This video is something that had to be said. I’ve been feeling this way for quite a while, and as I keep getting bombarded by global events my conviction to this sentiment only grows.
Click the image below to play the video from YouTube (it will open in a new browser tab).
I set this up in a 4:3 aspect ratio which is more natural than the 7:5 I’ve used for recent productions. I also used a lot more still footage compared to video footage, and I feel that worked really well for this production.
Do you believe life exists on another planet out there?
My motivation for this video/song was to do something a little different. Lyrics by yours truly. Music created by #Suno and visuals created primarily by #midjourney both under my guidance and direction. Music video assembled using #Adobe products (#premierepro, #photoshop, #audition). #alienlife
This song was inspired by a recent driving trip in Colorado that I describe at the end of a previous post. We ended up taking a lot of back roads to get to our destination and I enjoyed that journey very much. This has become my preferred path for all driving trips where it is reasonable to do so. It may take more time, but the journey will be so much better.
Here is the video:
This autumn morning,
With rich blue skies,
My love is here,
By my side.
Through crowded towns,
To the exit ramp,
We’re almost at,
The back roads land.
It’s peaceful here,
I’m loving this place.
Life’s good and calm,
The back roads way.
Ghosts of towns,
Scatter the way,
Old home ruins,
In fields of hay.
Clouds of shapes,
Cross a sapphire sky.
Beasts that graze,
Others will fly.
It’s peaceful here,
I’m loving this place.
Life’s good and calm,
The back roads way.
Abandoned mines,
Silos of grain.
Vast lands of grass,
Windmills with vanes.
The golden sun,
On the horizon line.
The day is done,
It’s been so fine.
It’s peaceful here,
I’m loving this place.
Life’s good and calm,
The back roads way.
This song reveals that my life has been filled with some bad things and many blessings. I’ve had a lot of people involved in lifting me up throughout my time, and I am very thankful to all of them for what they’ve done. I am not afraid of missing out on what comes next, rather I will enjoy what it is. I know I can’t last forever, so whenever the time comes, I am ready to go.
[Verse]
In early times,
Life was good,
Food was fine,
As was the hood.
Bad things came,
I lost my way.
Was a winding road,
Finding today.
[Chorus]
I’m fine, I’m fine,
I’m doing OK,
Happy to live
For another day.
Done my chores,
Want you to know,
When the time comes,
I’m ready to go.
[Verse]
Feeling bad,
I’ve done some wrong,
Owning my part,
The world goes on.
Counting blessings
Every day.
Thanking those
For parts they played.
[Chorus]
I’m fine, I’m fine,
I’m doing OK,
Happy to live
For another day
Done my chores,
You should know,
When the time comes,
I’m ready to go.
I kept seeing incredible work by others who are using AI for music videos. I thought I would give it a spin. While I see a lot of things I would improve upon, I think this first one came out pretty good.
The rhymes herein were generated from an AI request that described our hike to Blue Lake. Each of the pictures were generated from photos I took along the way – so we really did see these things, sort of.
We pulled up to Mitchell Lake trailhead quite early,
Before the day’s weather got sweaty and surly.
We sat in the car eating a breakfast of scale,
Then buckled our daypacks to start on the trail.
The path was so lovely, with bushes and trees,
That kept us all cool in the sweet morning breeze.
We passed a strange rock that looked ancient and grand,
Like a secret trapdoor to a magical land!
Then out in a meadow, with mountains behind,
We spotted a treat of the wonderful kind:
A furry old mama moose grazing right there,
With her cute little calf without any care.
We finally made it to stunning Blue Lake,
And ate a nice lunch for our big midday break.
With bellies quite full and a smile on each face,
We turned right around and walked back from the place!
I recently completed this animation from which I learned many new techniques. I needed to create and piece together several small video snippets to get the desired result. I also learned how to use Garage Band, which is how I created the soundtrack.
I tried something new with this one. Most of the animated elements are pixel-based (i.e. paint) rather than vector based (i.e. pen). I really like the effect and will likely do more in upcoming productions.
I hope you enjoy this one. I was also looking for a closing message, and I like what I came up with. This one leaves a lot to personal interpretation.
I started this one just like the last one. My initial intention was to create something visually appealing on a 4×6 post card. Like before, once I had the initial content created I came up with ideas of where I can add animated features. And that’s how this one was created, once again. The lesson to learn is when I design for a small card the resolution is not good (I.e. get pixilated) on larger screens. Perhaps I will learn my lesson for the next one.
Here is Breeze. All input/feedback is welcome.
This project started out as a 4×6 postcard, looking for some inspiration on the hearth above my fireplace. Then the urge to add video content took over, and this is the final result. I posted an earlier version on Instagram and Facebook but wanted to fix some shortcomings in this version.
As you may know, I’ve been engaging in digital drawing as a creative outlet. Many of the apps for drawing now have an animation component to them. I finally decided to explore what it takes to put together an animation.
I named my first animation project “Summertime”. And here it is.
November turned out to be quite productive for drawing. I found time to complete four new drawings this month, each offering practice and development of techniques. While I don’t feel any of these reach my idea of perfection, I am pleased with how they came out.
Central Park. This was inspired by my first visit to Central Park in New York, just a week prior to creating this drawing.
Lighthouse. This was inspired by a visit to a lighthouse on the Reykjavik peninsula in Iceland.
Jerome Edward Duck. …is really a goose. This was inspired by a photo from a visit to Barr Lake, Colorado a couple years ago.
Ice Cream. I took a photo of an ice cream shop in Estes Park several years ago. Then I saw Goldamere the magic cat while walking around in Denver Botanic Gardens just yesterday. I had to incorporate him in the drawing. (FYI: I made up the cat’s name)
Goldamere the magic cat.
