MICKEY MOUSE has grown up A COW :: Tom Gameson's blog ~: January 2010

New sprites

Heelo. I bin working on some new game sprites recently for a game called Ninja Squirrel. I came up with it a while ago with someone else, and now I just felt like picking up the batton once more. Who knows if it'll get finished, but it's good practice nonetheless.

I'm still doing it very much in my own way, there wasn't a whole load of theorizing behind the animation when I began this - but now little bits are seeping in to my working method. For example the sketches beforehand of the characters next pose have become a lot more dynamic and extreme. The new ones are the punch & the throw ones. Before hand my drawings would very much stay more 'static' and not differ the pose to much but they are starting to moreso now.

another interesting thing, is that for a long time i've found it hard to do flash, as when I load it up, lay down the first brush stroke, my mind just says 'Nah..' and I close it. It's to much of a ordeal to start over I guess and because i've got so much unfinished things, i'm geared towards not finishing, so why bother?
So now what i've started doing, is sticking a record on my record player, and listening it all the way through till it needs turning over (every 20 minutes or so). I keep myself working until the side needs changing, then if I want a five minute break, I can. Working like this is seeming to keep me motivated so THANK GOD I may actually finish some things.

:: LINK ::

Whats the craic?

Haalo there. Been a good crimbo, spent it with me girlfriend relaxing and what not. It's wicked to have snow again. I have been drawing over the hols, no animation though, unfortunatly. constantly tryin' to learn new bits and bobs - not nessecarily in regards to animation but just things in general, been reading a bunch, that's all I seem to spend my money on at the mo, books and train fares... Got my rough guide to Italy at hand, Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, 'Easy Riders, Raging bulls', 'Mr.Nice' by Howard Marks & this book by the Dalai Lama off me dad for crimbo - 'Ancient wisdom, modern world' - it's been a good read so far, but I gotta say after a 3 hour reading stint on the train, then to get off and pass people in the street and really think about the practicalities of putting it into practice ... it's possible, but is it worthwhile, can you influence the man in the street as you pass him? Either way an interesting read and the right ethics to make the world a lovely place to live.

Christ what else have I been up to? Time flies I guess, new years was a blast - better than last year... better to sleep in a bed and not a cell, 'ey? Went out as chimney sweeps with my buddies.
My last day in Torquay with ma woman was prob the best day to mention. In the morning she needed to take some pictures for uni, so we got down the harbor and got snapping. After a while, I remembered I knew the code for the tenders(the little oar-boats you use to get out to the boats) in the harbour, so I asked Fran if she wanted to go out onto the runway bit in the harbour, and.. to my surprise she was up for it! Nice one. We bought an oar, and rowed out way out and ran up and down like idiots on a cold, sunny winter day with everybody watching off the harbour walls. Then that night we went to the pub and watched the pig racing. I tell you now, pig racing is bloody brilliant. If you see it advertised, GO SEE IT.

So now the cold is setting in, and its time to get back to good ole' Fal where my heating doesnt have to be turned down low because it's unlimited. Time to not leave the flat and pretend it's summer again me reckons. Time to take the brain off standby and do us some learnin.

Here's some photgraphs