Sons of the Guardian

A recent SCAD graduate pursues cinematography and photography as means to telling artists' stories.

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I was asked to create a t-shirt for a local high school in my area that was going to take the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Ice bucket challenge. I wanted to create something fun and memorable for the high school students. Here is my attempt.

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Photo Series: Graffiti Kids Image Name: Clear Horizons

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Photo Series: Graffiti Kids Image Name: Chasing After Cool

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© 2014 Anthony Willis

From the Photography Portfolio "Painterly Portraits" by Anthony Willis

This portfolio set the stage and model with a 1940s look, but all photos were edited with intense inspiration from Rembrandt and his Baroque fellows' painting techniques.

"I can't paint the way they want me to paint and they know that too."

-Rembrandt

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Tony Willis

Here are a few photos from the shoot for which I just posted Behind the Scenes instagrams.

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Some Instagrams of the Behind the Scenes of the Making of My Portfolio for my final Photography class at SCAD.

My wife served as model and we created the set with vintage items from our local antique warehouse.  My desire was to produce a 1940s themed collection, with the intent that post-editing in Photoshop would draw on the classic painted portraits of Rembrandt.  

[sonsoftheguardian]

After 3 years of hard work, all nighters, and focusing solely on the program, I have finished my BFA in Graphic Design from a great art college, SCAD.

I am very proud to have received an Artistic Scholarship to this university and to have kept the scholarship throughout my entire time at SCAD.  

Now that the degree is earned, I hope to begin sharing my designing world more consistently.

"What is most personal is most universal."

- Carl R. Rogers

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Product Placement Canon 50mm 1.4 image -2 ##fabricbackdrop @celestemaria

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Graphic Design is visual thinking, the expression of an idea made relevant to the masses. David Kelly once stated that the "enlightened trial and error outperforms the planning of flawless intellects." This was re-quoted on twitter by a designer that I think is impressive, Ken Wood. A designer plans but also plays around with forms to create visual solutions, and sometimes it is trial and error. Often that quote summarizes my own convictions on what is art, and what is Graphic Design. The modern employed graphic designer most likely finds him or herself working on visual solutions for their clients, communicating the instructions of use for a particular product, or even attempting to pursuade a costumer to buy. The role of the designer has shifted from the artists creating just to express themselves, to the artists helping others transform their ideas into a visual language that has the capacity to be understood by the surrounding culture. A designer is an individual that has the opportunity to organize form, type, and color so that the imagined and intended message is clearly integrated into the minds of the viewer; this is the role and glory of the designer. I understand that we all view the world through our own preconceived notions, and  my goal as a future designer is much like the philosopher, who reaches in with a new idea that can transform perceptions. I feel that a person with the ability to successfully communicate an idea through visual representation is, and should be considered, a graphic designer. 

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"Cudi the Kid"

Steve Aoki f/ Kid Cudi & Travis Barker

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A couple days ago, I met with my friend, Bryant Hamilton, a composer/musician. We started talking about shooting another music video. Bryant's track, "Too Fast" was the subject of my first music video. This project will be different because, hopefully, it will be on a larger scale and have a real narrative quality. This song is titled, "One Last Dance", which tells the story of a girl & one of the most impacting relationships in her life. I look forward to story boarding this piece during the winter, scouting locations & talent in the spring, & shooting/editing in the summer.

This photo, taken by me, features Bryant in his studio.

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This is a short that really uses great sound design to expose the raw emotion and grittiness of the subject matter. I also like the use of foreshadowing used, which the film maker decided to use in this piece. Like a lot of young guys that like film and video I encountered Phillip Bloom's work through my attempts in understanding dslr's. This guy has really been a great resource in understanding this craft of film making which I am so interested in. If you guys have any questions about making your shorts or how to become better at shooting I would be sure to click on the link above. 

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"The Ginzie Project"

The final product.  A mini-documentary about a local oil painter, Ginzie Chancey.

I first met Ginzie because I realized I needed a drawing tutor while attending Savannah College of Art and Design.  She is a master painter, but agreed to take me on as a drawing pupil.  Since photography and film is more my forte, Ginzie challenges me constantly in drawing, illustration, and composition.  She is a native Oklahoman who lives simply and quietly in a small rancher littered with her artwork and books.  

I captured her story with two Canon 5D Mark IIs.  My wife assisted me by planning the interview and asking the questions.  I am very grateful to Ginze for allowing me to tell a small part of her story.

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For the ones that are naturally good at drawing, you have a gift. This took me forever. Use what you got before it gets lost. #scad

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The fun starts again. Learning how to become a better communicator as I research and appreciate the past achievements of modern art @scaddotedu (Taken with Instagram)

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I wanted to share some of the color grade on Born. 

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Bryant and Alex working on building the score for the mini-doc I was able to shoot this summer.