Beginnings

The origins of our craft can come from the most strange of places and at times where we never expect them to be. Mine in particular, as far as animation falls under this category. Give a 13-year-old some LEGO, his parents' camera, and his imagination, and you'll give him an door of opportunity worth checking out. Stop motion still is one of my favorite forms of animation to this day. There is a certain charm about it that makes it fun to watch regardless. My reflection on the whole experience was blind confidence and having fun. Even though I didn't know thoroughly of what I was doing, it didn't stop me in my tracks when I started. Animation--among countless things--is a process where it's absolutely necessary to just box yourself in between you and your goal and block out any and all distractions. I only did this a couple times when I was 13, and then it came back to me again between my times as a junior and senior in high school. Despite the primitive techniques I used, it gave me such joy to simply go out and show people what meager creation I made just for the fun of it. I did not think much of it at the time for I was still in a state where I did not know of what to do with myself after I graduated. Even now, after a year and a half into art school, I'm trying to figure that out. I've heard other experiences and anecdotes about how much time one spends jump from one career path to another before they can even consider themselves satisfied with themselves, and some don't even get there. My general view of things as of now is that you never know where you going to end up, and that you never know anything unless you give it a try.