Hello. I'm Still Around.

It's the middle of term break right now. I had to submit 3 assignments in that last week of term so that explains away the lack of activity in the rest of November and early December. Then it's a case of recuperating for awhile. And after that I've been spending some quality time with my family for a couple of weeks. No excuses not to blog really. I just haven't had the mad urge. That, and I've been a little too engrossed in my *ehem* game research (Guild Wars is a cool rpg btw). I'll put up a more decent update on my exploits soon. I've been tinkering (again) with another CMS tool that I've installed on the server for my blogs. It seems some people have had problems accessing my blogs from Blogger so maybe this will solve it. That's if I can get it working. And the gallery needs a simpler design maybe. Yup. Look for another mini-revamp coming your way my friends! As if I don't have enough madness on my plate (re: some term break homework).

So for better or worse, you haven't heard the last from me yet!
PS: For those celebrating Christmas and the coming new year - have a good one eh?

First Critique Session. Adib Attends Playgroup.

We had two critique sessions earlier this week. Basically all the assignment submissions were projected onto the large screen in the studio and everybody was encouraged to offer feedback and constructive criticism. I did realize how much self-learning came into play here - quite a number have put in impressive bells and whistles in their work, ranging from detailed props and textures, to lighting and camera angles/moves. These are topics touched upon only briefly during lessons or not at all yet. Overall, I did enjoy the exercise, although understandably some people might not have felt comfortable having their work analysed and openly commented upon. For my part, I do admit to being quite nit-picky (and sounding overly critical and negative at times) but I do try to offer suggestions/improvements with my critiques. I must remember to try and balance them up with more positive observations the next time round I suppose. Personally, I don't mind having my work ripped apart and lambasted upon. I just feel that at this level, I should really be aiming for high quality professional standards. If I don't cut it, it's better to find out and do something about it now rather than later. I always try not to take it personally (it's hard when you've spent all that time slaving over the work). All in all, it's a constant learning process indeed.

In case any of my course mates are reading this and felt I was being a little too harsh in my comments on their work during the sessions, please accept my apologies. I hope I was being constructive and honest. I'm just critiquing the work - not the person.

Anyway, now that the first assignment is out of the way, the drawing sessions are slowly making a comeback. There'll even be a weekly (I hope) life drawing session starting next week. Expect more drawings uploaded soon!

Then again, our next animation assignment is due in 2 weeks time. And it's a much longer and harder piece involving a rigged humanoid character named Billy...

And the overall pace is starting to speed up, with topics covered in our lessons getting more complex.

On a side note, Adib has been attending playgroup for the past couple of weeks at a local public infant school. They have 3-hour afternoon sessions from Monday to Thursday. He seems to enjoy going to school, partly because he gets to take a short (3 bus-stops) bus ride to and from the school with his mother and little brother. That kid just loves bus rides! He likes the story-telling sessions, snacktime and playing with sand. It's comforting to know he's settled in well.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

Today marks the end of Ramadhan and I would like to wish all my muslim relatives, friends and colleagues a blessed and glorious Aidilfitri tomorrow. It is a bittersweet Hari Raya for me personally with the passing of my father and a couple of close relatives earlier this year, and us being away from our families now. Please forgive me for any transgressions I may have committed intentionally or not. Boy, do I miss the festive atmosphere back home! Not to mention the food! It's business as usual here in Bournemouth. I actually have classes from 10am - 3pm tomorrow, and it seems a visit to some friends after that is the only other programme for the day. Enjoy your holiday my friends!
PS: We've finally got our broadband and home phoneline set up. Just in time, I say. Also I have an assignment due this Friday and some work-related stuff overdue. You'll excuse me for the temporary lack of updates eh?

An Account. A TV Set. Abstract Cinema. Some Quick Sketches.

Hiyas! I finally got my savings account set up. Won't be long before I get my internet connection installed at the flat. That could mean more regular updates and me hanging out in MSN more. Maybe. We've also bought ourselves a second-hand cheap no-frills tv. Kamsinah also checked out a playgroup center for Adib. It'd be good exposure for him and give her a lil bit of free time. A little pricey though. We're still considering.
We watched a few abstract shorts during the Moving Image lecture earlier this week. I personally didn't enjoy them that much. I found myself trying to find purpose, meaning or logic amongst the barrage of flashing images and sound. After awhile it actually became a little unconfortable watching. I was a little disappointed because I really wanted to develop an appreciation for them (if not mad love). I thought it was just my rigid, practical and logical side that prevented me from connecting with what I was seeing. That, and the possibility of the work having a more personal meaning or purpose to the creators themselves than to me the viewer. Then in the session on digital cinematography later, another lecturer commented on how it is natural that humans would attempt to find links or meaning between discrete images presented to them, and that film creators would eventually make use of this tendency in their work. I brought up my experience of watching abstract cinema with the lecturer and he mentioned that at times the act of breaking the links either abruptly or progressively is done intentionally to make the viewer experience the piece in a different way or at a different level. I found that kinda interesting.
Alrightie then! On a lighter note, a few of us decided to sit around in one of the campus cafes and do some quick sketches of people around us during lunch time. I've gone on two of these exercises and am quite enjoying them. Below are what I came up with on the second day. The first day's drawings were done on an A3 sketchbook and I haven't bothered to scan them in. I'll probably use the A5 for this activity from now on. Much easier to bring around and upload afterwards. Enjoy!

The Oxford Trip

The trip to Oxford on Saturday was most enjoyable. We were driven by coach and then left on our own to explore the city, so the first thing we did was head over to the Information Centre to purchase a basic walking tour guidebook for 1 pound. It was pretty decent actually, filled with little bits of trivia and pointing out most of the significant buildings and sites. All in all we managed to complete our sight-seeing comfortably with ample time to spare (of course we didn't examine all the musuems or stepped into any of the college halls), and it wasn't too tiring either since we didn't have to do any steep hill-climbing. We're definitely planning to try and visit the city again before returning to Singapore. Sunday, on the other hand, was very uneventful - late wake-up, a trip to the laundrette and grocery store, and an early night. Oh well. Enjoy the pics ya?!

	Broad Street where the Info Centre is located. There were a lot of these formally dressed students about. It turns out most of them were having their matriculation that day.
	Ashmolean Musuem where admission was free. We went in for a peek.
	Lots of rooms with specific exhibition themes spread out. I'm assuming the girl sitting on the bench was drawing one of the sculptures - something I've always wanted to do. Hopefully I'll get the chance sometime during the year.
	Oxford's oldest building - the Saxon tower of the church of St. Michael. It's nearly 1000 years old. Visitors can climb the tower to view parts of the city. With tiny kids and a stroller in tow, we opted not to.
	The Covered Market selling all sorts of stuff from fruits and fish to shoes and flowers.
	The entrance of Christ Church College. I was impressed by the intricate details on the buildings here and all throughout Oxford.
	Adib and Amil playing around in the open areas behind the college. Lots of space to stroll about. People were sitting on the grass having their lunch. Nice.
	Across the road is Alice's Shop. That's the middle one in the picture. It's the exact shop the real Alice whom Lewis Carroll's books were based on frequented way back then. It inspired the Sheep Shop in "Through the Looking Glass". I love this kind of stuff!
	A shot of the tops of Brasenose College. I was on the lookout for various gargoyles guarding the many buildings here.