Spring Is On The Horizon

"After Winter Comes Spring" is a chalk board animation which i created a number of years ago. It reflects the economic crisis the country was experiencing of the past number of years. As budget day 2015 is upon us there is rumours that some taxes may be reversed, could we be getting over the hard times? Is spring on the horizon?

Artist in School Residency 2013: "Penny And The Big Top"

Over the course of several months I had been collaborating with twenty-eight pupils in Scoil Choca Naofa in a stop motion animation group project funded by the Kildare Arts Office. The project involved all students in a third and fourth class mix, and seen pupils learn the art of stop motion animation. Pupils explored the theme of “A Trip To The Circus.” They took inspiration from Alice Maher, Kara Walker and Shaun The Sheep! Learning about all elements of animation, from scriptwriting, storyboarding, character design, set design to final production shooting. Pupils collaborated their idea’s, stories, characters and imaginations to create one final stop motion animation production. The result of which was a seven minute short.

          The first phase was writing a group story and developing a script, from here each student was assigned a scene to sketch the storyboard, then they designed and made a character and a prop or set piece. The collaboration of each pupils work began in the next phase, when shooting began, taking reference from previous storyboards produced. Each pupil gained hands on experience of animating characters, adjusting lighting, managing sets and deciding on camera angles, alternatively referred to as “Lights, Camera, Action!!” Pupils also recorded narrating the script, known as a “voice over.”          Once all the production photography had been shot, I digitally combined the audio with the visual imagery, then added a musical soundtrack, with sound effects.

          A great hype was created around the school on the day “Penny And The Big Top” premiered for the first time pupils seen their hard work come to life. Each pupil got a certificate of participation and a DVD copy of the animation.

          During my time in Scoil Choca, I hope that I have made an impact on the pupils perception of art and it’s limitless possibilities. All pupils were alert, smart, imaginative and keen to learn. They enjoyed all activities and the school and class teachers were continually supportive. The skills they have learnt will last them much longer and they have experienced the power of collaboration, working as part of one team.
          The finished animation is viewable on the school website or is available for viewing in the school.
https://vimeo.com/85248709

William Kentridge: Animation Stills

All above works are stills from varies William Kentridge animations.

Animating Alice Maher

All images are by the Irish artist Alice Maher

Pathways

After Winter Comes Spring

After Winter Comes Spring

This chalk animation displays the certain annual cycle of hibernation in nature. As we lose a generation to emigration we can look at this natural cycle for reassurance. This generation haven’t had time to establish themselves, they couldn’t survive in this economic climate and they leave this country in the hard times, with the hope that they will once again return, back to the familiar, in better times.

William Kentridge

     "Disintergration then regathering" 
 
      After investigating the issue of emigration for some time now, it started to take it's toll on me, such a depressing issue. So Ive decided to continue to look at emigration but thinking and approaching it in a more positive and optimistic light. Ive focused on the issue as a temporary separation, and that being reunited is a the "happy ending."
         Looking at the migration of birds for the cold, harsh time of winter and their return in the prosperous spring as a metaphor for the issue of emigration. Another metaphor I'm using is the hibernation of animals like bears for the harsh winter. When looking at the possibility i also thought of the annual-cycle of trees. They appear dead in the winter but life springs from them in spring.
         At this point in time I'm working on a black and white animation, using white watercolour on a blackbird, and I'm also working on painting's of the trees.  The inspiration for my animations came from the artist's Yui Kugimiya and William Kentridge.

Still image from animation : Linda Byrne