Recreating Muybridge’s Horse Animation
Storytelling through pioneer photographer, Muybridge’s study of motion.
Project Background: In June of 1878, Eadweard Muybridge made history by photographing a horse in different stages of its gallop as it sped across a track. The photographer shocked a group of reporters and later the world by capturing motion. Muybridge showed a horse in motion showcasing his own style of photography. Every designer has their own style. Learning what that style is takes time and practice.
Project Goals: Recreate Muybridge’s horse in motion through a style that represents me as a designer and to tell a story showcasing personal inspiration.
Create a 3-second animation based on Muybridge’s famous horse photos. Create a background object(s), a celestial object (sun, moon, stars, clouds, etc), and the horse must be wearing something (saddle, hat, etc.). Use any tool (i.e. Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, etc.) to create your assets. The project must be 15 FPS with a composition size of 1280 x 720 pixels.
Project Details
Timeline: 4 weeks
Roles: Illustration, Animation, Storytelling
Skills: Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop, After Effects
PROCESS & CONCEPT
Roots of Inspiration
Before I started the graphic design program at Seattle Central Creative Academy, I illustrated two cacti in the desert as one of my submissions for my portfolio application. The idea for my illustration came from creating something symbolic that was representative of my older brother and I when we lived in Las Vegas, our hometown. Struggling to create a new piece to complete my portfolio, naturally I sought the advice of my older brother, an alumni of the exact program I was applying to. “Create a piece around the idea of something you care about, that way the creativity will come naturally.”
I thought about how similar in personality we are, yet simultaneously different in many ways. I always thought we could be twins. So I illustrated my brother and I in the desert using bright, fun colors reminiscent of our childhood against the backdrop of the Vegas sun.
Visual Design
Keeping with the same color palette of my original design, I added a coral red, eggshell white instead of black in the original illustration, and a soft gray for slight contrast. Color choices were made based on the idea to take the original colors of the desert and wanting it to represent the fun and liveliness of childhood within it. In the original illustration, I used flat color. For the animated version I wanted it to have a little depth so I added texture. The dry brush I used reminded me of sponge painting as a kid and the dirt of the Vegas desert floor.
STORYTELLING
Forward & Onward
This project of animating a horse presented me with the creative freedom to express myself as a graphic designer. I saw the opportunity as a way to wrap up my time in the program, to tell a story of myself needing a push and support for the confidence to just try. Then to have the horse represent myself as a graphic designer moving forward on my own and to signify completion of the graphic design program at Seattle Central Creative Academy.