San Francisco

It's cold out but where is the snow?

During the past two weeks I have spent more time de-icing the car than I have in the past six years. I can see everyone around looking depressed because of the cold and having to de-ice their cars for the drive to work and to drop of the kids. But I am enjoying it, the weather at present just makes me feel like a kid again and the cold winter ice and snow. The only difference now is age and having to wear a hat. This morning was really clear with heavy ice and some interesting ice formations on the back of the car. I took some photographs of them.

In case anyone is missing the snow I have included some snow scenes I took at few years back.

Bradford Animation Festival 2007

It has been a busy few months. Just wanted to post some photographs from this Bradford Animation Festival. I spent last week at the festival where I presented two events I organised the Storyboarding Panel which had Ginger Gibbons, Kevin Baldwin and Ian Culbard as speakers. Most of the past few months have been spent working on the Bob Godfrey retrospective which went well with Bob receiving the first ever Bradford Animation Festival Lifetime Achievement award. I also spent the Wednesday at the festival chairing a symposium on archiving and conserving animation. I will post more about the events plus photographs when I have time.

Bob Godfrey receiving the first Bradford Animation Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

Some of the speakers and delegates at the archiving and conserving animation symposium

The famous Curtis Jobling graced us with his presence at the festival.
Storyboarding panel members Ginger Gibbons, Kevin Baldwin and Ian Culbard.

Comics etc.

I refered to the work of Jonathan Edwards in one of my previous posts in particular about his comic Aunt Connie & The Plague of Beards. Jonathan has now upgraded his website to sell his work including copies of his comics. Check out his work and all the great stuff for sale on his website.

Also Curtis Jobling has a website that has just been launched have a look.

Just read a really good interview of Neil Gaiman on Paul Gravett's website about the film Stardust which is out in the UK in October. He also refers to Henry Selick's stop motion film Caroline which is due for release next year.

Shinden-Ryu-Iai

I found this photograph also with the sho-do photographs. While I was in Japan I studied Shinden-Ryu-Iai a particular school/style of Iai-do. I was taught by an amazing teacher Origuchi Kozo who taught art at the local junior high school where I worked. Origuchi also played classic guitar and a traditional Japanese musucal instrament the shakuhachi. The photograph was taken at regional class where we practiced cutting with katana, this was very different from using a replica katana. It was great to get the chance to pratice with the real katana and to understand all the movements I had been practicing. Most of the classes where in held in the gym of the junior high school which had no heating. Which meant wearing socks in the winter to stop my feet from freezing. I took part in regional competitions and gradings and was awarding my ichi-dan after my first year, which is normal for where I was studing. Unfortunately my work contract finished before I could go for my next grading.

Sho-do

Found this photograph while unpacking and going through old photographs. The photograph was taken for a local newspaper article about me studying Sho-Do (calligraphy). This photograph is of me with my sensei, I have his name written somewhere once I find it I will add it and a copy of the newspaper article. At least it will go some way to answering what else I am interested in or do. Unfortunately I have been unable to continue with sho-do but perhaps being closer to London may mean I can take it up again.