Death to Boredom

We all need a break, sure. But, having been conditioned to work our asses off, it's entirely possible that we find ourselves rather bored, without some growing workload to tackle. And it's wonderful times like these that we find the opportunity to engage in some personal work...


There are numerous advantages to studying at a school. Among these include the fact that there is a set syllabus (so that you don't have to figure out what it is that you don't know) and deadlines (so that you get your ass into gear and actually finish some work, rather than drifting aimlessly between projects). During the module, however, we seldom have time to work on personal projects, and now is your chance!

I'm way into the digital side of things, so here are some digital art-related suggestions of things to do if you're starting to get fidgety:

• Practise digital painting by entering competitions on the ImagineFX and ConceptArt.org forums.


• Practise modelling, texturing, animation, and loads of other CG-related stuff in a whole whack of challenges on CGTalk, Game-Artist.net and polycount.


• Research edge loop theory for bodies (in particular, take a look at edge loops around shoulders and hips, as these are more complicated, requiring rotations and deformations in multiple axes), and start on the body to your head.


• Improve your animation, motion design, or one of the other subjects that you're able to resubmit for up to 10% a higher mark.


• Practise drawing anatomy.

In terms of the competitions, you don't even have to enter one of the competitions; merely going through past competitions' themes, browsing through the entries, and putting together your own entry, is a way of getting inspiration of another portfolio piece. Again, your portfolio is priceless, and NOW is the time to be developing one.

Of course, the possibilities of things to do are endless. Don't start the module regretting not having learnt something new, or having added something to your portfolio! :)