Tommy Bermingham
I wanted to master my approach to backgrounds and layouts. Backgrounds and layouts felt correct to specialise in as I'm extremely passionate about design and world-building, alongside the added benefit that backgrounds and layouts transfer seamlessly into comp, making for a great selection of important skills to have when I search for work. I chose to work on projects that would be the most beneficial to growing my skillset. For my project, I wanted to create a strong body of work that showcases my proficiency in design, highlighting my technical skill and creativity in full force.
For my project, my main objectives were to showcase the following skills and qualities in my backgrounds and layouts:
1) A creative and logical approach to my painting and designs.
2) A strong understanding in framing, composition, shape language and positive and negative space.
3) To create the background as a stage for the characters, without it being obvious to the audience that it is being treated as such.
4) To highlight my understanding in colour, lighting and texture.
5) To showcase versatility by adapting to different styles for the various films I’ll be working on.
6) To produce high quality work in a timely and efficient manner.
Developing my skills and knowledge in these areas to create work that reflects all six aims was the ultimate goal. With that goal achieved I could then curate a strong portfolio that showcases my work in the best possible light. I started working on Mila's film 'Ballad of the Starlings' creating concept pieces to help inform the shots and visual style of her film. I then joined Ella's film 'Souvenir' and Samira's film 'Spiorad na Baistí'. These projects complimented my goals beautifully! Creating concept pieces for Mila was low pressure since the shot wouldn't be seen in the final film. This provided a lot of learning, preparing me for the more intensive and painterly backgrounds of 'Spiorad na Baistí'. Whilst 'Souvenir' was strictly layouts which led to a nice balance in the work I was outputting.
The outcome was thankfully exactly what I wanted. My background and layout work improved tenfold. The standard of work I produce now compared to the start of the year has jumped leaps and bounds. The best part is that I enjoyed every minute of it. I used to get so frustrated by having these bold, creative ideas for worlds and stories but whenever I decided to take pencil to paper, or rather pen to drawing tablet, I could never capture the magnitude or cinematic quality that I had in my mind. It comes very natural to me now and I feel very accomplished and eager to see how I continue to progress. However, to get into specifics, here's some of my key learning outcomes from my project:
Lighting: Pushing lighting further than where I think it needs to be.
Composition: Understanding how to lead a viewer’s eye to the focal point of the shot was an essential piece of learning.
Colour: Examining how to play around with tone, texture and saturation to convey the tone of a piece was a paramount piece of learning during my project.
Lighting: I was always too timid with my lighting decisions when painting, this project taught me to push the lighting way further than where I think it needs to be which led to me creating more visually striking scenes..
Line Art: Conveying depth in perspective and being intentional and selective with the line art to convey only the details that are necessary.
Hey! I'm a background and layout artist, passionate about telling stories through environmental design. I'm inspired by the magic and immersion I felt from my favourite childhood games, movies and shows. I love creating believable environments for characters to inhabit, and bringing them to life by putting character in the details. I also work as a drag queen, and that persona definitely finds its way into my work. I value bold colour choices, exaggeration, and creating worlds for people to lose themselves in.
