Art of Bethanie Montano

Art and Animation. Bethanie Montano - animator, illustrator and concept artist based in Sydney, Australia.

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Loop de Loop - Chicken

I’m giving Loop de Loop a go this month! The theme is chicken.  These are two screencaps from my WIP!

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New Website!

NEW WEBSITE!  I have a new, official website up and running - find me at bethaniemontano.com

I will continue to update this blog with my artworks!

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Seine’s Breath Grad Film Images

I made this film over the four months of Spring semester of my Master of Design degree at UTS.  It was showcased at our end of year exhibition and I have now finished my degree, and therefore university.  It was a demanding but very enjoyable semester, and I am very happy with how my film turned out.  I can’t wait to enter it into festivals! These some of my favourite shots from the film.

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Masters Graduation Show

It’s happening: I’m graduating from my Master of Design degree at UTS!  My graduation film, Seine’s Breath, which I’ve made over the past four months, will have its debut.  

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Birdland - Photos

Some photos I took of my film Birdland - part of VIVID 2016!  Was amazing to see the film projected onto the Old Carlton Brewery in Chippendale.

Birdland follows the character Budgie, who finds herself lost in the turmoil of the city and its automation, but utilises the robots themselves to convey her inner self and find joy.

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Birdland - VIVID Sydney 2016

It is 2050 in Birdland. Bird life has become fully automated with the invention of thought-controlled drones, taking care of the birds’ every need – especially flying. After all, who needs wings when you have motorised blades? …

Birdland was showcased as part of VIVID Light Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2016. It was created by Bethanie Montano as part of her Master of Design (Advanced Animation) at the University of Technology Sydney.

Birdland showed at Central Park in Chippendale as part of the larger piece ‘X-Factory’ which ran from 27 May – 18 June 2016. ‘X Factory’ explored the concept of the rise of technology in our daily lives; the shift from human labour to automation, and invited us to consider the effects of such a transition. This project was overseen by Ample Projects.

Birdland asks the question of who are we when everything is done for us; what is our identity when our role is outsourced? It then answers; self-expression can’t be automated or taken away, and is essential.

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St Kilda Film Festival

I attended the St Kilda Film Festival in Melbourne to see my film Lepidoptera; what an incredible experience!!  It was amazing to see my film on the big screen with my family, and hear the audience’s reaction to it.  I also attended the filmmaker events and the Opening Night, which were all wonderful.  The films I saw were fantastic - many I will not forget in a hurry.  What an honour to be screened alongside them! Thank you, St Kilda Film Festival!

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ST KILDA FILM FESTIVAL - Lepidoptera

A bored and lonely academic smugly orders his sister a gift of live butterflies for her wedding, little realising how it would affect his evening.

Interview with We Are Moving Stories

We Are Moving Stories interviewed me about my film Lepidoptera for the St Kilda Film Festival!  Read it here!

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Birdland Projection Preview

Press Night for VIVID Central Park was on Monday, and I got my first look at my short film Birdland projected onto the old Carlton Brewery Building!  Very exciting!

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Financial Review Article

I was interviewed by The Financial Review about my upcoming piece ‘Birdland’ in VIVID 2016!  

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VIVID 2016

As part of my Masters at UTS, I have a 1 minute film in this year’s VIVID Light Festival in Sydney!  It is part of the larger presentation named ‘X Factory’; details are here: http://www.vividsydney.com/event/light/x-factory

My approach to the brief was to examine my own thoughts on the issue of automation. The first part of the film asks the question ‘What do you do when your ‘purpose’ is replaced, when your function is outsourced?’ and the second part answers it with ‘Your self expression cannot be removed or homogenized, who you are as an individual has value’.  

Birdland follows the character Budgie, who finds herself lost in the turmoil of the city and its automation, but utilises the robots themselves to convey her inner self and find joy.

VIVID runs from May 27 until June 18, every night from 5:30pm.  Come to Central Park and check out Birdland and my classmate’s fantastic works too!

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Official Selection at St Kilda Film Festival 2016

Lepidoptera has been selected as part of the Top 100 Short Australian Films 2016 and will be screening at St Kilda Film Festival in Melbourne in May!  

Tickets for its session are here: https://www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au/film/lepidoptera

I’m extremely excited and will be travelling to Melbourne for the festival, I can’t wait to see the other short films that were selected too. Come along to Session 15 with me and catch the première of Lepidoptera!

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A Wizard is Never Late

Lino print, 30x30cm. 

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Lepidoptera Film

My graduation film, based on the poem ‘Lepidoptera’ by Anthony Lawrence. 2015. 

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Sketches

Assorted character sketches, and sketch ideas for my elephant animation idea.

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Bondi

My German friend came to visit Australia for a few weeks so of course we enjoyed all the tourist ‘must do’s’!  This is painted from a photo I took on the Bondi to Bronte walk.  Watercolour and Photoshop.

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Tuesday Afternoon

An experiment in flexing my photoshop skills; I coloured this using mostly adjustment layers, with a little spot colouring here and there.  I set myself a 30min time limit.  

Textures by Piero Sgro