Animation in Progress

Here's a snippet from an animation I am working on. I started experimenting with collage animation before running the 'firebird' animation workshops at Standalone Farm and got very carried away by the process. It's a first draft of a bit of an adaptation of a firebird story:

3rd November 2015

Loved being involved with the Family Arts Festival again this year, this time at Standalone Farm  which offered a whole range of events inspired by stories and poetry about the firebird.

There were many related events in Letchworth, including at Digswell Arts Trust Fenners Building and at Dot-to-Dot gallery, supported by Letchworth Heritage Foundation. It's great that so many different arts organisations were able to co-operate on this autumn celebration for Letchworth families - thanks largely to Beth McDougall, the Community Projects and Learning Co-ordinator at the Heritage Foundation, Letchworth.

My workshop, which took place over two days, was called "Let's Animate the Firebird" and visitors to the farm were invited to help create firebirds and bring them to life using stop motion techniques, including recycled cardboard puppets, an overhead projector with coloured cellophane and paper and a light box with natural materials.  Over 200 people attended the drop-in workshops over the two days and we had a great time.

Thanks so much to everybody who came along - it was great working with you and thanks to all the staff at Standalone Farm who always make everybody feel very welcome.

Here's a short video showing snippets from the workshops and the animations: