Ambling Around

Ambling Around covers all things art and animation from a creative perspective. Prying, spying, and eavesdropping on a wide variety of subjects, this blog seeks to be at the very least informative, opinionated, and meddlesome.

Sharon Katz is a visual artist working in animated and still imagery. Her day job is pursuing the heady elixir of "art," whatever that is at any given moment. Her work can be found screening at film festivals, fixed to the walls of various corporations and institutions, and floating around in cyberspace. You can find her website at http://www.sharonkatz.net and she can be reached at amble[at]sharonkatz.net

Christmas Presents for Your Animator

Posted In | Blog Categories: Review, Learning | Site Categories: 2D, Books, Education and Training

 

Contour shuttle
ShuttleXpress made and sold by Contour Design

 

Finding the perfect gift for the animator in your life.

Animating in Synthetik StudioArtist

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning | Site Categories: 2D, Education and Training

A detailed description of my 2D hand drawn animation process.

Animating Maurizio Cattelan at the Guggenheim

Posted In | Blog Categories: Commentary | Site Categories: Stop-Motion

This short time-lapse video follows the process of installing Maurizio Cattelan’s exhibition “All” at the Guggenheim in November 2011.

Teaching Yourself Animation - The Tools Part 3

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning | Site Categories: 2D, Education and Training, Technology
Animation software packages
There are lots of options when it comes to 2D animation software.

 

Learning animation on your own is very doable. This third of the four part series on the tools of the trade looks at vector based softwares for animation.

An Insider's Guide to Indie Film Distribution - Book review

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning, Book Review | Site Categories: Books, Education and Training
Stacey Parks Film Distribution
The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution by Stacey Parks

 

Planning distribution early in production is key to a film’s success.

Getting Past the Legalese - Book Review

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning, Book Review | Site Categories: Education and Training, Licensing
The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers
The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers by Thomas A. Crowell
Success brings contracts, and contracts bring legalese. To get past the legalese painlessly, you need a good crib sheet and The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers gives you just that.

Teaching Yourself Animation - The Tools Part 2

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning | Site Categories: 2D, Education and Training, Technology
Animation software packages
There are lots of options when it comes to 2D animation software.

 

Learning the basics of animation on your own is very doable. This second of a four part series on the tools of the trade looks at inexpensive, small, and fast storyboarding softwares used for animation.

Teach Yourself - Getting A Project Off the Ground

Posted In | Blog Categories: Learning, Book Review | Site Categories: Books
Directing the story 03
Illustration from Directing the Story by Francis Glebas

 

So you’ve got an idea for a first film... Where do you go from here?

The Art of Documentary Animation - Book Review

Posted In | Blog Categories: Review, Documation | Site Categories: 2D, 3D, Films, Short Films, Technology
Ryan 01
Still image from Ryan directed by Chris Landreth. Courtesy of the NFB.

 

Documentary animation speaks to us.

Cowboy Bebop

Posted In | Blog Categories: Review, Guest writer | Site Categories: Anime
Cowboy Bebop 2
Still image from Cowboy Bebop.

 

“Adventure Time” as seen through the eyes of guest writer Shawn Edrei.