Ballpoint pen drawings of water for the projected animation titled, and the ship sails on.

Ballpoint pen renderings of Water and decoy ducks - 
image and layout created by animator Lukasz Pater.

Water renderings, pattern option two

Water rendering, option one

I have had to go back to the drawing board, redrawing the water, making up the major part of the projected animation. The water renderings  are too complex (busy) conflicting with the dragon . The animated five-clawed dragon will be projected moving amongst the three-dimensional decoy-ducks, stretching out his limbs and with his claws he will bring forth positive change.  

Water renderings, pattern option one

Water rendering option two

I had to render water for the second animation titled woe-man. It was very simple and I could use it again. But I wanted this animation to be fresh and closely associated to the reference material. The moon flask as depicted below. We are also trying to keep it simple ensuring the animated image integrates well with the form and the shape of the decoy ducks, and of course the shape and size of the wooden base. 

High definition projectors make a big difference

We need enough open, uncluttered space in between the decoy-ducks for the animated dragon to move freely and be visible in the renderings of the water, without creating confusion. Striking a balance is of the essence. I therefore had to spend two afternoons exploring new creative possibilities to render the water. The second set of drawings were equally complex and I decided to refer back to the original reference, the water as depicted in the surface decoration of the inspirational moon flask.

Inspirational moonflask

Water rendering option three

In the end I took inspiration from the simple yet appropriate cobalt painted decoration that covers the background of the moonflask shown here (image on the left). The chosen image, rendered in ball-point pen, a more three dimensional approach, provides us with an opportunity to have open spaces though which the dragon can move and be easily visible without creating confusion or making the visual representation to complex (busy) as mentioned before.

Water renderings, pattern option three

Water renderings, pattern option final

Registration of the projected animation

Checking the registration of the projection at the start of the installation.

It is vital to plan the size of the installation, matching the ceramic installation with the envisaged projected animation. I need to design and construct a base for the ceramics to be displayed on.  It has to be the right height to achieve a balance between the size of the decoy ducks and the images in the animation. 

Not too low, making it impossible for the viewer to really appreciate and engage the sculptural form and shape of the decoy ducks. It also cant be too high as the size of the decoy ducks determines the maximum height one can go with the projector. The drawings will not fit the actual ceramic work if the distance between the installation and the projector is not sufficient.  I also need to determine how many of the decoy ducks could fit into the oval shape of the anticipated projection. Aligning all these aspects is vital to the success of the entire statement.

I have painted the decoy-ducks a semi-sheen acrylic white paint to ensure that the projection is clear and all the detail is captured on the works.  The entire installation will be in a darkened space of the gallery. I am in the process of obtaining a high definition projector to ensure maximum clarity of the projected animation It is one week to complete the entire installation. 

The exhibition opens on Monday the 9^th of May. Not much time left to get everything finalized. Next Thursday everything has to be completed. I have slip cast all the decoy-ducks. Some of the decoy-ducks are being fired and assembled whilst others are drying.