Head/face studies

I used pen, pencil and biro to shade these face/ head studies. I looked at the different angles of features to gain perspective and try to capture all the details. I feel the pencil studies show more depth and understanding. I will use some of the head positions in my ideas because I can see a bird - like quality potiential.

Feet studies

I used pencil, pen and biro to complete these feet studies. I tried to cover all different angles and positions to really study the subject before me. All these sketches are good studies focussing on the contours and tone. These sketches already have a bird claw like quality to them so there is a lot of inspiration from these early drawings.

Hand studies

These are my hand studies and I captured different positions and tried to record all the details I saw with pencil, biro and pen. I like the result of the pencil sketches as I feel they are more realistic and shows a complete study. I can see potiential with some of the shapes to become claws or feathers when i create my hybrid ideas mixed with the vulture.

Life Drawing week 1

I usually dislike life drawing because I get easily frustrated and the proportions are way off what they should be but I feel that I have improved since my sessions in Foundation. I began skecthing the whole figure in thirty minutes so I concerntrated on a complete drawing with little tone and although there are still visible problems with some of the proportions there is also some likeness to the original model and hope to improve with each class.

 On this drawing I concerntrated on selected parts of the anatomy and had twenty minutes to complete each of the three sketches. I tried to select parts that I struggle on trying to push myself to really focus on the shape and proportion. I also added tone, which shows all the contours and shadows you could see on the model.

The Fly 1986

This film is the remake of The Fly directed by David Cronenberg and has been improved from all the failings of it's predecessor, the special effects of the teleportation machine instantly gained my interest as a science fiction movie. The transformation was a spectacular improvement because there is a complete process of gradual changes that occur. It begins with subtle changes of growing insect hair and then physical structure of the character completely changes internally and externally as he becomes the form of the fly.

The plot line was much better in this remake, introducing the character of the journalist and how later she becomes pregnant and has nightmares of what she may of given birth to. There were points when the film was too blood thirsty and horrifying. One example was the mucus that 'the fly' sprays to eat his food and victims, also the transportation of the monkey that reappeared as internal organs was very disturbing.

The transformation was similar to a disease such as cancer or HIV and was effective in demonstrating the cons of what the character 'Seth' loses during this process. Two scenes where this becomes clear is the loss of finger nails and teeth, Seth learns to adapt without them and evole into the creature hybrid he becomes.

The only negative criticism was the final stage as the complete fly because although it was grotesque, creepy  sinister and captured the mannerisms of insect perfectly, it also had a fake feel as a mechanical puppet. This problem would easily be solved with today's technology. 

 

"Cronenberg's focus on a small cast was a smart move that helps him build complexity in their relationships and in the viewer's reactions. Likewise with the minimal settings. It all adds up to a beautiful, bleak whole leading to a beautiful, bleak ending. Although followed by a very good sequel, The Fly stands on its own as one of the masterpieces of the genre." 

Author of review: Brandt Sponseller - Classic - Horrors.com

http://classic-horror.com/reviews/fly_1986

"For a while Goldblum's quirkiness (as teleportation master Seth Brundle) keeps the movie afloat, but as he sinks irrevocably into his fly suit, everything else sinks with him. "

Author of review: Pat Graham - rotten tomatoes/ chicago reader

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007602-fly/

"Instead of the undoubtedly corny yet iconic design of the original, Goldblum’s transformation is subtle. It’s slow, working on his body, his mind, and eventually his entire person. His romance with Davis becomes critical to his change, allowing the audience to see his pain and madness as the transformation engulfs him. Goldblum captures this flawlessly."
Author of review: Matt Paprocki - Doblu.com
http://www.doblu.com/2009/06/14/the-fly-1986-review/

The Fly (1958)

 

This is the original movie directed by Kurt Neumann. This film is disappointing due to the outdated special effects and some of the acting sequences are laughable. The 'fly' creature resulted as a simple mask and a glove which made the film unbelieveable.

The film did have some good redeeming features such as the eyesight vision of the fly, you really got a sense of what it would be like seeing the world through an insect's eyes. The sound of constant annoying buzzing made by an actual fly captured the irratation it causes people and how we would hunt it down and kill it. Even though the acting and lines were funny there was also a meaning behind it that everyday people could relate to. David Hendison plays his role well because he instanly comes across as an obsessed scientist locked away in a basement.

The creature really let the tone of the film down, the appearance was improved with a cloth covering it because it kept the story in suspense and had the fear of the unknown theme running through out the plot. The end scene was also confusing because it was a fly with a human head shouting "help me!" as a spider approaches towards it, this was very amusing but it felt added as a last minute extra instead of part of the movie.

"We’re not quite sure what the story is, but we’re given enough information to make guesses. At the same time, we’re not so in the dark that we just become irritated and give up."

Author of review: Brandt Sponseller - classic - horror. com

http://classic-horror.com/reviews/fly_1958

"From the grisly opening (the fly-man coerces his Helene into helping him to commit suicide in a hydraulic press) to the spider's web finale ("Help meeeeeeee! Please help meeeeeeeeee!"), the film is overcooked to the point of hysteria. Yet the unmasking of the fly at the end is the most effective scene of its kind since The Phantom of the Opera in 1925. "

Author of review: Unknown - Film4 reviews

http://www.film4.com/reviews/1958/the-fly

"It was refreshing to see the two leads make tough decisions that depended upon their deep and abiding love, while that selfsame commitment made their choices so much more difficult to live with."

Author of review: Wintle archive - Monsters Vs Aliens Primer

http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/04/01/movies-vs-aliens-primer-the-fly-1958/

Turkey Vulture

My latin word is Cathartes aura which means Turkey Vulture, as it's appearance has a similar look to a turkey. The reason for the vulture's bald head is because it sticks its head inside the carcass to reach the meat so a feathery head will leave unwanted pieces in a meal.

Turkey vultures fly with their wings in a dihedral (V-shape) and can soar at high altitudes for hours without the need to constantly flap their wings.

They do not feed on live prey, instead they are seen on road sides cleaning up road kill or rivers feasting on washed up fish. This species also enjoys plant matter such as shoreline vegatation, pumpkin and other crops.

I produced a page of detailed sketches of the Turkey Vulture and tried to capture the grotesque appearance. I prefer the biro sketch as the style of shading captured the cluttered feathers. The sketch of the head above it looks evil, menacing. I am excited about this choice of animal because there is a lot of potiential for a hybrid, I will take some inspiration from 'The Fly' as it also had a horrific appearance of a feared creature.

Summer Project part 2

These images are my final three concepts for Life form, Machine and Structure, I developed the ideas from the A1 sheet to gain three strong designs.

Summer Project part 1

 I have displayed my ideas from my A1 sheet including close up sections to show my thought process and how new ideas progressed.