ALEXIS SCHUKNECHT

Sketch //  Style  // Snap

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The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. -John Muir

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The world is quiet here.

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Lake Superior // Painted Coves // Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

[ Disposable 35mm ] 

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Red Riding Hood Quickfire Challenge. 3 HOURS. GO. 

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Here's my design for The Picture of Dorian Gray videogame! 

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House sketch!

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I'M SO EXCITED. Teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released today!

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Pinhole camera photos! We did this in my night class so we had to race against the sun! The top photo is of my dorm from freshman year, the middle is of Gay St. right by the bottom of the Art sign, and the last photo was taken from the second story of the Loann Crane Center.

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Here's a preliminary design of a building I did for my animation collaboration class. We're creating a 3 minute animation this semester. It's super top secret for now!

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Sketchbook: Architecture studies

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It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.

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Narrowing Down

In Video Collab this week, we reviewed screenplays and short stories to select one to create into a short film this semester. Below I've analyzed the top selections based upon feasibility, challenges, and opportunities. 

Tragedy at Emmitt Whistle's  by Shawn Cottrill

  (Inspiration Images)

Feasibility: One location- farmhouse in the Midwest (there is a scene in a hospital- possibly could be moved), props & costumes, small cast Challenges: Final battle- gunshots and stabbing. I've personally never done a scene like this before, I'd have to talk to the Director/Director of Photography to see how it would be shot, if we'd do as much in camera as possible or if it would be done in post production.  Opportunities: Final battle! We could really try to shoot this scene in an interesting way with little effects. Since it is set in the 1960's, we can really play with color and pattern in the sets still keeping in mind the characters' personalities and economic stature. 

Purple Passage by Stephen Ahman

 (Model House)

 Feasibility: Sets and props- 3 different locations- restaurant, apartment, house. Art supplies, camera equipment. 

Challenges: Burning down a house. Creating "The Woods." Scenes with a large cast. Opportunities: Burning down a house. I love the idea of building a house to burn down. We could also build a miniature of a real house and burn that if we can't go full scale.  Creating "The Woods." We could make this visually interesting.  He Was Sent by God by Kenneth Hines

Feasibility: Setting and locations, props & costumes.

Challenges: Actors, battle scenes, multiple locations. 

Opportunities: Period piece! We might be able to build a set if we can't find anything suitable. Gathering the props and costumes that are period specific will take a little extra research and planning and borrowing, but that's half the fun! Effectively combine CGI and physical sets/props /costumes.

With the Band by Alex Coleman

Feasibility: Set in modern day, tweak the music genre possibly, musical instruments and props 

Challenges: A larger cast, multiple locations. Making it look stylized in modern day without taking the copout of using locations as is.  Opportunities: Create a visually interesting piece set in modern day or a timeless era with musical instruments. Keep the look of the film consistent through different locations and times of day. 

Grey Matter by Stephen King

 (Dramatic lighting & muted colors)

Feasibility: Few locations, small cast, props & costumes

Challenges: Alluding to the grey matter monster man without showing him or do we show him? Can we make it happen with our use of light and shadows? Do we have to show him in his entirety?  Opportunities: Creating tension and conflict through visuals. We can allude to the monster without showing it, just like many great low budget films. With a combination of specific camera shots, lighting, and costuming we should be able to pull this off. 

The Last Rung on the Ladder by Stephen King

Feasibility: Takes place in a barn with hay, small cast, few other locations  Challenges: Not acting like Kitty whilst shooting the film. (ha!) Showing the relationship dynamics.  Opportunities: Sweet jumping scenes! Using a trampoline, hay, the barn scenes could look pretty interesting. 

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Inspirational Artists and Designers!

First week back to school and time to gather my inspirational contemporary artists and designers. Since I plan on working in the entertainment industry as a production designer for film, tv, and commercials, I need to be able to communicate in multiple ways, primarily visually.  Below are some artists I admire for their style and visual representation of life, while I only have one production designer in the mix. Many of my favorite production designers have a poor social media presence and I didn't think they'd be a great example for this project.  John Hendrix: http://johnhendrix.com/portfolio/

  Hand lettered type with brilliant colors and compositions really make Hendrix stand out, not only in the children’s book market, but also in the editorial freelance market. He has a very strong sense of line.  Hendrix has done work for many places including Sports Illustrated, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Harper-Collins, and In-N-Out Burger.  Tumblr and Twitter are the primary social media networks that Hendrix uses.

  Felix Scheinberger: http://www.felixscheinberger.de

  Felix Scheinberger is a German illustrator with a style all his own with his loose lines and sporadic asymmetrical use of color. The lines are very emotional and fluid. He creates travel sketchbooks and works for the children’s books and editorial market.s He’s worked for Ravensburger publishing, Harvard Business Manager, and Books Gutenberg.  He uses Flickr and his website mostly in terms of social media.

  Peter de Seve: http://www.peterdeseve.com/

  Peter de Seve’s work ranges from editorial to concept art for the entertainment industry. He’s done work for the New Yorker and Disney with one of his best-known character designs for Scrat.  His style is very fluid and soft with lines that show lots of movement.  He keeps a blog in addition to his website.

  Chris Sickels: http://www.rednosestudio.com/

  Chris Sickels, better known as Red Nose Studio, creates his illustrations with 3-D characters and sets. The illustrations are rich in color and atmosphere He has done work in the children’s book market as well as editorial. He works as a freelancer for Target, Windows, and other various magazines and children’s publishers. He keeps a blog and uses Twitter.

  Catherine Martin: http://www.catherinemartin.com/

  Catherine Martin is one of my favorite production designers. Her style is very outlandish and grandiose. She started out as a costume designer so much of her work is patterned based.  Martin works in the entertainment industry as well as the surface design market. She produces films as well as worked with brands such as Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co and Brooks Brother.  Her social media presence spans Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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I'm making prosthetic makeup in my 3-D illustration class. I'm just posing with my own clay face here!