So I havent been working on any new flipbooks (which come from going with the flow and that flow has reached a snag...) so I've been reading and trying out some new doodlin techniques such as drawing characters from randomly scribbled shapes, sketching from some of my favorite cartoons to study their design choices, and attempting to devote an hour to freely rough sketching around a theme in order to get away from that overly analytical judgemental side of my mind.

One of the books I read was The guerilla guide to animation: Making animated films outside the mainstream by Walter Santucci. To be honest I did not absorb much from reading, probably because I don't yet have the same materials/situation to work in and the basics he covers I've already read before. What makes it unique is his writing voice full of humor and personal experiences, making following the technicalities easier and inspiring at the same time! It appeals to the career minded student and the hobbyist. Right now the most valuable section to me was the final part of the book--anecdotes from his experiences as a film student interested in animation to working in the business as a "guerilla" animator. There's some good advice for life there. :) And to think I was going to brush it off just because his drawings didn't appeal to me! Grrr. This is definitely a book I will revisit when I feel discouraged.

At the moment I'm reading Animation: From script to screen by Shamus Culhane. Although this is an older book from when cel-animation was dominant, his insight is priceless and relevant... forever. So far the most important thing I've gleaned is embracing the habit of seeing (vs. looking) at everything, everybody, how they move, what they might be feeling and how they're showing it, and noting those little everyday moments that make me chuckle. All the experiences and information we file away in our memories inform and evolve our creative decisions! More notes when I finish.

From the book on the line of action, "Every human being while growing up begins to become an expert at reading the quality of other people's emotions from overall posture, as well as facial expressions. We animators have to become superexperts." I love it, I feel like this is a way that my hobby improves me as a pharmacist not only because it keeps me sane but because it emphasizes the ability to sympathize--noticing movements that betray an emotion, helping me to ready myself for the most effective means of communication or noticing when a patient is withholding a question or information. ;)