I’m learning more about DoInk – a web-based animation studio. I took their popup ‘Create Now’ app for a spin and was suitably impressed: vector drawing, some primitives, paint bucket, erase, text tool, onion skinning and more. What was quite unique was a community library of props that you can use in your own animations.

The look and feel of the drawings is very Flash-like, which I’m not a fan of, but I can look the other way for now. Alright I lied:

Dear DoInk, in a future version may we have more painterly effects as well as the ability to import PNG alpha-channel bitmap drawings for cut out animation? Love, Carl.

But let me tell you, cadets — what got my wheels spinning in the driveway was this announcement: it’s available for the iPad. A mobile animation studio you can carry in one hand. For $5. (On sale for $4.99, reg. $8.99)

*clutches chest*

I can’t even imagine taking animation projects with you let alone working on one at the doctor’s office, the kitchen table or the front porch. Geez, I’m still getting used to pixel drawing on my iPod whenever I get the urge. To draw.

Where will the iPad and apps like DoInk take artists? I don’t know, but am eager to find out.

A great video (in three parts) which explores illustrator and artist (and really cool guy) William Low’s use of computers in his work, especially the ever elusive Cintiq computer display that he paints on.

Find the second and third videos here. I believe these were produced by PageTurner Films.

I just had to share this. Kudos to Patrick Boivin for your wonderful ideas and talented execution.

This was a short segment in the newly resurrected Futurama, back at you for Season 6 – this time on the Comedy Channel. Yes, I’m digging through my bricks looking for those !@#$ pieces that I know are somewhere. Those would be the 1×1 slopes which, I fear, my LEGO is too old to include. I’m also missing the 1×1 round in white. And orange and purple pieces. C’mon LEGO!)

Now, the above frame clearly shows, should you count by studs, that the top of Leela’s head, for example, is a 2×3 brick. However, the scale between width and height is strongly suggestive of a 2×4 brick. I chose the 2×3 reference and went for gold.

Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame speaks at Maker Faire Bay Area (May 5) 2010 on the topic of “Problem Solving: How I Do It”. At heart Adam is a storyteller, geek and engineer and all three facets shine in his presentation to a crowd of DIY builders and makers. Listeners familiar with Todd Henry’s Accidental Creative efforts may sense overlap on such themes as Time, Resources, Rhythm and Focus.

A Q&A period follows Adams presentation, much of which is Mythbusters-flavoured but engaging nonetheless.

Building LEGO has always been a joy: from when my Dad built a string-powered derrick back when I was eight, to when I built my own spaceships to the robots built with LEGO Mindstorms. Even now, I’m blown away by the sheer physicality, engineering ingenuity and in-your-hands satisfaction of piecing together a working model.

Since LEGO only sells sets for a limited time (curses!) and since LEGO rarely re-releases set, you’re on your own if a set you want passes before you can purchase. And so the above model, originally released in 1996, was built from plans downloaded online in PDF format and cobbled together using bricks from my own collection and those supplemented by a well-stocked store listed at Bricklink.com.

And yup, Abbot ale, LEGO and Pink Floyd really go well together.

Thus arrives the perfect icing for my Friday night. I have no background info on this, other than this is the most entertaining Hallelujah Chorus I’ve yet seen. I wonder what Handel would have thought.

Nod of the head to Connie for sharing.

Julian, a stop motion animator from Mainz, Germany has recently released “camPING” – a musical camping number built usin construction paper and tiny, well-placed LED light bulbs (you’ll see). Everything about this work fits: the colours, the textures, the pace and of course the wonderful music.

camPING from julian on Vimeo.

The video quality from Vimeo is superb, I recommend you go full screen for the best viewing experience.