I have been fascinated with animation for
as long as I can remember. Animation has always been magical for me and even
though I am now 22 years old that magic has not disappeared. I first heard of
TAW after I finished high school in 2012. I was looking for animation schools
that were in English and located in Europe and found this school that offers
everything I am looking for.
I have applied to the CA line every year
from 2013. This will be my fourth application because I know that this is the
school for me. I want to study character animation because I want to bring to
life the characters I create and explore the world they inhabit. More
importantly, I want help break the barriers and stigmas that we face as a
society today. In my opinion, animation is a universal language where as an
animator I can communicate with those who speak a different language and live
in a different culture. To become a part of the animation world would be a
dream come true.
In 2012 after I finished high school I
had just missed the application deadline for the bachelor program but I had the
option to apply for the TDA, which I did. I attended two intense but incredibly
rewarding semesters at the TDA where I met amazing people and teachers and had
the opportunity to experience the unique environment of TAW.
During my first semester with Artem and
Aljoscha, in the spring of 2013, I learned the foundations of life drawing. Thanks
to their amazing lessons I learned how to draw life into the human figure by
focusing on movement and dynamics. After a failed application to the CA program
I returned to the TDA for the winter 2013 semester. The second semester I spent
under the tutelage of Mads Peter. I continued to learn life drawing but this
time I focused on construction and proportions, a direction, which introduced
me to new styles of drawing.
Through my time in Denmark I developed
not only as an artist but also as a person and this is one of the things I hold
dearest about TAW. I experienced art and animation in a new way with people. Some
of my friends, who were just as interested in the field of animation as I am,
now attend TAW. My friendships at TAW inspired me to be the best version of
myself both personally and artistically. From a young shy girl I grew into a
bold and determined woman.
I am currently studying graphic design at
The Polish-Japanese Institute of Technology (PJATK) a private university in
Warsaw and my favorite lessons and projects are the ones that include
animation; however the school unfortunately is more focused on communication
design while I am looking to pursue an education and career in animation.
In PJATK I have learned about a lot of
different programs and techniques that I previously did not have access to. I
learned how to be comfortable and swiftly work with Adobe programs such as
Photoshop (which I am proficient in), Premiere (for basic film editing), Flash
(for coding and animation) and AfterAffects (also proficient). Apart from Adobe
programs I have begun learning Maya where I am developing foundations in
modeling and animating. For recreational sketching I use sketchbook and
sketchbook express.
One of my classes last semester was a
film class where I had co-directed my groups’ short film. We went through the
process of writing a script, creating a storyboard and establishing a filming
schedule. I enjoyed the challenges that came with creating the film and it was
an excellent learning opportunity for working with others to create a solid
piece.
Film is a general passion of mine and
films definitely influence and inspire me. One of my favorite films is currently
‘The Graduate’ where I admire how the use of shots, editing and composition was
able to reflect the main characters progression and mindset throughout the
film.
A second favorite of mine is ‘Up’. The
first time I saw this film was soon after my grandfather had passed away. The
experience of Carl mirrored what my grandmother was going through and I was
able to find a connection with the character whose state of mind reflected
somebody’s I love. This is the type of connection I am crazy about in
animation, the ability of a film to touch upon our emotion and to communicate
with us on a basic level, no matter where or who we are in the world. I love
the work of Patrick Lin, who I had the privilege to see at a TAW Talk. His
composition of shots to help tell a story and set specific moods at certain
points of the story is phenomenal and has largely inspired the way I approach
cinematography.
I recently had the chance to watch ‘A Cat
in Paris’ and was immediately drawn in by the theme and style of the movie. The
style of the characters is deeply reminiscent of Modigliani’s work and enhances
the atmosphere of the setting as that of Paris more than realistic depictions
of the city do. I like the idea of using specific art styles and characters native
to the settings to tell a story. Yet, one of my current main stylistic
influences and inspirations is Taryn Knight, whose use of color and simplicity
really appeals to me.
I enjoy most movies and usually try to focus
on the good in a film rather than the bad but sometimes there are films where I
am forced to change the channel of turn them off. I dislike offensive movies,
movies where the main protagonist is undeveloped or uninteresting, and movies
that have poor storylines/storytelling such as ‘TED’, ‘River of No Return’ and ‘Hangover
2&3’
When I am not drawing I like stay active
and keep busy. During my free time I like to meet up with friends, go to the
gym and visit museums. There is so much to do, see and experience that I feel obligated
to try new things. I think a balance between work and personal life is very
important because how can I expect to bring life into a character if I don’t
experience it myself.
When I have the time I like to travel to
new places and explore the areas off the beaten path, just so I can experience
the authentic culture of the place I’m visiting. I think every place has something
unique and special about it even though it might not be obvious on the surface.
Animation is such a versatile medium that
I can see it becoming more popular and abundant in the future than it is now.
From the first animations released by Walt Disney in the 30s to today animation
has taken on so many new forms and branched out to more audiences than ever;
that’s why in the future I can see it continuing to develop in this fashion and
being used for education and entertainment even more than it is being used now.
In the future I hope to be working with
any and all kinds of animation. I can’t wait to explore all the nooks and
crannies of animation, as I believe it is full of possibilities. One day I would
like to be able to start a small independent film studio in Poland to be able
to tell my stories however I would be equally satisfied and happy working any
job in animation.
My main plan for the future is simple- to
be happy. Animation is what makes me happy and it always will. I want to help
contribute to great storytelling and pass on some of that magic I’ve
experienced as a child for future generations, a goal and dream that is
possible due to the platform that animation provides.
For my education and stay in Denmark my
parents will help support me financially but personal expenses will be from my
own savings.
I had an incredible and reflective time
creating the characters, stories and environments for this portfolio and I hope
you enjoy it as much as I did.
CONTACT:
Phone:
+48 504 083 526
Portfolio:
http://martadziedzic.blogspot.com
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