rest of the afternoon exploring drawing characters in biro and such...maybe.

And finally, I've done some brainstorming for the D & AD graduate design programme and E4 stings competitions. I'm gonna have to get my bum into gear over D&AD, as the deadline is the 27th!! I will hopefully be in the mood to do stuff over the weekends!

Anyway, that is all for my update! Adieu! Au revoir and all that jazz!

Wednesday, May 4

"I still love Easter, baby"

Hey, I told I'd be back, you weren't expecting it so soon were ya? Yeah! Anyhoo, here are some pics of my Nafftastic Mini Portfolio (actual content, I mean) that I will be sending out to potential clients on Friday/Saturday. DID YOU KNOW that you can buy a book of FIFTY Large Letter Stamps? Well you CAN! For all those people who didn't know, I braved our local post office to find out! (Our local post office is full of old people. Who like to chat with the staff and generally be slow. But they didn't bother me too much today, I let patience win the day! And I walked out a happy chappy!)
But yes, where are those pictures??





Woo mama, there ya go! Good times for all!

On another note, I watched 'Catfish' on More4 last night, and even though it was slightly creepy and weird, the main thing it do to me was make me want to paint pictures? Was the point of it completely lost on me? I'm not sure...they just made the lady look quite imaginative and quirky in the end! Rather than a slightly scary woman who totally messed with somebody's life for nearly a year!
I'm getting a bit perturbed as I can't seem to get my SWF files to work on DeviantArt! Hmmm, some trawling is required here...wish me luck!

AfterNote: And May the Fourth be with you! Hoooooraaaayyy!!!

Tuesday, May 3

Promotional Pack COMPLETE!

Hooray! My promotional packs (as I have decided to call them, as it sounds oh so professional!) are done and dusted! Waiting in some carrier bags to be posted either on Friday or Saturday morning! My plan is for my letters to get to the company next Monday, and then its like 'Hey! Something cool and colourful at the beginning of the week!'...Maybe.


So yes! Thar is my promotional pack! I hope I can get some feedback from them! I'll try and upload some screenshots of the CD-ROM in the next few days!

I've also started to be a bit more active on DeviantArt after years of just stalking other people and sneakily favouriting their art. So you can take a look at my profile here:
Claire's DeviantArt
You'll probably just find stuff on there that I have already blogged about on here, but I think DeviantArt is just a cool/convenient way to show people what you've drawn recently, all in one place!

Anyway yes, thats what I've been up to. I've also been playing Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands (or whatever its called) and it is similar to Back to Nature but it seems a lot more difficult! You have to pay to build bridges to the islands that you lift up from the ocean before you can even set foot on them? Whats up with that? (As Jerry Seinfeld would say)
I've also been playing Drake's Uncharted (or whatever its called), which is the first shooting game I've played for longer than 2 minutes. Its pretty good, but I've had to force myself away from it because I was getting ridiculously angry at the thing - despite the fact that I have it on Easy mode (I have no qualms about this, I am a complete beginner when it comes to shooters)! I watched my sister play the sequel to this game and I recall there being a lot more puzzle elements in that one than there is in the first one. But then again, I was working on RATS 2 when she was playing it, so I wasn't giving it my full attention. (Except to sing along with the sound effects whenever Drake took a jump over a gap that just that little bit too big!)
I've ALSO been having quick go's of my sister's iPad, and I have to admit that I'm a little bit impressed with it! Dagnabbit. I wish it supported Flash though. (to say what everyone is saying!) It makes me sad.

Anyway, there we go. Now here is a gift >>>>>>>


A Reflex Energy Head Massage! Just for you! You deserve it!