Fill This Space.

SCRIBBLE JUNKIES Blog...

2010-01-18T16:55:00.005-05:00

So... I'm going to phase out "Fill This Space" in favor of a new blog by myself and Bill Plympton called "Scribble Junkies". Please come by and I ask all my followers on this blog to transfer over! it will be worth it I promise!

Cheers
Patrick Smith

Improving your Staging...

2009-12-07T01:05:00.003-05:00

I drew this layout the other day.. and it just didn't sit right with me. I was happy with the drawing, but it didn't help move the characters and the story forward. At this point in the film, the masked men have elevated themselves to predator, and have become a menacing, horrifying force that are gorging themselves on the helpless "little dudes".So I redrew the layout to express this feeling. I placed the little dudes lower in the frame, and I launched the masked man up high.. utilizing a low camera angle.. a classic and cliche way to make a character more powerful (just look at all the low shots of Darth Vader!). A bonus to the scene now is that I can show some really frightened expressions on the little dude.The re-staging of this shot even influenced the style of drawing.. I drew the masked man in the improved version with a lot more insidiousness and evil.. whereas the previous version, the masked man comes off as cartoonish. the overall composition improved as well. I suppose this is just a reminder to push yourself at every level.. you just never know how you can improve things.

Cutting the cord...

2009-10-14T04:09:00.014-04:00

I've moved to the other side of the planet...I've joined the faculty at New York University's graduate program in Singapore (Tisch-Asia), under artistic director Oliver Stone. I'll be continuing work on 3 films that I have been busy with for the past few years which NYU is helping me immensely with. Also, I'm stoked to be teaching again, to be invigorated by that enthusiasm that students have, and professionals sometimes lose sight of. I'm joined here by so many talented filmmakers, namely Todd Solondz(Happiness, Welcome to the Doll House), Allan Nicholls(A Wedding, A Perfect Couple), Jennifer Ruff (Boys don't cry, y tu mama tambien), my old buddy from MTV, Matt Sheridan... and so many more. (below photo, Patrick Smith with NYU Faculty members visiting the temple ruins in Cambodia)It's with a lot of sadness that I have left New York City, Sometimes we need to radically change our surroundings, and "cut the cord" from what we know, if we are to move forward. Staying in the same place has never really agreed with me, and it's been a nearly a decade in my Tribeca studio, Blend Films.

"Hand Drawn Animation has gone through a shift within the medium itself. Now dominated by digital input devices, Hand Drawn Animation has become a less rigid art form, opening itself up to a new unexplored world of production methods, styles, and exhibition choices. The classical principles of animation and the drawn form, put forth by the masters of the medium, have become even more vital to the curriculum as we bring the medium into new arenas beyond simply entertainment. I teach the classical techniques of drawing in motion, gaining insight to observe and record the world in motion that exists around us all".

-Patrick Smith, Animator

I will keep in touch, stand by for some big blog news... a collaboration!

The Plausible Impossible: Weight and DUMBO...

2009-05-19T11:31:00.009-04:00

This sequence from my new favorite Disney film of all time, "Dumbo", exemplifies an aspect of animation (and artwork in general) that has become the overwhelming feature of my own work: The idea of the "Plausible Impossible" (term by Walt himself) in terms of weight and balance.
This clip from Dumbo would obviously be impossible, but it looks so believable because the animators understood how to render, balance, and move masses that feel like several tons. I love how the gossip hordes continue their bitchy little quips the entire time. Characters that express weight are FELT by the viewer, you can FEEL the precariously balanced fleshy pachyderms.
In my paintings I create configurations of people piled on top of one another. The configurations look like they may work, although impossible, I draw them to look and feel believable. After studying this Dumbo clip, look for a more "fleshy" and pliable variation of what is above, which, comparatively, my drawing looks dull flat and boring (ummm.. perspective patrick? use it you knob!). You can learn a lot from studying the masters!

CARTOONS FROM HELL, Charleston Film Festival...

2009-04-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

That's right... the third edition of the traveling showcase "Cartoons From HELL" is going to play at the Charleston International Film Festival this Saturday night. New to the line up is Christy Karacas and Steve Warbrick, the creators of "Super Jail".

"Bubble Wrap" by Arthur Metcalf
"Lupo the Butcher" by Danny Antonucci
"Puppet" by Patrick Smith
"Shut Eye Hotel" by Bill Plympton
"Bar Fight" by Christy Karacas and Steve Warbrick
"The Box Man" by Nirvan Mullick
"Ah L'Amour" by Don Hertzfeldt
"Son of Satan" by JJ Villard
"Seventeen" by Hisko Hulsing

As you can see, it's quite the line up of darkly epic disturbing animation. These are simply my favorite animators to date, and some of the greatest animated films of all time. "Cartoons From HELL" will also screen at MOCCA Art Festival this June here in New York.

David Lynch Says it, So I don't have to...

2009-04-14T10:43:00.007-04:00

Rory Aronski, a film critic for Film Threat magazine, once said about my films "Patrick Smith has the mind of David Lynch and the hand of Bill Plympton".. to this day nobody has ever paid me a higher compliment. I was reminded of that when my intern, Peter Ahern, posted this great clip on his facebook page. Enjoy.

"Time Warp" on Discovery Channel...

2009-04-08T13:58:00.005-04:00

This program is practically tailor made for Animation Artists. I've never been so obsessed with a television show before. Motion analysis is one of my favorite past times, and capturing it with a series of drawings is what sets the art of animation apart from all other art mediums. Once you get into motion, everything else feels static and boring.The movie above is one of my favorites. I'm always fascinated at how fluid human flesh can be. And to think that people say MY FILMS are weird and stretchy! Real life can be so much more bizarre, just look at this fighters nose! Enjoy a free course in action analysis complements of Discovery Channel.

Discussion with Mike Stuart...

2009-04-06T14:03:00.013-04:00

Last month I began an exchange with Animator Mike Stuart based on my longstanding interest and obsession with the animation from "Pink Floyd's The Wall". Mike was the directing animator on practically all of the sequences, and the more I researched, the more I realized that Mike was simply "The Man" behind "The Wall". Here's bits of our exchange, Enjoy:

above: Master Animator Mike Stuart, photographed and obnoxiously watermarked by Richard Wolff. Who has an impressive collection of photos on his site of mostly british animation artists.

"THE WALL" gave me a lot of creative freedom and allowed me to move into direction as well as animation. The opportunity to 'forward animate' ie. to start with a drawing and draw from drawing to drawing instead of producing 'key' drawings and then have an assistant 'inbetween' them. The Flower Sequence is an example of 'forward animation'(psmith note: "straight ahead" to us americans). And I used it also in the 'Tumbling Leaf Man' sequence - which, incidentally, is the first bit of animation I did for Pink Floyd." -Mike Stuart

"THE WALL" was made in a very unconventional way. Very much 'on the hoof' as it were. Most of the animation for the live performances was 'recobbled' and used in the picture. The 'hammers' caused a big problem as they were initially designed for the circular screen - extra hammers had to be added on either end as, in the film, we used an 'anamorphic lens', It is really Roger's film (Roger Waters) in my opinion. Nick Mason (pink floyd drummer)occasionally came to rushes but it was Roger Waters that had the last word." -Mike Stuart

"I am working with a chap in the states who is writing a book on the making of the film. He has already produced a book on the making of the album." To quote G. Scarfe - "I don't understand why people like it so much" I think you'll find this comment on the DVD." -Mike Stuart

Above: Images depicting my obvious influence from "The Wall" from my films "Drink" and the music video "Moving Along"

"My last project was the 78 'KIPPER' series. It won a BAFTA and Annecy in 1998 plus something in Positano. I have just designed a float for the Viareggio carnival. I mainly spend my time painting and making jewelry". -Mike Stuart

I'm sold... xtranormal.com

2009-04-02T11:19:00.009-04:00

Some of these are better than films i see at film festivals! and it's solely generated by text!! I'm rarely impressed with computer technology, but xtranormal.com is incredible and hilarious. If I was an animator I would really be concerned... oh wait.. I am... anyway, If you're wondering where the future is.. pre-programmed actions using text. all this needs is professional voice acting, custom character design option, then tweeking by director, and you have a dialogue driven script and one hell of an entertaining film!!! I love how the awdwardness actually makes it funny!!!! My prediction.. we will see a lot more of this company and this concept. I feel like making a film right now and submitting it to film festivals, it would probably get more attention than one of my traditional animated short.. NEW TECHNOLOGY just fascinates everyone, it's so pathetic. Ok...on second thought.. i'll be here at my studio drawing. Here's my attempt at it.. Enjoy.

Eyvind Earle/Fredric Edwin Church...

2009-03-18T10:24:00.005-04:00

Eyvind Earle was one of the many fine artists recruited by Disney in the 1950's. Eyvind's artwork is simply stunning. I can't think of a stronger visual designer, the best examples of which are the incredible images created for "Sleeping Beauty". I would highly recommend Hans Bacher's book "Dream Worlds". Below are a few of my favorite paintings by Eyvind. Michael Sporn does a way better job of collecting these images than me. I'm typically not drawn to this heavy use of contrast and graphic design within the context of animation, but these images are too alluring not to admit their greatness. Power like this reminds me of the american painter Frederic Edwin Church, a Hudson River school landscape painter that specialized in this type of imagery, with out the graphic design element. Specifically the his iceberg paintings.
Church gives an amazing lesson in contrast of scale here, something I use very often in my own work. One of the things brilliant landscape artists seem to excel at is making us humans feel insignificant in comparison to nature.
Earle uses a similar contrast of scale method here to create a feeling of power. jeeeez.The depth of this piece is astounding. I often notice that the more depth a piece has, the more dramatic and powerful it becomes.. in contrast to this, things that are flat are often used for humor or light hearted-ness.
The contrast of scale itself is the single element that provides depth to this piece above.

"Blood and Posture" from Mark Kennedy blog...

2009-03-06T18:59:00.008-05:00

"I don't use action lines to describe what is happening in the frame; I use blood and posture to tell the viewer what is happening" -Gibbens (of "Watchmen")

Another epic blog entry from Mark. Please take some time to read this very extended entry, it's something I think about all the time, and I happen to lean toward the NO action lines especially in animation. I hate that I've used them in the past, they added practically nothing to the action. "Blood and Posture" may just be my new tag line. ok... i'm using my own drawings as examples, you'll have to forgive me, i just have no immediate other examples at hand.
Above I used motion lines in "Puppet" to punch up this key that was exposed on ones. Now that I look at it, it didn't add anything, i should have left it out.
Above, I think I did well, some animators would use a "wipe" effect by elongating this exposure (again on ones) but it looks better with the more realistic "stretch" of the sock being thrown down, as well as a nice drag from the hair.
Above I think I used the saliva coming off the kids mouth as a "Blood and Posture" move, eliminating any motion lines, and only using goober to leave a motion trail, and also again the direction is aided by the drag on the hair, as well as the puppets little hands. This was a fun scene to animate.Dangit... above is another one... what's wrong with me?? this one had no reasoning behind it.. I think sometimes I put them in when i'm working on 1's because i think it goes by so quick.
I even see they crept in within the rough of this one.
Here's another one above, you see the VERY NEXT FRAME has debris (read "blood") that made the action quite clear enough.. no lines were needed. moral of this... stick to the real world for your references... there's no motion lines in reality!

Patrick Smith Program at Lake County Film Festival...

2009-03-03T10:11:00.006-05:00

In addition to programming this years selection of Animated Shorts, Lake County Film Festival is hosting a talk and a screening of my last five short films, as well as several commercial productions my studio has completed this past year. It should be fun, I love talking shop with other professionals or students. I'll be at both Animation programs Sat. and Sun., and the Patrick Smith show is Sunday... info below. Hope to see you there!

Patrick Smith Show: Sunday March 8th, 2pm.
Animation Program: Saturday March 7th, 12pm, and Sunday March 8th, 4:10pm.
19351 W. Washington St., Room D100, Grayslake, IL

Boston Underground Ben Levin/Patrick Smith show...

2009-02-25T11:22:00.009-05:00

I'm really excited to share the spotlight with fellow animator Ben Levin, who animated one of my favorite shorts of 2006, "She's a Bombshell", which premiered with "Puppet" at the 06 Tribeca Film Festival. Be sure to heckle us at the Q and A on Saturday, we'll both be there to be ridiculed. I'll be showing the trailer for my new film "Masks". Also screening in the regular BUFF program is "Bubblewrap" by my super talented buddy Arthur Metcalf.
Boston Underground Film Festival presents:
New York Spawned a Monster, The Animation of Ben Levin and Patrick Smith.
-Friday, February 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Space 242
-Saturday, February 28, at noon, don't miss a Q and A session with the two animators.

Join us at Space 242! SPACE 242 is located in Boston's South End at 242 East Berkeley Street, 2nd floor, between Albany Street and Harrison Avenue in Boston (The Medieval Manor Building).

Kill Your Television...

2009-02-19T15:33:00.008-05:00

Jamie Wyeth was asked about a recent sale of one of his paintings to the actor Tom Arnold. He replied, "Who's Tom Arnold?" I think Mr. Wyeth spends much more time working than in front of the TV. Note to self.. Kill your television. It's a strange relationship to be working primarily for TV, but not watch it. I discontinued my cable TV this week, and I'm really thinking that I'm not missing out on much. I did, however, retain my netflix account. Here's a few thoughts provided by turnoffyourtv.com:

"I don't really watch television, and I make my living out of it. It's not out of any great principle. I work at it all day. I'm traveling, at night I'm going (to give) speeches. Other than watching sports and the news, I just don't watch it." -- Talk show host Jerry Springer

"American children and adolescents spend 22 to 28 hours per week viewing television, more than any other activity except sleeping. By the age of 70 they will have spent 7 to 10 years of their lives watching TV." -- The Kaiser Family Foundation

"You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on." -- Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer and Pixar

Recessions as blessings...

2009-02-19T15:07:00.006-05:00

The best rise to the top in times like these, and the posers end up leaving the room. Do anything you need to do to survive, but don't waste time not creating art. -Patrick Smith note to self
(above: he's taken a beating, but smiling) One of the first things I learned about animation is that there is no easy way to do it, once you get over that fact, you can become an animator. Living in times of economic struggle is no different, simply put: nobody said it would be easy. Historically, recessions and depressions have been times when important and great works of art get made. Our cost for materials is relatively minor. It's time to create good work, stop reading CNN, or Cartoon Brew, get off of Facebook, and start working. When bad times hit and the economy is sucking, artists really need to elevate themselves and increase the quality of what they are creating. (above: stretching things thin) My friend John Dilworth once told me that when you hit the bottom, THAT'S when you will do something real. I'm happy to say that I think I may be doing something real now, John. I just hope I don't lose my house in the process.

Patrick Smith films in HD on Youtube...

2009-02-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

I'm happy Youtube started to support a higher resolution option, it kills several of my complaints I had with this exhibition medium. Although I still think Youtube is an outlet for predominantly 14 year old zombies, I have to confess that this looks pretty darn good. Please watch my 2004 films "Handshake" and "Moving Along", or my most recent short "Puppet". Let me know what you think. I know it's not like watching it in a theater or at a home theater, but it's the best the internet can offer right now. For true believers you can still get my DVD for a more formal experience. oh, and it's my birthday, please make checks payable to Blend Films Inc. c/o save an animator birthday fund.

PSmith Graffiti spotted...

2009-02-16T15:19:00.007-05:00

I've gotten a few of these video stills sent to me, the latest was sent from animator Alisa Stern, she grabbed these stills from "Dr. Who", and spotted graffiti of mine in the background.Oddly enough, I didn't paint this, someone else just copied one of my "Column" designs. I like to see my work where I didn't put it, makes me think for a second that there's other people who dig my stuff beside my parents, pink pigeons, and my blog readers (full props to y'all).

Birthday Greetings!

2009-02-13T16:23:00.004-05:00

I ran into a bunch of my old MTV friends at a party the other night, my birthday came up in conversation (it's next week) and I was reminded of all the cool art and cards I've gotten over the years. here's a small sample of them.This first one (above) is one of my favorites, Bill Plympton gave me this card four years ago, I had just finished my film "Handshake" and he had just finished "Guard Dog", so he threw the two characters together for this card! it's one of my treasured pieces of art. Bill also did a great thank you card for staying at my place in montauk, I will post it soon!
These two cards above are two of many I got while working at MTV. The studio had a tradition of giving cards to everyone on their Bday, it would get passed around and everyone would contribute a drawing. Then that person would get wods of paper whipped at them by everyone, which was occasionally pretty painful, but you'd get a cool card out of it!
This one goes all the way back to Beavis and Butthead, and The Head. Brian Moore was the artist I'm pretty sure.
This one was from when I was directing on "Downtown", a show that had a truly talented crew, the colorful image in the character "Goat" drawn most likely by Dave Vandervort.

From Singapore...

2009-01-27T04:57:00.005-05:00

It's been over a week since my arrival, the NYU-Asia hosted Master Class I'm teaching is going well, the graduate level students are very talented. It's also great to be back in southeast asia, although I had forgotten how hot it is here. The university is hosting a program of my short films this friday which should be fun. Other than work, I've had a lot of time to walk around this city aimlessly with some of the faculty and students. Matt Sheridan, an old buddy of mine from MTV teaches here full time, and it's great to catch up with him, we ate fish head curry the other night. I was also able to hang out with Lucas Films Animation director, Rob Coleman. Another highlight, photo above, was walking through one of the last traditional villages in singapore, a place called Kampong Lorong, which is about to be razed by the government to build more project-like high rise homes.
Photo above is Lucas Films Rob Coleman, Patrick Smith, and NYU-Asia dept head Jean-Marc Gauthier.

Andrew Wyeth 1918-2009

2009-01-16T16:47:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite painters of all time, Andrew Wyeth, who captured the melancholy of the landscapes and people of Pennsylvania in his brilliant paintings, died aged 91. I've often mentioned him within my writing and teaching, especially in terms of putting "movement" into his work, something us animators always like to point out. Wyeth was the first living US artist to be elected to the Royal Academy. It's a great loss. There just aren't classical painters like him anymore.

A Favorite Rockwell.."War News"..

2009-01-13T19:36:00.004-05:00

Despite the hostel reception to my past praise of Norman Rockwell, I wanted to share with you a painting that exemplifies Rockwells skill and social insight. "War News" was completed in 1945, but never published. Critics often dismiss Rockwell paintings as "Simplified unmercifully and reassured inappropriately", but I see him as a master that captured a great era with even greater skill, perhaps his works leaned on the idealistic side, but I think that makes it even more important and timeless, in this age of cynicism and elitism (especially within the art world, excuse my generalization). This piece is wonderfully constructed and composed. Through expert characterization Rockwell captured an apprehension and severe concern in the figures. I appreciate this work even more so as an animator, i almost see them as actors within a story. As far as content ... it's dead on. Unfortunately, we've all experienced that severe concern to war news.In this same year Rockwell painted other great pieces like "Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes" and "The Homecoming". It's interesting to point out that Rockwells "Four Freedoms" was viewed by 1.2 million people, and raised over 135 million dollars in war bonds. If this isn't an example of how art is an integral part of the world, I don't know what is. It's also interesting that the humble master felt he "held a low rung" on the ladder of fine art. He considered Pablo Picasso the greatest, going so far as to add a bit of cubism into several of his paintings. He also held Mondrian in the highest regard.

“May God deliver us from the worst of all sins!: Man's own religious hypocritical self-righteousness and evil knowledge and greed for power through every form of cruelty, including war!” -Norman Rockwell

Patrick Smith Master Class in Singapore..

2009-01-07T09:03:00.004-05:00

I'm off to Singapore next week to teach a ten session master class through NYU, Tisch Asia. It will be nice to be back in Southeast Asia, an area which I've spent a lot of time traveling a decade ago. This will be an exciting class for me because it's the first time I've instructed entirely using Flash, a program that I've always had mixed feelings about. But it will allow students to perform lessons while in the classroom, as well as allowing me to demonstrate the principles I'm discussing as we go. Unfortunately the students will not be able to take advantage of the texture and soul of a pencil line, I can only hope they take the lessons and work on paper after the seminar is completed. If you happen to be in Singapore at the end of this month, drop me an email and we'll go get some fish head curry!

Christmas Inspiration: Norman Rockwell and JC Leyendecker...

2008-12-23T13:29:00.006-05:00

I grew up with a massive Norman Rockwell coffee table book kicking around the house. By the time I was a teenager, this book was dog eared from me flipping through the illustrations. This image above still brings me back to when I was little, even then I was amazed at the brilliant artist/illustrator. I love the level of clarity and the use of a solid figurative silhouette in this piece. It's something every animator should keep in mind.. clarity above all. Clarity, proportion, weight, character... Norman would have been an epic animator. Every time I hang out at the society of illustrators here in New York, I think about Norman Rockwell and JC Leyendecker hanging out at the bar having a drink. Norman probably annoying JC with his fan boy questions. Rad. Enjoy the Leyendecker above, another one of my holiday favorites! I mean.. wha? that composition is just incredible... everything in a perfect place, working in complete harmony with the space. Wish I could have been there hanging out with those guys. Here's a great page of Santas, mostly by Rockwell and Leyendecker. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!! I'm off to Wyoming to shoot more guns, see y'all in 2009!

Paintings that express MOVEMENT..

2008-12-18T09:48:00.004-05:00

(above: pull #1,2,3 by psmith) "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." -Albert Einstein. I'm not a fan of the "static" image. For me, it's the flaw of a majority of portraiture and still life painting. There's no action. I want to know what the next frame looks like! I want to see a direction, feel the surge of movement. Animation is incredible because it's the only drawn art medium that does not use the static image, but despite this, movement has a way of creeping into great works of art. (above: nude descending a staircase, by marcel duchamp) It's interesting when people point out how difficult it must be to draw the thousands of drawings that go into making animation.. but it's NOT like drawing thousands of individual drawings, it's really just drawing a single MOTION.. you carve out the action incrementally frame by frame.. i NEVER think about it at individual drawings. (above: turkey pond, by Andrew Wyeth) I spot action in paintings and it really pulls me into the work, most great artists have this quality, Homer, Sargent, Wyeth, Duchamp, most futurists. Next time you see a work and it really captures your interest, perhaps it's because it has the quality of movement!

Admiring the Dapper Artists...

2008-12-16T09:54:00.010-05:00

I was looking at this image of Winslow Homer (above left) the other day, and it struck me that we, as artists, just don't look as good as we used to. An individuals self worth is often gauged by the way they present themselves. Generally speaking, artists have historically been some of the most stylie people ever. Homer exemplifies what I'm talking about. A bit closer to home would be artists like Winsor Mccay (above right) and Walt Disney (middle). It seems to me that no matter what photo you see of these men, whether they were working or out on the town, they looked insanely stylish. I do know several artists today that seem to always look dapper, for example, animator John Canemaker (below left), seems to always be looking rad. Tom Otterness (below right) looks pretty good usually. But for the most part, artists these days seem to dress down. Maybe it doesn't matter.. I personally have my moments, but for the most part I'm just another skater turned painter, and I look like it. sigh. Yet another example how we're not as cool as our predecessors.

Jim Phillips Skate Art Books... i'm obsessed.

2008-12-01T09:48:00.001-05:00

I bought the book, Skateboard Art of Jim Phillips the other day and have not put it down. It throws me back to when I was in middle school and got my first jolt of artistic inspiration. There's so many images in this book that I haven't seen since i was 13. The book, for me, is a nostalgic trip, covering a really cool time of my life, and giving me a style to shoot for that is obvious to this day, 20 some years later. Pick this book up if you can, it's truly a great addition to any library, especially if you want to get a grasp of where my little gen and culture came from. Other books you also may want to check out, Surf Skate & Rock Art of Jim Phillips, another must have, and also The Rock Posters of Jim Phillips. All fantastic collections of this very prolific graphic artist. His studios website is Here.

MTV ID's from the 90's

2008-11-25T14:44:00.018-05:00

If you read this blog, you've probably read that i got my start with an MTV ID commission, here's some others that were produced at roughly the same time.. some of my favorites. I'm currently working on getting together as many as i can get a hold of, i want to make a full res festival program out of it, some are really tough to track down. i've talked to a lot of the animators, I'll update this as they come in.

This one above is by the jail-bird Steve Dovas, it's a true classic that got tons of play.

This one above is my personal favorite, directed and animated by Dieter Mueller, *thanks danny

This one is by sir rockness, Danny Antonucci, inspired by his short film "Lupo the Butcher".

This next one above is by Olivia Ward and Miguel Martinez-Joffre, it came out the same week as my own ID. It won a BDA gold, beating me out, i won the bronze that year. Stay tuned, I'll keep posting as I get them.

Influence: Hisko Hulsing

2008-11-13T07:50:00.003-05:00

Dutch animation has rich tradition of quality and originality. Some of the first independent animators I started to study were Borge Ring, Paul Driessen, and Co Hoedeman. Borge Ring's "Anna and Bella"(1984) was one of the films that solidified my interest in hand drawn line animation. This tradition continues with Hisko Hulsing. I first met Hisko in Annecy France back in 2004, where he was showing his film "Seventeen". I was there with my film "Delivery", I like to think our styles are similar, albeit, I believe him to be way more advanced than myself.
Hisko has the rare skill of artistic diversity. He is not only a talented draftsman, but he excels at animation, painting, music, and even the challenging game of government financing. The content of his films are emotionally charged, and quite often, actually regularly, on the dark side. Hisko does not shy away from content that other animators would never consider. He uses sex, violence, and solitude as tools to express his stories flawlessly. Hisko's newest film "Junkyard" seems very promising, go HERE for some clips and stills from it. He sent me the animatic last year, and I really think it's his best work yet, even in the animatic stage. Hisko utilizes pantomime, which I've always sworn by as a great way to tell stories. Try to check out his work.. it can be tough to find, he's managed to stay off of youtube.

Plushgun Album artwork...

2008-11-12T12:26:00.004-05:00

Taylor Armstrong, the Guitarist for the Brooklyn band "Plushgun" (he's also a talented animator and artist) asked me to design the cover for their upcoming album last month. I love doing album art, and I wish people asked me more often. I really dig their music as well, so try to catch a show or at least check them out on myspace. Above is the initial sketch i showed them, and below is a portion of the final art. enjoy.

Sketchbook: "PUPPET" development..

2008-11-04T17:46:00.006-05:00

I'm often asked how to go about starting a film, and I always answer the same way: it begins entirely in the SKETCHBOOK.. this is where ideas are explored and figured out. there's no judge to say that this is bad or good.. just exploration and refinement which the audience will only see the result of. The roughs in your sketchbook are studies that are a necessary part of figuring out the complexities of moving a character within a space.

Please visit the NEW WEB PAGE OF SKETCHES with most of my sketch book drawings for my last film "Puppet". Enjoy! happy vOting!

Jumbo Pictures Reunion...

2008-10-31T10:21:00.006-04:00

Last week I went to the Jumbo Pictures reunion, the studio that i worked at back in 1996, right before I left for Indonesia. It was an amazing studio, situated in a massive loft in the heart of Soho, and filled with some of the best people I've ever worked with. I met my studio mate Tony Curanaj there, as well as good friends like Jack Spillum, Don Poynter, Jonathan Royce, and Otis Brayboy. The show we did was called "Doug", it was my first job as a storyboard artist, which was a segway into directing. I can still remember hanging out in the "pit" with all the other artists, or going to drawing classes across the street during lunch break. It was one of the best times of my life.Above: Jonathan Royce, Chris McCulloch, Patrick Smith, and John Schnall. The talent that was assembled at Jumbo back then was really impressive.

"Puppet" two years on....

2008-10-29T14:39:00.006-04:00

Puppet has won several recent awards lately, since it's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006. Most recently, it won Best animation at Arizona Underground Film Festival, and also at Naperville Independent Film Festival. Awards are fun to get.. it's always nice to get recognized for your work. It wasn't too long ago when i swore that i just COULDN'T win anything. my first film "Drink" screened for over a year with not a single prize.
Best Animation, Northampton Independent Film Festival, 2006.
Best Animation, Action on Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2006.
Best Animation, Griffin International Film Festival, 2006.
Best Animation, Grand Festival Award, Berkeley Film Festival, 2006.
Best Animation, Phoenix Film Festival, 2007.
Best Animation, Backseat Film Festival, 2008.
Best Animation, Arizona Underground Film Festival, 2008.
Best Animation, Naperville Independent Film Festival, 2008.
Honorable Mention, Signals International Film Festival, UK, 2006.
Honorable Mention, Smogdance Film Festival, 2007.
Third Place, First Glance Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2006.
Runner Up, Asheville Film Festival, 2006.
Third Place, Lake Havasu Film Festival,AZ, 2007.
Second Place, ASIFA-East (Association Internationale du Film d'Animation), 2007.

Sketchbook: Girl Studies...

2008-10-22T11:57:00.004-04:00

The female character offers specific challenges for me. I've been drawing a lot of designs of girls for an upcoming project, and I'm starting to really enjoy it. I've always struggled with girls (artistically and otherwise), but I'm really starting to understand the subtleties of their form more.. especially facial features. enjoy these scans. I always draw in ink.. it's something i started to do a long time ago.. the logic was that it forced me to commit to the lines, and it speeds up your drawing quite a bit. Matter of fact.. i just may be the quickest sketcher i know.. not sure if that's a good or bad thing. my previous sketchbook was stolen... well.. actually, i left it at a bar in my bag. still can't understand why someone wouldn't return a sketchbook.

Woodstock Film Festival this weekend...

2008-09-30T11:46:00.005-04:00

(photo above: Bill Plympton, Arthur Metcalf, Patrick Smith with champagne at Woodstock Film Festival 2007) This year, since my new film isn't ready, I'll be a judge at the Woodstock Film Festival in Woodstock, NY. I love this festival for so many reasons, but primarily, it's always my official way of welcoming the autumn, my favorite season. My fab producer Noelle Vaccese and her sister Joy animated the signal film (an animated intro to each screening with the woodstock logo at the end), so they will be in attendance, along with Signe Baumane and Bill Plympton, who are also judging. Any filmmakers out there, i highly encourage you to submit your work to them next year! (photo below: Noelle Vaccese and Patrick Smith at Woodstock 06)

That was a busy summer...

2008-09-25T14:11:00.002-04:00

You know, i always forget to talk about what me and my studio are up to. This has been a busy summer (not that i'm short on montauk beach excursions). We've been slammed with a commision of nine segments for the new Electric Company for Sesame St. workshop. I know I slag off doing projects for kids, but i really enjoyed animating these.
In addition to the Electric Company Job, we've been busy on a number of fine art commisions, including a colossal mural for the new Salvation Army headquarters in Manhattan, a project that i'm really excited about.
Recently, we just wrapped up a music video for Disney featuring the bird filled "Tiki Room" (above). It was a fun project because I love the challenges of animating along side live action characters. We also did several segments of a childrens music video for "Ralph's World", another Disney show, both were done through Ghost Robot productions. ALSO we animated a Three minute video for Samantics Productions, kind of a jazzy school house rock type thing.

And, as always, on the forefront is a new independent animated film, which I've mentioned very often, the film "Masks", a collaboration with the composer of "Drink", Karl vonKries. We had a sneak preview of it last week at Marthas Vinyard Film Festival, and I was stoked about the reaction it got. It's by far my best work. What are you up to?

Chillin' with Richard Williams...

2008-09-17T10:49:00.012-04:00

It's not every day you get to have a drink with a legend. Me and Bill Plympton met up with Richard Williams and his wife mo up at his hotel, he's in town for his MOMA show, and over the course of an hour, I was able to talk to him about everything from working under Art Babbit, Ken Anderson, and Milt Kahl, to their techniques, personalities, similarities and differences. (below, a really crappy iphone photo of me and Dick)I was hesitant to get the conversation away from regular stuff like what we're up to, and how the weather is in Bristol, (i'm always up for convos about England).. but then i just finally said, "richard.. i'm sure tons of people ask you this.. but what was it like to work with Art Babbit?" i was happy to see his eyes light up.. and he just talked for 1/2 hour straight, his jet lag seemed to disappear. One of the things that stood out was that Art Babbit did a lot of "pick up and trace" animation... which is the process of picking up the top sheet of paper, pivoting it at the joint of the character, and tracing the new position. This is a technique that I do all the time and i've always thought it was a lame cheat. We also talked about the value of solid drawing, as well as a personal theory i have, that animators spend so much time finding the "easy" way to do things, that if they just did it the hard way, they would finish quicker! he slapped me on the knee and told me he couldn't have said it better himself. I also LOVED the stories of how Art and Ken were IMPROVING even into their 80's. Dick said he witnessed it personally. These guys were the real thing. Outside of that, we discussed self taught animators, something we have in common. After we had a drink, I cabbed down to a party for Woodstock Film Festival, which I'm judging the first week of October. stayed out too late talking endlessly about Richard Williams to other filmmakers who didn't even know who he was.

Abstraction...

2008-08-29T09:29:00.005-04:00

These are stills of a secret independent film project i've been working on with the design studio Plus et Plus. I animated the 500+ drawings and we rendered every frame in pencil (needless to say, it's taken quite a bit of time). The result is really shocking, very fluid, and surprizingly graphic, especially with it's Massive Attack inspired score. stay tuned.. i'll let you know when it's all done, should be within the next couple weeks.

Influence: Tom Otterness....

2008-08-11T13:18:00.006-04:00

I love the work of Tom Otterness. I've admired his public art for years, and always have considered him one of my biggest influences. We have a specific thing in common: We both utilize the approachability of the cartoon image in order to convey a more thought provoking idea or expression. I was asked once about my approach, and i said that it's like carving an important message onto the chest of a fluffy bunny. the fluffy bunny being the cartoon, the message being the idea i want to convey. Otterness definitely outdid my statement though, in 1977, he actually killed a dog as part of a looped video installation, something which he apologized profusely for later in his career. This is how i think of Toms sculptures... when you see them in public you are drawn to them because of their innocence and approachability, and then, you're hit over the head with meaningful artistic missives. not too far from killing an innocent animal, minus the blatent law breaking and disgusting morals. I'm willing to bet that Tom has no use goofy whacky cartoon animation that exists for the purpose of entertaining the mob, or worse, children of the mob. The difference between art and entertainment can often be summed up as attempting to either make the audience laugh, or think. I've never had an interest in amusing people. Tom Otterness's images are filled with urban tales that hold up his social commentary. and the vehicle that he chooses to use, public bronze sculpture, eliminates any pretension that would interfere with his message. check out his site, chances are he has a public art project to check out very close by.

Diving Bell and the Butterfly.... Schnabel's masterpiece..

2008-07-25T11:30:00.005-04:00

It takes a painter to make a film like "Diving Bell and the Butterfly". There are moments in this wonderful film that only a painter could ever think up. One scene in particular, a long moment of a girls wind blown hair in an automobile is so subtle, hypnotic, and beautiful, it seems to be lifted directly from one of his abstract paintings.I was fortunate enough to visit Julian Schnabel's studio in Montauk this winter (all the cool kids have studios out in montauk;), and it was so inspiring that I jumped at the opportunity to go see "diving bell and the butterfly", as well as several other of his films, ie "basquiat, and "before the night falls", the later of the two is another epic film worth it's length in gold.
Netflix Before the Night Falls. Netflix Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Ridley Scott influenced by Classic Painter Gerome...

2008-07-22T16:51:00.008-04:00

I love this... "Gladiator" is such a triumph on so many levels, it wasn't a surprise to read this quote by Ridley Scott (article here), citing Jean Leon Gerome's Gladiator painting as the reason he agreed to make the film:

“I’ve known Walter Parks, the head of DreamWorks for years, he came in and gave me the script and said, ‘I don’t want you to read it yet as it needs a lot of work but this is what it’s all about.’ He then showed me this painting by a French painter called Gerome, I looked at it and said, ‘I’ll do it.’ He looked at me, shocked, and said, ‘But you don’t know what it’s about!”- Ridley Scott

As I watched "Gladiator" again, in preperation for this entry, the classical influence really becomes apparent in terms of cinematography, color, and dramatic compositions. Jean Leon Gerome is one of those ridiculously amazing painters that came from the apex of the french school in the late 19th century, that ebbed due to the rise of modern art that started with Manet and his Salon de Refuses. One of my favorite books of all time is The Judegment of Paris, by Ross King, a book that examines this incredible decade of art history.

Influence: Makoto Aida

2008-07-21T15:02:00.005-04:00

There's been so much written about the Japanese artist Makoto Aida, that I feel a bit behind the times to say that I've just recently gotten into his work (he's another epic artist that Kristin Dalton pointed me to, she's on a roll). This "Blender" piece above has obvious characteristics that I'm drawn to, the configurations of the figures become a human "stew", whose gruesome and violent result is clearly and horrifically shown as the iconic modern kitchen tool, the blender, does it's work on humanity(specifically female humanity). it's just such a powerful piece on so many levels. It has a nice Rubens quality, a bit of a modern twist of "overthrow of the damned". (one of my favorite pastimes is linking contemporary artists to the classics, just can't resist). Anyway, possibly one of the coolest things about Makoto Aida is that there's not a clear direction to his work.. and it's kind of rad. He's a bit of a "what is he going to do next" type of guy. Here's a great article that explains what I'm talking about more. enjoy.

Another Patrick Smith....

2008-07-17T16:19:00.006-04:00

How rad is this? There is another Patrick Smith, and he happens to be not only a really good artist, but also, an amazing animator! I dig it. I don't know Patrick, but we do have a few friends in common. Check out his site VectorPark, there's some really interesting stuff, my favorite is the interactive animation called "Spider", it's highly addictive, and I can't get enough of making the little spider with sticky little legs walk around! Enjoy, and thanks Patrick Smith, from Patrick Smith.

Influence: More on Gustav Vigeland...

2008-07-16T12:03:00.006-04:00

I discussed the influence of Gustav Vigeland a while back, and I wanted to continue. I originally was drawn to Vigeland due to his use of structural compositions that utilize the figures as a way to build broad configurations (like my drawings, and the sculpture above). Now, another aspect of his work that I'm beginning to appreciate is his use of dynamic, yet truthful, expressive poses that create intimate and subtle relationships between his characters (in my experience, dynamism often relies on exaggeration and not truthful representation). He's a master at rendering multiple characters, and this is even more evident when he's dealing with only two or three. He renders every character with severe emotion within the context of the other character. This sculpture above is so beautiful, i have no words... the only thing that comes to mind is... truth , clarity, strength, humanity and love. At first I was so impressed with his use of structure and weight that I didn't register the emotional content (a product of the differences in my own life, then and now, i guarantee). I can't wait to visit Norway and see these sculptures!

Bad Posture...beware!

2008-07-15T11:49:00.004-04:00

Let's talk about posture.. fellow artists. A while back I worked with a very talented director, in the course of the time we worked together I visually noticed this poor posture, turning into a slouch, turning into an actual physical condition! I noticed it a few other times, especially with older artists. As I write this, i'm straightening up a bit... i'm not kidding.. we live our lives hunched over a canvas, computer screen, or drawing table... it could happen to you!!

More on Scale... Ron Mueck..

2008-07-10T13:31:00.005-04:00

Scale is power. It gives art a larger than life energy. Ron Mueck utilizes this concept throughout his amazingly realistic and often disturbing sculptures. I was thrilled to learn that some of his background is in film, transitioning into fine art in the late 90's. I've always been proud of my own background in television production, and i love to learn that other fine artists have similar histories. If you haven't seen some of his work in person, he's def worth seeking out. Mueck's early career was as a model maker and puppeteer for children's television and films, notably the film Labyrinth for which he also contributed the voice of Ludo, and the Jim Henson series The Storyteller.

Sketchbook: Fun with Spheres...

2008-07-08T15:55:00.006-04:00

Whenever i'm depressed about drawing, or can't seem to loosen up enough to animate, i fall back to my "fun with spheres" game. basically, you draw a sphere, and you place characters onto it, holding it, being crushed by it.. whatever. and what happens is that you gradually loosen up within the context of space, weight, perspective and balance. in addition, i always draw in ink, so you're further forced to give your characters energy and movement. let me know if this little exercise helps anyone else, i swear by it! above is a page from my sketchbook from this past week.

Rant: Trying not to turn too much inward...

2008-06-30T13:50:00.007-04:00

One of the things I struggle with is the temptation to look inward, at yourself, and confuse that with something artists should represent. There is a killer combo of personal life's experience and solid observation. But when you fall into the trap of thinking it's all about you, your drawings become weak, and you enter that depressing era of modern art, where it takes a cadre of art historians and critics to tell you how important the work is. This comic strip by John Campbell sums that up, check out his other work as well, good stuff. As artists, our first responsibility is to represent the natural world we live in, or those we live with, and to express that in emotional terms that others can relate to. Getting lost in self indulgence is something that happens way too often in fine art.

Inspiration..Remember this song?

2008-06-16T12:52:00.004-04:00

I suppose it's a bit cheezy and nostalgic, but I hadn't listened to this song in a really long time, and it reminded me of how music can augment brilliant writing, and can just give you an inspiring jolt of life! It's rumored that this was written by Kurt Vonnegut, and was published in the chicago tribune back in 1996... but all that could be wrong... i like the thought that kurt wrote it though. also, visually this video is fairly useless, just listen to the music. cheers.

Masks... Consumption.. other stuff...

2008-06-11T10:54:00.003-04:00

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. -Oscar Wilde. This image above sums up a strong theme in my recent work, that of consumption, greed, and abuse of the environment and it's resources. This consumption occurs with our "masks" firmly in place. Ultimately, the consumer will be the loser, and be the one that is wiped out. everything else will return with time. The only remains will be empty masks rocking in the wind. In my film, the "little dudes" seen above are early on the victim of over harvesting in order to satisfy a gluttonous need.
My fascination with masks is really only beginning with my next animated short. I've been collecting masks for years, shown above is a Balinese mask, used for the Barong Dance, one of the many mind-blowing things I saw during my time in Indonesia almost a decade ago, a time that directly influenced the artwork i'm currently interested in.

An Important Work of Contemporary Classical Art...

2008-06-09T18:01:00.019-04:00

Classical art, the meaningful expression and spine tingling emotion that exudes timelessness and inspiration, is apparently alive and well. The large painting by Graydon Parrish, The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy: September 11, 2001, in the New Britain (Connecticut) Museum of Art, reminds us all what painting can express, above all other mediums and even language itself. This level of communication can easily be thought of as dead, and I didn't find it surprizing that this piece has been railed on by many "top critics" of art. Graydon Parrish brings us back to a time in human history when painters were commissioned for extraordinary work. Graydon has filled this piece with horrific expressions of unbelievable pain and suffering, something we all endured that horrible day and can relate to all too well. The symbolism alone is worth decades of study and reflection. It's definitely worth a visit to the New Britain Museum of Art. NPR Story on Graydon: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6638786. Graydon is a colleague of my studio mate Tony Curanaj, an impressive painter in his own right who i'll be blogging about soon.As Parrish Notes: "Only through the most arduous study can one create art. Each picture I paint is based on thorough research in the science of light, form, and technique as well as the study of the old masters- and their history".

Drawing digital vs. a REAL drawing....

2008-06-05T10:59:00.008-04:00

I've been doing a lot of sketching in flash, usually when i'm on a conference call and people want to see designs immediately, or just when i don't want to be bothered with scanning pencils. BUT... I really believe that it is quite different, and TOTALLY not as good in terms of emotional connection and tangibility, in the context of something that is real vs. something that doesn't truly exist. While I was drawing yesterday in flash, in preparation for this blog entry, the program quit out and I lost a very good drawing. Con #1 for flash, IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXIST. don't forget that. I posted a model sheet for a project i'm doing for sesame street (well, not the gun drawing, that was just for fun). the drawing above was drawn with a cintiq in flash, the one below is scanned from paper(ingram bond, HB lead)... what differences can you see?

Nothing to do with animation, Wyoming Trip...

2008-06-02T13:46:00.012-04:00

I can never resist an invite to a new place. I'm that guy that you really need to think before asking "hey patrick, you should come visit" because i will. This is what happened when artist Kristin Dalton was visiting New York City last month. I made a few client meetings in Denver in order to write some of the trip off, and off I went in the middle of a super busy production schedule (we're doing over 5 commercial gigs at once, as well as my short masks here at blend), but it was SO worth it. Not only did i get a chance to meet kristin's friends and family, but i got to do things that a nyc metro-sexual dude NEVER gets to do, like shooting guns (my fav was the 357 mag, 9mm pictured above), four wheeling, branding cows(me and dan the rancher pictured above), drinking 50 cent pbr's, and eating yummy biscuits and gravy (thanks becky!). It's amazing how little we americans travel within our own massive country!

Kung Fu Panda...Are you kidding me?

2008-06-02T13:38:00.002-04:00

Just once i would like a big budget hollywood animation production to be something important. Something for future generations of film fans, animators, and artists to admire and study. Kung Fu Panda? christ. I hate animation so much sometimes.

Pratt Animation Show May 27th...

2008-05-19T14:50:00.011-04:00

It's that time of year again, when my animation students at Pratt Institute showcase their films that they have been working on all year. This year you won't want to miss some of these talented students. Pratt Animation Show, Anthology Film Archives, 2nd Ave. and 2nd Street, New York City, Tuesday May 27th, 8pm
I think all the films came out quite well. My personal favorites are "Sea People" by animator Maya edelman. Maya depicts a beach scenario filled with distasteful freaks, and a lone, humble girl who tries to coexist in peace. Mayas style has been developing over the last few years, and she's really pulled it together for her thesis production.
Another worth noting is Isam Prados, "Fish Have No Feelings" (pictured above), a dark and disturbing tale about a young womans struggle as a captive in a marriage, and her actions to free herself. I'm sure you will see more of Isam's work in the coming years. Other's that catch the eye is the bizarre "Adventures in Broccoli" by Dan Mountain. Several other great films by the very talented Chris Ko and Jen Lee, both interns of mine from last semester. The very experimental work of Javen Ivey, who has been assisting the animator PES this semester, and his association with such a talented pro has really rubbed off on his own work. Also, the graphic flash animation of Nathan Gooden, and a dramatic folk tale by Andrew Iyageh are both worth noting. And Jonathan Denny offers the sole stop motion from my class, and there's many more! So please try to attend, and please let the students know what you think of their works.

Jonathan Royce Blog...

2008-05-12T10:49:00.006-04:00

I first met Jonathan Royce when he hired me as a designer on "Doug" over 10 years ago (gasp!) at Jumbo Pictures, an old new york studio that at the time had just been bought out by Disney(it is now called "cartoon pizza" unfortunate new name, but still a great studio). It's the same studio that I started hanging out with my best bud and studiomate of seven years, Tony Curanaj. Jumbo Pictures put so many talented artists together in a soho loft, there was bound to be lasting friendships. Anyway, I've always respected Jonathan Royce's subtle storytelling, and versatility as a designer. There is so much care involved in every single one of his drawings. Flipping through his sketchbook can be a bit overwhelming, revealing the thought process that has created so many thought provoking adventures that dwell within his comics. "Keef and Bruno" has been a concept he's been doing for decades. His blog is mostly just posted images, and hopefully he will start to write out more of his thoughts, but enjoy!

Studio Visit with Patrick Smith...

2008-04-28T12:49:00.003-04:00

This was part of the show "Art or Something Like It", a television series that focuses on NYC artists, filmmakers, actors, etc. I apoligize for saying "beat the crap" twice, in two different contexts. whatev's. This aired last fall. It's a cool show that also featured Lloyd Kaufman and Gregory Barsamian.

New Plympton Feature "Idiots and Angels"...

2008-04-23T11:29:00.007-04:00

I'm not just talking smack when i say that this is the best plympton feature ever. actually, i believe he was chillin' at my pad in Montauk when he made the earliest sketches for this film. Bill was very insistent on sharing his storyboards with our nyc clique, welcoming comments early on (a great method that i have totally adopted. feedback in the early stages is key). "Idiots and Angels" will be premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, a few blocks from my studio. it takes place April 23-May 4. Bill Plympton's "Idiots and Angels" is a dark comedy about a morally bankrupt man struggling to hide the good side of himself, which manifests itself in a pair of angel wings that just won't go away. If you can't see it in Tribeca, it's also in competition at Annecy this june in france.photo above, Bill Plympton, Patrick Smith, Sarah Phelps, PES, Amid Amidi, and CC Edwards, at my last gallery show in feb., bill had just finished his rough cut for "idiots and angels".

Nearest I ever got to the legend....

2008-04-16T11:06:00.003-04:00

From Left: Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston at the Disney lot, and Patrick Smith with Randy Haycock same location, decades later. I'd say my hand is about the same place as Ollies. The official press release has been posted all over now.

Ollie Johnston 1912-2008

2008-04-15T14:45:00.003-04:00

I'm speechless, and incredibly sad. The 9 old men are now gone, truly an end of an era. Ollie Johnston was a great man, an inspiration to me personally. This was sent via Cartoon Brew from Roy Disney....

“Ollie was part of an amazing generation of artists, one of the real pioneers of our art, one of the major participants in the blossoming of animation into the art form we know today. One of Ollie’s strongest beliefs was that his characters should think first, then act…and they all did. He brought warmth and wit and sly humor and a wonderful gentleness to every character he animated. He brought all those same qualities to his life, and to all of our lives who knew him. We will miss him greatly, but we were all enormously enriched by him.”

Ted Kierscey's pencils for "Firebird"...

2008-04-04T10:53:00.007-04:00

I ripped this extra off of the Fantasia DVD anthology, a set that every animator should own (buy it! worth every penny). This is possibly the greatest extra on any DVD i know of (the glen keane stuff on tarzan comes close), it is simply stunning the amount of detail and dedication to timing and mood that Ted Kierscey was able to put into this sequence. It puzzles me that Ted Kierscey is not a household name, which he clearly should be. I show this sequence to my students every year, just to remind them(and myself) what this medium is capable of accomplishing. In particular, what the pencil on a piece of paper can accomplish; texture, tangibility, and an overall essence that only a hand carved line can create. I've watched this so many times, and it never fails to invigorate me to animate!

Rant: Escape the Echo Chamber...

2008-04-03T11:52:00.001-04:00

I was reminded about this idea when "pierce sisters" wasn't nominated for an oscar. Everyone was so shocked, since it had won every major animation festival. A similar thing happened with Joanna quinns "dreams and desires" (another fav of mine) which wasn't even nominated! Instead of blaming the academy (which people LOVE to do), i think you need to realize that animation is often an echo chamber, and what you may think is common knowledge, happens to be only common to animation people (an incredibly small, often lame, bubble). I believe in the effectiveness of finding other crowds, and "crossing over" to them, diversitize. Most people, even artists, don't know what Aardman is, or Plympton, or glen keane. That's just a fact. and actually, there's even echo chambers within the industry, for example, i could not tell you a single creator of any cartoon network show, they don't cross over to my independent world. As an animator, most of us are qualified to dabble into many fields. ie, I'm not a huge fan of Gary Basemans art, but he excels at being diverse, working in many facets of the art world.

"Firebird" a Modern Disney Triumph.....

2008-03-28T10:36:00.003-04:00

I have no idea why "Fantasia 2000" isn't heralded to be just as great as the original "Fantasia". and just like the original used "Night on Bald Mountain" as the grand, enormous finale, "Fantasia 2000" uses Stravinky's "Firebird". It's a reminder of what drawn animation can accomplish, especially when combined with truly great music, like Stravinsky.

New Commercial...

2008-03-27T10:38:00.003-04:00

Take a look at a recent television spot i produced for a breakthrough hearing device. I've always enjoyed doing commercials, and have never considered producing them as "selling out", actually i think it's very legit, and can be really artistic and challenging. this spot was a record production time for me, we did the whole thing in under two weeks, including post. you'll probably recognize the similar look my Zoloft work, which was the clients specific request.

Andy London's "Letter to Colleen"

2008-03-21T12:41:00.004-04:00

Andy and Carolyn Londons new film "Letter to Colleen". I'm not a huge fan of the roto-scoped style, so perhaps it's the honest and daring writing and overall feel that makes "Letter to Colleen" one of the strongest films I've seen in some time. It's a place that I wish more animators would travel to, deep into their own personal realities to share something that defines not only who they are, but the world and our society in general, what we hate as well as what we love. It's that special type of story that can only be drawn from personal experience, and when shared, enlightens us all. "Letter to Colleen" shows us a shred of what animation can accomplish when it leaves typical storytelling conventions behind. Here's a great article about the film, which premiered last year at the Hamptons film festival.

Help Emru Townsend!

2008-03-19T12:51:00.005-04:00

Animation writer and critic Emru Townsend was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and needs to find a matching donor for a bone marrow transplant. His best chance to find a match comes from a donor who shares his ethnic background, he's the Son of two African Caribbean parents, a further challenge is the fact that blacks are underrepresented in Bone marrow registries worldwide. There is info about Emru and how to register to become a donor at Healemru.com. a site his folks set up. Please pass this call for help to your friends, maybe there is somebody that can help. Emru is pictured above, at the Ottawa Animation festival, hanging out with Ward Jenkins and myself.

Rant: Persepolis should have won the Oscar...

2008-03-18T15:07:00.005-04:00

Was I the only one that was disappointed about Ratatouille winning over Persepolis? Persepolis is a ground breaking film, the subject matter is serious and educational (it's practically a doc for those of us who don't know anything about the fascinating history of Iran) and is delivered in a heartfelt and entertaining way. The film is also incredibly timely, in a day where tensions are so high due to a clash of civilizations. It really proves that a medium that is too often dismissed as "for kids" can carry a mature theme, even with a limited style. btw, there's some great animation in this film, it's basic, but nicely timed. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend checking it out. Oh, and totally not related, but the director Marjane Satrapi is a total babe.

South Dakota State University Retrospective...

2008-03-17T10:56:00.006-04:00

Imagine "Fargo", but filled with really cool people, amazing food(best burgers ever), and a curious lack of cold weather. That's what South Dakota was like. I had a great time at SDSU! it's a random place to travel for a screening, but ended up being one of my best attended shows ever. I had a blast hanging out with the SDSU faculty, who were just the best hosts a new yorker could ever ask for! Professor Cable Harding showed me around, and hung out with dept. head Dr. Norman Gambill, who makes the best martini ever. Images above: me talking too much to the crowd, I probably just should have shut up and showed the dang films.

Closer Look: Night on Bald Mountain...

2008-03-04T15:53:00.013-05:00

Have you sat and watched "Night on Bald Mountain" recently? It is a sobering experience to be reminded what fine, truthful, and master-crafted animation can accomplish. This segment of "Fantasia" encompasses so many elements of quality film making, that I'm finding it hard to even discuss, you may try reading this article by Michael Koresky. I'm simply in awe of this segment of Fantasia and it's accomplishments. I can't possibly begin to point out all the great aspects of this animation.Above, It begins with an incredible opening, the image of Chernabog coming to life on the precipice of a steep rocky mountain. The simple but dramatic and raw power in the drawings of Bill Tytla is enough to give you the chills.Turning into a multimedia technique(which happens throughout), we see ghosts and spirits, brilliantly rendered in pastel, or by using camera effects, rising from the ground, and riding up toward the mountain. There are moments of true brilliance through horrific imagery of demons, spirits, and lost souls. One of my favorites is the realistically rendered dancing female figures in flames. Most of the demon characters end up be morphed into sacrificial beasts, or simply cast down into flames after a playful exchange within hands of Chernabog. "If it’s the enormousness of Fantasia that still reverberates to this day, then it’s the film’s beatific final statement that still manages to surprise" That quote sums up the ending of "Night on Bald Mountain", as well as the ending of the feature itself. the animated rendition of "Ave Maria" is an incredible victory over the evil imagery that came before it. So, in closing, next time you get into a discussion of "Sponge Bob", or "Family Guy" (and yes, you CAN compare them, one is crap, one is brilliant), remember what has truly had an impact within art history, and re-discover what powerful, quality animated content can be. Cease this artform!!!!

A Rant: "Story" isn't all that....

2008-03-02T17:55:00.012-05:00

Nobody ever challenges the idea that if you don't have a good story, you can't make a good film. This is not true. There are elements just as important, and in my opinion, even more important than story. I'm talking about CHARACTER, CONCEPT, and IMAGERY. I love a good story as much as anyone else, but it's simply not the only key ingredient. Perhaps this is yet another influence from me getting into fine art; painters do not use story, they use mostly concept and imagery. And i've found that my favorite films and animation are of this same spirit.
Above, an image from one of my favorite films of all time, Ron Frick's "Baraka", a film that has no story, just beautiful mind blowing IMAGERY of our world and it's people. Pictured above is the memorable "Kecak" Balinese dance sequence. haven't seen this film? run to netflix.
Above is a still from Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused" a great movie that has no real story whatsoever, yet you just don't want it to end, you're attached to the CHARACTERS, you can just keep watching them, doesn't matter what their doing. it's the type of film like "Trees Lounge" where you feel like the movie is still going, playing out right along with the lives of the characters.
And of course, a still from Fantasia, several individual sections of this masterpiece have strong story (sorcerers apprentice, night on bald mt), but the element that makes Fantasia epic is it's connection to the music, and the CONCEPT of great classical music guiding the IMAGERY as a whole. I'm thinking about this stuff a lot lately, because i'm neck deep in a film that is dependent on imagery and music (Masks), and ironically, i think people will probably say it has the best "story" of any of my films. It's an easy mistake to confuse "Story" with "Concept". more on that another time.

School me: Hedgehog in the fog....

2008-03-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

I will be the first to admit that I don't understand why the acclaimed work of Yuri Norstein "Hedgehog in the Fog" is an important film, it's OK, i like it, but for so long I heralded it as a masterpiece, not knowing why. I spoke of it because as an animator you're SUPPOSED to admire that film. But I just don't see it anymore. Maybe I'm stupid, and I don't get it, maybe I don't fully appreciate stop motion, maybe i'm too stuck on drawn animation(admitting biased). But I suspect, it's another piece of the brainwashing that goes on in art school, and I still have traces of it. At the same time, you will rarely hear about how brilliant the "rite of spring" is in fantasia. which, in art school, is quickly classified at disney stuff. There are several films like this that, after animating now for over a decade (i'm a friggin' child to this art form), i'm beginning to see an overstated value. again, nothing wrong with these films, they are quite good, but i don't get the pedestal they are placed on. Someone school me!

Overlooked: Flowers from "The Wall"...

2008-02-21T10:33:00.003-05:00

This sexually charged flower scene from the wall is one fine piece of animation. I really think that a good piece of animation has more to do with the overall IDEA than it does with STORY. Story is nice if you're telling a long tale to kids, but expressing an IDEA is acting more of a painter, and less of an entertainer. Leave character antics aside, leave jokes, gags, all that crap. it's the concept that has the punch. It's also the visual display that works here. People have asked me where I got the idea for "DRINK", and honestly, although this may be a let down, I simply wanted to draw something cool, something that would express a simple idea and would look rad. This piece from "The Wall" is interesting to me personally because i usually shy away from overtly sexual content, i think it's easy. But this goes beyond simple sex content, and really explores the STRUGGLE that is always inherently present during a sexual relationship.

Saturday Screening of "PUPPET", NYC...

2008-02-14T11:52:00.004-05:00

Come out and see my last film "Puppet" screening at the New York Downtown Film Festival this Saturday, Feb. 16th, 8pm. DUO Theatre 62 East 4th St., East Village. Should be a good show. See you there!

Photos from Riot Opening...

2008-02-14T10:23:00.010-05:00

The show was packed, despite the insane snow. Riot is an incredible space, and really knows how to throw a party. The biggest thank you of the night goes out to Riot's event coordinator Dean Mathiesen.
So, pictured above is me (name in way too large lettering) with rocking animators from Pratt, from left, Lee Rubinstein, Katie Cropper, Manny Rodriguez, Maya Edelman, Isam Prado, and Anthony Lamberti.
Above is me, Noelle Vaccese, and animator Arthur Metcalf. Big thanks to Noelle, my fab assistant, who saved my life this past week.
Here is a photo of animator Bill Plympton, me, Sarah Phelps, animator PES, writer Amid Amidi, and leaning into the show is no other than writer/artist CC Edwards.
Patrick Smith and Barbara Kearney. Barbara was my first ever (totally over-qualified) assistant, back in 2004, and now she has gone to become a big shot at Technicolor, I was stoked she made it to the opening. The show will be up through March, Please let Dean Mathiesen, or Noelle Vaccese know if you want to come by and view the paintings.

RIOT PSmith Gallery Show...

2008-02-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

Photo: from my show last sept., standing in front of Colossus! If you're in New York, please come by RIOT Tuesday night to view over 10 new paintings, and drink the night away! (well, kind of, it ends at 10) I'll be showing several large canvas's as well as plywood "street art" cut outs. I just got back from the space, and it's looking pretty dang nice! So I hope to see some of you bloggers there, and def say hi, I have a special gift for anyone who tells me they came because of this blog! ciao- patrick.

NYC Performer Reggie Watts....

2008-02-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

I saw this dude in a variety show here in Tribeca last month, and it was insane. He's a brilliant experimental musician, and his stuff just pulls you in. it's totally addictive. I'll try to describe his stuff... it's a mixture of human beat box, pop culture movie references, comedy and improv, with some kind of sampler machine. I was blown away to learn that he does most of his stuff add lib. and most importantly, it's just some groovin' home grown beats. really, check this dude out. In addition, I was walking down Rivington st the other night with Amid Amidi and we bumped into him and his buddies, i told him his stuff was nuts, and he seemed like a legit fella. i'd kill to collaborate with this dude. I'm borderline obsessed with experimental music like this, partly due to my collaboration with Karl vonKries for "Masks", which is going well. ciao

FANTASIA thoughts....

2008-01-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Above is the mushroom dance, part of the Nutcracker suite by by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. If you don't own the two volume Fantasia set, go now and buy it(jeez!) . Everyone should own this, the extras alone are worth the cost.

I believe that Fantasia is the most innovative, experimental, groundbreaking, quality, thought provoking, amazing animated feature of all time. It must kill "disney haters" and avant-guard gurus that one of the most experimental and revolutionary pieces of film came from Disney, and furthermore, they actually used Mickey Mouse(the symbol for hollywood and capitalist evil worldwide) in one of the best segments! I friggin' love it. I can hear hundreds of annoyingly artsy animators groaning at the thought. Also, I have to point out how amazing Fantasia 2000 was. I think they did a great job extending the concept into this millennium, it surprises me how little you hear about Fantasia 2000, perhaps, like it's predecessor, it will take a while for it to be truly appreciated.

Great "Star Wars" post by Mark Kennedy...

2008-01-28T13:25:00.000-05:00

Mark Kennedy nails it once again, with possibly the best crit of this 70's masterpiece I've ever read. Star Wars is just such a brilliant film in so many ways, and Mark points several things that will really get you thinking about the elements that make quality visual storytelling. "Star Wars" is one of those movies that I think every filmmaker should watch every year. right along with pulp fiction, ET, and the shawshank redemption:)... maybe american history x for the curb stomping scene.

"Most people think a flowery exchange of dialogue between two characters or a long monologue from an actor to the audience is what "great writing" is but I totally disagree. Ninety-five percent of writing is structuring the events of the story correctly so that they are in the right order, build properly and resolve themselves in a satisfying (and hopefully surprising) way" -Mark Kennedy

Bozzeto's Ravel-Bolero....

2008-01-24T16:48:00.000-05:00

My favorite segment of Bruno Bozzeto's Allegro Non Troppo has to be the coke bottle piece done to Maurice Ravel's Bolero. It's one of my favorite pieces of classical music of all time, and it works with Bruno's storytelling perfectly. To those of you who have not seen this piece, relax and enjoy, it's a bit long but totally worth it. The DVD is available on Bruno's site. On a personal note, I was able to spend some time with Bruno two years ago while he was visiting New York, and he's truly an amazing guy, filled with laughs and knows how to "arrive" at a party, although his gaggle of stunningly beautiful italian daughters may have helped a bit.

Influence: Animator and Muralist "Blu"

2008-01-23T01:45:00.000-05:00

(image: left is a detail from a Blu mural, right is a psmith painting)I have just recently come upon the work of Blu. It's one of those rare circumstances where another artist is creating very similar images to your own, but neither of you are in contact or even know of each others work (albeit, Blu is certainly more widely known). The obvious thing i'm drawn to about his work is the way he builds larger configurations out of smaller, individual figures, and then puts these pieces in the public view, murals in his case(read importance of scale entry). But I also love the somewhat awkward rendering of his characters, it gives his pieces a level of uncertainty that suggests the outcome of his images are not clear, a brilliant way to be an observationalist (not a word, but you get my jist). after all, what is an observation other than a snippet of time, the result of which is unknown (perhaps predictable, but unknown). furthermore, his animation has that element of "people coming out of people" similar to what I explore in several of my films, especially my film "Drink"(image on right: Drink and a still from Blu's wall mural animation). Another aspect of Blu's work, outside of his murals, is his animation. He is constantly engaged in morphing and breaking apart his characters in a very unschooled(therefore untimed, but it works), raw, smooth, and playful way. Check out his work, most people only know this famous experimental piece of wall painted animation below.

A Rant: The Value of Art....

2008-01-22T10:09:00.000-05:00

photo: Michelangelo's Pieta, Leonardo self portrait, Jackson Pollock, John Singer Sargent, Sponge Bob, and Glen Keane's immortalized Beast.
If you stumbled on a material piece of art on the street would you stop to admire it or maybe pick it up? does it provoke serious and quality thought? Is it beautiful (even in a horrific or disturbing sense) Is it made to stand the test of time, will it last? are the materials valuable? is the content timeless, or will it only be understood within the context of what is currently in fashion? Is it created with expert craftsmanship by an artist that knows and has studied the medium? In this way, do we admire the craftsmanship of this piece? Does it add or build upon to a rich tradition of thoughtfulness and quality?
Or, is it pretentious, meaningless, self-indulgent crap that has been deemed important by a cadre of "experts" or critics that obviously know way more than you, setting the importance and price. Or, does it exploit human tendencies to be drawn toward the overtly sexual, controversial, outrageous, or the "candylike shinyness" of new technologies (that often don't look all the great after a while). Is it purely entertainment, meant to be consumed, chewed up and spewed out in a fit of laughter? the only resemblance of aesthetic being it's ability to entertain and charm (has it's place perhaps, but can hardly be viewed as a lofty achievement)

Musician: Karl von Kries and "MASKS"

2008-01-17T15:02:00.000-05:00

(photo on left: Karl von Kries and Pat Smith during a visit to Karls studio in Pismo Beach, CA.) Three months ago "Masks" was nearing completion, and then COMPLETELY TRASHED, we can thank Karl von Kries for this. Karl wrote a piece of music which was compelling enough for me to ditch the "man on the street" interview-based concept in favor of an abstract, bizarre, symbolic story. So over a year of hard work and a ton of money wasted. thanks Karl.

Karl von Kries music style is a bit like The Shins getting beaten up by the Afghan Whigs while Radiohead and Jeff Buckley sulk in the shadows. Our first collaboration was on my first film "Drink", and I think the music got more attention than the animation! (photo on right: Karl and Pat recording the sound effects for "Drink" back in 1999) What stands out with Karl is his willingness to experiment and record things that nobody else would, creating atmospheres that match. ie, the music for Drink was fully comprised of sound effects, from yelling to smashing and cracking vegetables. The next film he scored was my 2003 short "Delivery", which was a heck of a lot more traditional in the music sense, but Karl still maintained the bizarre, thoughtful, and perhaps disturbing vibe that was so vital for the context of the film.

For Masks, Karl is at the helm in terms of deciding the pace and timing of the story. The original point of this particular collaboration is that the music will dictate the action. Karl has posted a preview of what to expect on his blog. The story is a tale of exploitation of the weak and the consequences of that ferocious exploitation. In addition, Karl is giving away his 2005 album "Secret Service", check it out at instarmusic.com

Charles Bargue...insane.

2008-01-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

Charles Bargue (1826-1883) created what is probably the most influential and famous series of drawing classes in history. The legendary coursework was created in collaboration with his teacher and mentor, Jean-Léon Gérôme. The book "Charles Bargue, Drawing Course" is probably the best investment a student or pro alike could make, right next to "Illusion of Life". The artwork contained within the book can only be described as stunning and awakening!! it will remind you of the rich history we artists must face if we have the slightest desire to contribute. we truly are tiny specks standing on the shoulder of Colossus! I especially like the ref. to greek art, it's amazing that this type of perfection and craftsmanship was accomplished thousands of years ago. furthermore, the bulk of the book is made up of line studies of figures, especially useful to an animator.

Scene from "Notting Hill" is rad...

2008-01-16T13:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, don't laugh at me, or lose respect. I call it like I see it despite what pretentious film snobs say. so open your mind a sec and look at this scene from Notting Hill. It's well shot, well timed, fg and bg used well, also very emotional, and effective for the story. I'm actually a big Hugh Grant fan, as well as a sucker for cheezy chic flicks. The passage of time is always a fun thing to deal with in a film, my favorite part of this clip isn't necessarily the technical part of the changing seasons, but the sense that the characters are moving in time (ie, the pregnant lady in the start is with a new born at the end, and the couple in the start are breaking up at the end) also, you just gotta love that Bill Withers song, a classic.

Solid Drawing is the difference....

2008-01-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

Arthur Metcalf, Pat Smith, Amid Amidi, and Noelle Vaccese at Kodak. I had an interesting conversation with Amid over drinks last night. We were talking about the difference between works of art that are generally (and unfortunately) clumped together. I pointed out the difference between Jamie Hewlett and Craig Mccracken (see image below). Craigs work will most likely be dropped by art history, but Jamies will continue because his art is solid and not dependent solely on stylistic principles or trends. I love Warhol, but you can't categorize him with a master painter, just like you can't categorize Hisko Hulsing or Borge R ing with Don Hertzfelt (although, i think don can draw way better than he gives himself credit). This all came up after we attended the Kodak screening put on by Signe Baumane, there were such different films all being appreciated on the same level, which is strange, being that some films are crappy gag driven entertainment(produced in a matter of days), and some are highly crafted art. The highlight of the night was all the ooing and ahhing about how difficult and time consuming rotoscoping in flash is. As my traditional animation buddy Guy Barely would say, "wtf man".

New Neighborhood...

2008-01-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

Animators Bill Plympton, Signe Baumane, and Patrick Smith enjoy the smallest house warming party of all time. After over six years of living in Soho, I now call the Lower East Side home! I actually lived on the LES back in 2000, but just for a year. It's changed so much I can't even believe it. So far, the most bizarre thing about the new hood is the uncanny amount of times I bump into people I know. other than that I'm really digging the walk to the tribeca studio every morning through the crowded small streets of China town. This city and it's neighborhoods continue to be a never ending source of inspiration and energy for me.

This poster bothers me....

2008-01-14T08:47:00.000-05:00

I don't get offended. being offended is for the weak and unsure. but there's something basically wrong with the movie posters covering nyc right now, for the film "Cloverfield". I love disaster flicks as much as the next fella, but this imagery is too reminiscent(and exploitive) of that sept. day that still looms in my, and every other new yorkers mind. those of us who stood on rooftops and witnessed the unthinkable. unclaimed cars and airplane parts, there is still plaster debris wedged into the corners of the studios fire escape. so why does a filmmaker feel the need to depict ground zero in ashes again? this blog says it better than i can. and also, a great article in the New York Times. I don't mind movies that depict the destruction of NYC, it's just that this one happens to use the exact location of the attacks. or maybe i should just chill out and realize that it's only entertainment. The Boston Globe said it best:

“The best thing for New York might be the sight of King Kong tramping through the streets of Manhattan on his way to a fateful appointment at the top of the Empire State Building,” Mr. Page wrote. “For if there is one thing that symbolizes New York’s pre-eminence, it is that so many still want to imagine the city’s end.”

Why Skate Culture is Important...

2008-01-11T10:32:00.000-05:00

psmith frontside at the "dept of skateboarding" bowl in PDX, during Platform Animation Festival. Around the time competition screenings were being shown.

The doc "Dogtown and Z-Boys" is a key film to understand why skateboarding is important. Skating has had a major impact on the contemporary world. Overstated? I think I can hear laughter. Culture and skating have been fused since the Z Boys(a group of skaters in the 70's) chose not to follow conventions of a typical sport. They added a rebellious punk aspect that just wasn't there. To them it was a lifestyle, like art or surfing, or rock and roll. Rollerskating didn't have a group like the Z Boys, and look where that ended up.

Every time I go to an animation festival i think about this, i mean, what a bunch of dorks! (gen. speaking of course), talking about pitching, and sponge bob. Why don't animators talk about Sargent, Stravinsky, Keaton or Kubrick, or the stones? This is why I dig animators like Hisko Hulsing and Danny Antonucci, these guys are real artists. Fully engaged in a culture while working incredibly hard to impact art history. These guys, like the Z boys, know whats up, they're just naturally just cool.

"Delivery" reality in animation...

2008-01-09T13:11:00.000-05:00

"This is a wordless and darkly comic piece that turns no action longueurs into the heartbeat of a diabolical comic timing, deftly rendering suspense out of the spaces between movements and expressions."-Animation World Magazine.

If an anvil falls on the head of one of my characters, that character WILL DIE. Furthermore, there will be repercussions of that death, regret, rage, or sadness. So many animated concepts get lost in the "unreal", from talking animals to fairy dust, animation needs a jolt of reality. I've posted my 2003 film "Delivery" HERE to hammer in my point (it's for sale on my site, this is a freebie for you bloggers. it's not even on youtube!). The first version was very graphic when the brother is murdered, lots of blood, and even a dangling spine. I redid it with a somewhat bloodness neck snap, and it became even more twisted and sick than all the blood could have accomplished. "Delivery" premiered at the Slamdance film festival in Park City, 2003, and was a winner at the 2003 ASIFA-East Animation Festival(Association Internationale du Film d' Animation).

One of my Favorite Blogs...

2008-01-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

Mark Kennedy must have one of the most useful blogs on the internet today (well.. for an animator anyway). I constantly link to it and refer to it when I teach, and I lap up his knowledge of everything from design, to layout, to really anything animation. Mark is a storyboard artist with extensive experience and currently works in Los Angeles. Check his blog out, it's called "Temple of the Seven Golden Camels".

Influence: Mike Smith, Natural Born Killers...

2008-01-07T14:53:00.000-05:00

"We ain't gonna murder anybody on our wedding day"

One of my earliest exposures to cool, more independently styled animation was seeing this and other lightning fast clips used in "Natural Born Killers", by Mike Smith. Mike knows a heck of a lot about how to light and color drawn animation, which comes off really well with this twisty "the wall" style clip. But don't blink! it's over really quick.

I was obsessed with this comic oriented sequence for "Tank Girl", but now when I look at it, it doesn't quite hold up, especially if you compare it with the more recent Hewlett designed animation like the Gorillaz. although, i still love the outrageous MTV look to it, and again, the color is fantastic. It's a really solid nice piece of work by Mike Smith.

Secrets from "Illusion of Life" Book.

2008-01-05T20:04:00.000-05:00

Not many people have noticed the several pages of notes in that back of "Illusion of Life" book by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. I've posted them here: page 545, 546, 547, 549, 550 for those freaks out there that don't own at least one copy of that book. they're notes from Ham Luske and Bill Tytla, and can be very helpful. I first read it when i was looking into what Disney guys call the "moving hold", something that's not covered very well in the general text of the book itself, or any other book for that matter. anyway, enjoy. thanks to Anthony the intern for scanning these.

New Year, New Beginnings...

2008-01-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

Photo: Patrick at the lighthouse near his home in Montauk on the last day of 2007.

Those of you who know me are probably aware that I've had a tough several months, and it's nothing I want to get into. But, a new year, moving on past a lot of stuff. A few thoughts: Work is the most important thing in life, and some of us seem to be good at doing little else. Art is the language of the soul, and I feel fortunate to call it my purpose. If you combine a purpose for living with dedicated hard work, you truly have the possibility to accomplish something real, so that's how it'll be. Happy 2008 everyone!- Patrick

Influence: Jamie Hewlett

2007-12-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

Above: Hewlett's been the main influence on the style of my human characters for years, on right, my main character from the upcoming prison film. on left, cover of "rise of the ogre" a must have book of some fine gorillaz artwork!

Jamie Hewlett is hardly a surprising influence of mine, and many other artists. Particularly, I love his sense of cartoon design, how he shys away from the bulbous cartoonyness or overtly "shaped" designs that dominate animation today. MTV "Downtown" creator Chris Prynoski is a buddy of mine who is also heavily influenced by Jamie, and I can name several other animators whose work is directly effected by Hewlett's drawings. I've always believed that illustrations that rely too much on design are compensating for the inability to draw using the principles of weight and space. Jamie's drawings just look so damn good, a nice balance between detail and minimalism, graphic inks with traces of organic hand drawn line. I got the book "rise of the ogre" for my bday last year, and i'm still picking it up almost daily. it's a bit of a strange read, but worth it for the gorillaz artwork alone.

Gayest Animation Book Cover ever....

2007-12-19T14:56:00.000-05:00

I was shopping for animation books the other day at barnes and noble for Christmas and i came across this gem by Paul Wells. Interesting choice for a cover, don't you think? I couldn't stop laughing, I quickly shared it with all my gay and straight friends alike, and it spread from there like an STD. I haven't read the book, i suppose I'm still shocked by the big naked dudes touching each others man junk on the cover. I've read some of Paul's books before, he's a bit of a intellectual about things that really aren't super sophisticated, but he writes some insightful stuff about animation. (cover art is a still by animator Barry Purves, thanks Brian).

Ratatouille Doesn't Work.

2007-12-18T02:04:00.000-05:00

I bet these are the first neg comments of Ratatouille, (a movie that really grabbed me at first, i'm on like 4 or 5 viewings now). So can someone explain why pulling someones hair controls their movement to such precision? This is a major part of the story, willing suspension of disbelief ruined! The movie is flawless in animation, directing, and basically everything else (it better be for the budget of these flicks). But why am I supposed to care about a rat that cooks? This is the type of souless, useless fantasy content and scenario that keeps animation chained to children's entertainment, or the ultimate in pukability "It's for the child in us all" (hawarf!), and further and further away from becoming something that can be on the cinematic level of "Godfather" or "Shawshank Redemption". (apples to oranges, perhaps) i'm going to chill on the neg posts for a while, i think the violence in masks is poisoning my attitude.

A Rant: I Hate Animation...

2007-12-13T16:29:00.000-05:00

Enjoy the punk rock Goya and a drawing from masks while you read my rant. A recent Cartoon Brew post by Amid Amidi (officially now a New Yorker, a fine addition) has reminded me why I want little to do with the Animation Industry. Why are there so many artists overly concerned with getting a "Pitch" through, with the ultimate goal of what? having a "Funny Show on Television", seems like such an insignificant goal. Where are the artists that are interested in moving the medium forward, or carry on traditions of quality, expression, inspiration, and ultimately having an impact on Art History? I'm so sick of hearing about Cartoon Network, Nick, Pitching, youtube, cintiqs and how Lassater is god. I hate the comic geek and social retard influence on such a legit artform. Society and art will always be linked, and when art is made by complete reject geeks that dwell in a world of fantasy and shallow representation or gutless entertainment for the lame child, what should we expect? well, just turn on the tv.

Influence: Fern Gully, a forgotten 90's feature....

2007-12-11T09:35:00.000-05:00

Bill Kroyers 1992 feature "Fern Gully" is a formulaic, and annoyingly on the nose film, BUT, it has some FANTASTIC animation in it! One of my favorite characters of all time is the Hexxus (voiced by Tim Curry) when he is reborn with help of a bulldozers smoke stack.

"Handshake" illustrating personal emotion...

2007-12-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

It would be timely(regrettably) to discuss my 2004 film "handshake", which is about two people meeting, falling in love, and then one being consumed by the other before casually moving on. The film was made to illustrate the feelings i had about an old relationship that caused substantial heartbreak. "Handshake" has been the best received of any of my films, and i think it's because it illustrates a personal struggle most of us have gone through at one time or another. One of the things i try to tell my students at Pratt is to find that personal story, and illustrate the feelings that make that story meaningful. Too much animation is flaky, light hearted, and stupid. created to entertain kids, or to tell weak, meaningless stories. Animating realistic emotions. that's the stuff. This film is for sale on my site, but for you bloggers, i've posted a high resolution version for free. enjoy.

Importance of scale..

2007-11-29T16:38:00.000-05:00

Photo is me and "Colossus" a 16' painting I did for the CVZ opening in September. I'm currently setting up to do an even larger public piece for next summer. Scale is a part of art that just can't be ignored or underestimated. i mean, look what Christo has accomplished, there's an example of someone who ONLY uses scale, his art sucks, so he depends on scale. I'm truly inspired by Blu, and other artists like him, artists that really take the work to the people! Blu is rad because he uses the whole "building images out of people" thing that i do as well. the real trick is finding a place to actually put it up! if anyone has a wall for me to paint, i'm there. my head's been in animation for so long i gotta play some catch up. later.

New "Paintings" web page...

2007-11-28T12:44:00.002-05:00

We've added a "Paintings" page, which will feature recent and available paintings currently at galleries and in my studio. Special thanks to Andrew Stein who did the photography, and our studio manager Noelle Vaccese for putting it all together. Here is a recent treatment written for an upcoming show:

Patrick Smith’s paintings use simplified human forms as building blocks for complex, patterned configurations. Some figures appear to be struggling, some relaxing, some taking advantage, others reluctantly accepting a burden. Smaller characters might carry the weight of unknowing larger figures, who enjoy tranquil contemplation unaware of those laboring beneath them. Despite these contrasts, an overall optimism emerges. These figures generally aspire to a higher level of mutual support, embodying all the complexities of individuals defined by their positions and actions, not their appearance. The figures Smith paints are iconic representations of us all: featureless, but unquestionably human. Their physical differences are limited to color and size. As I make these observations, I begin to perceive their meaning: we all are part of something larger. Smith has constructed these images to reverberate that simplistic, sublime message to the contemporary world.