This piece was inspired by the illustrations of Charlie Harper. I love his mixture of organic colors and textures with design and composition. It was definitely interesting figuring out how to make a 3D version. I distilled Harper into basic elements and principles: color, composition, and flattened perspective. 

When I began this project, I had no experience with organic 3D modeling. That was my first challenge. Knowing I would have to make do with simple models, I planned out my storyboards with animation that was relatively easily done, but still created interest. So in each scene, I added elements like plants and small insects so at all times there was visual interest. I also made sure that everything in this piece moved, in order to make its simplicity work.

I knew I did not want to take the time to rig and animate these birds, especially because I had never done organic modeling before. My time constraints wouldn't have easily permitted it. So I made the first two birds blink, as a simple device to give them a lot of life. I cropped the composition of the last scene so I could make the illusion of the bird walking without even having to give him legs.

There are a few other devices I used to make this piece come alive:

• Each scene takes place in a different climate.
• Each scene takes place at a different time of day, from nighttime to sunrise to midday.
• The sun stays on the same path throughout all three scenes, so there is a match cut from one to the next.
• The compositions switch from right focal point to left focal point, and back to right again. This is why the consistency of the position of the sun was important.