Channel Frederator Blog

I would have to say that without a doubt Jacek Yerka is my current favorite painter. Hailing from Poland, Jacek’s abilities both technically and imagination-wise are outstanding. At one time I can feel the loneliness and hope of each painting, the consequences of war and isolation and yet the sheer joy of the day. He’s quite gifted.
You can see quite a bit more of Mr. Yerka’s work here and [link:]here[/link].

More from the amazing Wikipedia:

Jacek Yerka was born in a Toruń, city in Northern Poland in the early 1950s. He studied art for a short time at University, but then learnt from direct study of Northern European masters, the Van Eycks, Dierck Bouts, Robert Campin, Bosch, and surrealists such as Magritte.

Yerka said:
“ I did my first painting of my life a year before going to college, where I began studying graphics. My instructors always tried to get me to paint in the [Read more…]

When I started my attempts at being an animator, one of the most cherished books I owned was a book about Eadweard Muybridge book which has series after series of photographs on how people walked ran jumped twirled and danced. It was awesome. Of course these days, you don’t have to actually buy a book to see this wealth of knowledge. Just point your browser to this website and learn away!
It’s interesting to note that all these photographs came about because of a bet…

Read on…
via Wikipedia:

In 1872, soon-to-be Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, had taken a position on a popularly-debated question of the day: whether during a horse’s trot, all four hooves were ever off the ground at the same time. Stanford sided with this assertion, called “unsupported transit”, and took it upon himself to prove it scientifically. (Though legend also includes a wager of up to [Read more…]

If you frequent the Frederator Blogs, you’ll notice we talk about The Muks a lot! WAAY back in April, The Muks sent out a distress call looking for Flashimators. I helped them out with a BatCall. This is a great Second Season Episode of Sparkle Friends and shows what happens when everyone wants Remote Control. One of my favorite episodes thus far. Great job Muks.
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Why is “The Sinking of the Lusitania [1918] Winsor McCay’s best film?

Graphically, the animation is outstanding- the smoke; the tilt of the ship as it turns in the water and then sinks in 3 dimensions; the character he gives to the story with the fish cameo and the sillouettes of the sailers atop their watercraft; the fact that McCay had to work from reference with respect to the victims’ families and survivors [he couldn’t make up a dinosaur’s momements and call them believable as in “Gertie”].

Finally, this is probably the first piece of animated propoganda ever, successfully insighting the public against Germany to begin the U.S.’s involvement in WWI.

-Jake

I recently got my grubby mitts on a copy of [non-Pixar] Disney’s “The Art of Meet the Robinsons”

I will say that there is a definite emphasis on digital art when I was searching the book for drawn art — however, the digital story art, mostly by lead designer Robh Ruppel, is pretty outstanding, and gives an idea of how lighting and framing played a significant role in the film.

Also, there are previously unpublished inspirational drawings by the author of the original book, Bill Joyce.

-Jake

Bryan Brinkman’s short, Gordy, was pretty funny. I’ve been waiting for someone to do something like this since I first saw Winsor McCay’s original Gertie the Dinosaur. I’m glad it was Brian and crew at Uber Street. Gordy could be a distant relative of Winsor Mccay’s Gertie the Dinosaur, if those relatives mated with eachother and inbred, inbred, inbred. Over time, you are bound to get genes all kinds of messed up. Gordy, lovable and deformed as it is, would be the happy result.
Thanks Bryan!
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I’m not exactly sure how this helps sell their car…

-Steve.

[b]Click here to subscribe to Channel Frederator or go to iTunes. Send us inspiration! promotecartoons@gmail.com

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Mukpuddy’s newest cartoon “What Now Sparkle Friends: High score: Rock ‘em Sock ‘em” was terrific. Something about it though seemed awfully familiar… I just can’t quite lay my finger on it…Maybe it was just Dejavu for a quick second for me and I’m just taking a guess on this one but also for GREG GUNTHER, DAH VEED, MATT TORODE, RAMIRO OLMOS, ASHLEY DAVISON, DUSTY HAZE, NELSON C WOODSTOCK, TODD RAMSEY, JERRY FUCHSlink, PAUL LALOlink, MICHAEL FOSTER, AARON BLECHA, and NIKO ANESTI. I just looked up random people in the phonebook.. I have a good feeling they experienced the same feeling I did while watching the first part of this Muktastic episode. Why? I just have a good feeling about it…

-Steve.

Click here to subscribe to Channel Frederator or go to iTunes. Please send us stuff to blog about, c’mon we’d love to hear what kinda artists you like or are inspired by! Email [Read more…]

2007 Best in the SW: Flash Animation & Motion Graphics conference

Best in the SW: Flash Animation & Motion Graphics Festival brings Flash animators, motion graphic artists, and broadcast designers together for a full week of non-stop animation, visual effects, motion graphics, and inspiration. Seven great days to learn, exchange ideas, further professional skills, and be inspired!

Hey, if you’re in Albuquerque, New Mexico, check it out!
… that IS how you spell it. Look it up!

More info at www.bestinthesw.com

-Jake