• Introduction

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    This course has been put together from short online workshops which formed the OCA Creative Challenges campaign. Work your way through the provided slideshows or download the PDFs for later. These are basic introductions suitable for those looking for a new challenge or something to keep the kids entertained.

    • Introduction to stop motion animation.

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      This is the first weekly workshop as part of OCA Creative Challenges campaign. Work your way through the slideshow below or download the PDF for later. This is a basic introduction suitable for those looking for a new challenge or something to keep the kids entertained.

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        For this challenge you will need:

        • A Camera, smartphone or tablet
        • A rig to keep your device steady if you can set one up
        • Appropriate software &/or application, such as Adobe After Effects or Dragonframe, OCA recommends ‘Stop Motion Studio’ (free)
        • A range of everyday objects
        • A space to work that will not be disturbed or moved.

        Don’t forget to share your creations with the OCA community – #WeAreOCA. Next week we will introduce Storytelling so watch this space!


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      • pdf

        Stop-motion-Basics-Workshop-for-pdf

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      • URL

        Stop-Motion Studio (Android)

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        Stop Motion App for Android Devices.

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        Stop-Motion Studio (iOS)

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        Stop Motion App for Apple Devices.

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        Made with Padlet

    • Visual storytelling

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      Hero's Journey illustration of two heroes.
      This is the second of our weekly workshops as part of OCA’s Creative Challenges campaign. In the first you were introduced to the basics of stop motion.  This time we’re going to explore visual storytelling.

      Visual storytelling is a story or narrative told mainly through visual media. This could be video, animation, or illustration, and it’s usually accompanied with music, a narrator or graphics. 

      In this workshop, you will develop your own story based on the classic structure of ‘The Hero’s Journey’, and will work through from writing to creating a visual animatic.

    • Stop motion papercraft

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      We’re into week 3 of our creative challenges campaign. So far we’ve introduced you to basic stop motion techniques and visual storytelling. This week our introduction to stop motion papercraft will allow you to combine both those challenges and develop your skills.

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        Using paper cut-outs is a great way to get into stop-motion animation. You can create your own characters and scenery either through digital drawing or by hand drawing and painting. You can print off images of existing characters (maybe from your favourite cartoon), or use some that someone else has already made for you. You can also create intricate and beautiful jointed puppets. There’s nothing stopping you from using photographs too. Depending which you use, your animation will have a different style and aesthetic. 

        Below you will find a step by step slideshow, a downloadable pdf and some templates. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA. 

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      • pdf

        Paper-Puppet-Template

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      • pdf

        Cut-out-Creations-Download

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    • Sculpting with Clay

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      Clay is an incredibly versatile material, and has been used to create everything from vases to Venus. It is used to create crafts, make miniatures for doll houses and small sets, and to design and make props and characters in the film industry.

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        In this workshop we will explore clay as a medium, getting to know it’s properties and variations. We will look at tools and textures, make miniatures and learn how to create characters from the base armature through to fully fleshed out sculpts.

        Below you will find a step by step slideshow and a downloadable pdf. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA.

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      • pdf

        Sculpting-with-Clay

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    • Claymation

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      Claymation is the name given to stop-motion animation made using clay. Clay is an excellent material for animating with, not only because it’s possible to build wonderfully colourful and creative characters with it, but also because it’s much cheaper and more readily available than most puppet-making alternatives. 



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        It’s not without its difficulties though. It’s important to choose the right kind of clay to work with, first of all. The OCA workshop ‘Sculpting with Clay’ will tell you more about the different types of clays available to you, as well as their pros and cons.

        It’s week 5 of OCA’s creative challenges, below you will find a step by step slideshow and a downloadable pdf. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA. 


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      • pdf

        Claymation Workshop (for PDF)

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    • Sewing & embroidery – the basics

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      Learning to sew has a whole host of benefits. It is practical to be able to fix up, mend and create your own handmade items, clothing and gifts, and there are huge benefits of sewing and embroidery to mental health. There has also been a huge recent resurgence in handmade gifts and a ‘make-do-and-mend’ mentality which has massive benefits to environmental health. But, plainly and simply, sewing and embroidery is a calming, fun and rewarding hobby.


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        Whatever reason you have for wanting to learn to sew or embroider, this workshop will take you through from basic stitches to embroidery techniques, including writing styles and decorative finesse.

        Below you will find a step by step slideshow and a downloadable pdf. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA. 


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    • Making poseable dolls

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      Poseable dolls, or art dolls as they’re more often called, have had a sudden resurgence in recent years in the hand-made arts industry because of their beautiful and individual nature, and collective value. Artists create and sell art dolls that resemble characters from popular culture, mythological creatures, hyper-realistic celebrities and stand-for poignant messages.


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        There are many different types of art dolls, the main two being soft-bodied (made using a mixture of soft materials, clay pieces and armatures) and ball-jointed (made entirely of clay with highly moveable joints).

        In this workshop we will be looking at making a very basic art doll with a completely soft body and sculpted clay face, but the skills that you will learn by doing this can be applied to more complex and ambitious projects.

        Below you will find a step by step slideshow and a downloadable pdf. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA. 


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      • pdf

        Poseable Dolls

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    • Interior design basics

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      Interior Design, Room Design and Interior Decorating are all terms that are used interchangeably to describe the process of furnishing, organising, designing and decorating interior rooms. Popular television programmes which focus on room renovations, redesigning and revamping have ramped up interest in Interior Design over the past ten years, and with sharing sites such as Pinterest and social media groups dedicated to it, there are resources available to help anyone with any knowledge base and any budget.

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        This workshop will focus on practical interior design for your own home, which can be applied to any scale or budget. We will cover design, decor, organisation and room models, and will look into the basics of colour, pattern and upcycling techniques.

        Below you will find a step by step slideshow and a downloadable pdf. Enjoy and share your creations with us using #WeAreOCA. 


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