SELF-PORTRAIT
As an opportunity to explore animation techniques, I created an abstracted self-portrait that would lend itself well to animation. In this case, abstract does not necessarily mean that the portrait would be a collection of colors and shapes only loosely inspired by reality, but more so taking aspects of myself and finding a new form that embodies them.
Go Sketch Yourself
After I had performed the unenviable task of considering Eli for an extended period, I created an array of designs that would represent my personality and presence adequately. Many were watermelon themed to match the online persona I use outside of my professional site, including an alligator made of melon pieces, or another melon hatching like an egg, or a portrait with yet another one replacing my head. My existing avatar for casual online spaces also makes an appearance. There were a few non-melon related sketches as well, including a pufferfish, a sentient Wild Mike-esque hairball, and an airhorn.
Me, Myself and I
A few of these ideas were singled out for continued refinement, to get a better idea of the intended aesthetic of the final.
The watermelon portrait idea somewhat reversed during this process, now a watermelon without a body, only a face. I used the unique shape of melon leaves to represent my wild hair. The face was designed to have a cartoonish handsomeness to it, not because I have any delusions about my looks, rather, it was for the funny.
Hair is an enormous part of the way I view myself, and about all anyone else can see when they look at me. This approach reduces me to only that hair and an impish grin, with legs poking out in order to carry me to my next shenanigan.
The final idea, the one that would move forward, was the pufferfish (or rather, porcupinefish, if one wants to be pedantic, as I most often do). The physical look of my hair was once again a primary consideration, focused on its volume and puffiness as opposed to its usually wild and unkempt status. It suited my presence and physicality as well, as my loud voice and tall stature cause spaces with me in them to feel very full. Perhaps overly so.
Expanding the Idea
The project continued, and the plan for animation necessitated a change to the design. The circular porthole frame transformed into a fishbowl, where a small porcupinefish would swim out from behind a decoration, be startled, and blow up to fill the entire space, before deflating like a balloon.
It was recommended to me, however, as always, to simplify the idea and suppress my maximalist proclivities. Eventually only the fish remained, without the extraneous elements.
FINAL FUGU
The final aesthetic actually came from a rough animation pass, though its scratchy, messy nature actually fit me better than something clean and sharp, it feels more authentic this way.
