Illustration and Visual Narratives -- Task 1
I.D: 0377902
COURSE: Illustration and Visual Narratives / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
GROUP: 4
Contents
1. Lectures
1.1 Week 1
1.2 Week 2
1.3 Week 3
2. Instruction
3. Task 1
3.1 The Bezier Game
3.2 Shape Tracing
1. Lectures
1.1 Week 1
Character Design Basics
Why is stylized designs appealing to audience?
1.Iconic: They are easily recognize even when they are in black silhouettes.
2.Simplicity: Allows viewer to digest and understand the purpose of the characters easily.
3.Unique: They can be memorable and even make an impact towards the viewers.
Principles of Character Design
Shapes: Combining different interesting shapes to create an iconic character. A character's persona can also be shown by the design of shape ( circle, rectangular, triangle)
Color: Colors can determine the role of an character and also give impressions of different emotion.
Emphasis and Contrast
Harmony: Each of the element in the design should compliment each other
Expression and Poses: Visualizing character's behaviors, quirks, and personalities helps to engage viewers more effectively.
Fig 1.1 Principle of Character Design
1.2 Week 2
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro is an Italian term of "light-dark". It is a technique about using light and dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a flat surface.
Application of Chiaroscuro in painting
In paintings this technique refers to clear tonal contrast to suggest three-dimensional volume and modelling of objects and figures.
It's purpose is to increase the dramatic tension of the scene by using color or light contrast to exaggerate the importance of the subject.
Fig 1.2 Giovanni Baglione: Sacred and Profane Love
Tenebrism: A painting method where it signifies details like face and hand illuminated by highlights, sharply contrasted against a predominantly dark background.
Fig 1.3 Caravaggio: Calling of Saint Matthew
*Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio were known to use this technique in their artworks.
Chiaroscuro in Visual Narrative
Why is it used?
It is and excellent lighting choice to differentiate positive and negative space
1. Increase dramatic tension: Gives thrilling emotive depth on the look and feel in the scene.
Fig 1.4 Artwork of Virgil Finlay
2. Create sensational effect: Helps elevate fantastical viewpoints to emphasis on the narrative
Fig 1.5 Yildiray Cinar: Lightning Lad
3. Attract attention: Establish visual hierarchy, the main point of the scene.
Fig 1.6 Sony Picture: Into The Spiderverse
4. Make tasteful composition: The play on negative VS positive spaces creates attractive scenes
Fig 1.7 Eric Drooker: Flood! A novel in pictures"
Positive Space: Refers to subject matter or object of interest in a visual.
Negative Space: Refers to the filled space or background that surround subject matter or object of interest in visual.
1.3 Week 3
Composition 1 - Visual Shots
What is composition?
It is the arrangement of the elements in our visual. It may be challenging to arrange the element effectively. Every composition should let the focus element to stand out.
Basic composition visual rule
1. Visual Narrative: The visuals in the scene complements all aspect of the narrative
2. Visual Flow: The scene has clear flow of visual that directs viewer's eyes
3.Visual Balance: The visuals in arrange to balance the composition in the scene
4. Visual Hierarchy: The visuals are arrange in such ways that directs viewer's eyes to specific details first.
Different Types of Shots
1.Establishing: Wide shot are used to establish the setting, highlight the spectacle, and allow audience to take in the grandeur of a location, while still providing enough context to understand the scene.
Fig 1.3.1 Denis Villeneuve - Dune Part Two
2.Bird's Eyeview: also known as overhead shot, is when the camera is positioned directly above the subject at a 90 degree angle, capturing the scene from above.
Fig 1.3.2 DPR IAN- Moodswings Into Order
3.Frame within a Frame: A well-composed frame within a frame adds depth, visual interest, and can fracture screen space in cinematic compositions. Using foreground or background shapes, this technique can highlight underlying meanings in a story and organize the frame for maximum impact.
Fig 1.3.3 Celine Song - Past Lives
4.Medium Shot: also known as a three-quarter shot frames about three-quarter of a character and is a standard camera angle, positioned between a close-up and a long shot.
Fig 1.3.4 Wong Kar Wei - Chungkin Express
5.Close-up: A close up shot provides an intimate view into a character's emotions and thoughts, helping the audience connect with their well-being. It should emphasize emotions within the broader context of the scene.
.jpg)
Fig 1.3.5 Alice Rohrwacher - La Chimera
6.Worm's view: A close-up captures an intimate moment revealing a character's emotions and thoughts, helping the audience connect with their well-being. It should focus on emotions within the larger context of the scene.
Fig 1.3.6 Tim Burton - Alice in The Wonderland
2. Instruction
3.1 The Bezier Game
Before starting our design, Mr. Hafiz introduced us to a game called "The Bezier Game" to let us get familiar with the pen tool. At first it was quite challenging as I have no idea on creating a curve. After having a demo and example from Mr. Hafiz, I finally know the tricks to it and eventually was able to complete the obstacles. I think the heart shape tutorials was where i was stuck for the longest amount of time. But I was happy that I manage to complete that round.
Fig 3.1 The Bezier Game
3.2 Shape Tracing
For the Task 1 Vormator Challenge, we are only allowed to use 8 given shape and we have to trace them out before creating our character. I will the say the Bezier Game did help a lot in this particular task. Besides that, Mr. Hafiz also show some tricks and ways for us to trace these shapes out in an easy and faster way. To be honest, I did take quite a while to trace it out at first. Burt after a few tries I got used to it and eventually find some other way I find comfortable with to trace them out.
Fig 3.2 My Tracing of the Given Shapes
3.3 Character Inspiration
Rugby otter player
I was "doom-scrolling" on IG reel where i came across a video about a person saving an otter and got rocks and seashells as a gift of thanks from it. I found that rather fascinating and got into a thought of "what if seashell is a kind of sport for otter". So with that I choose the sport - rugby as the themed and try to create something from it.
Fig 3.3.1 Otter carrying a shell and rugby players
Moo Deng
Lately Moo Deng - a pygmy hippopotamus found at a Thailand zoo was viral everywhere on the internet. I found it cute and wanted to try creating a mascot version of it.
_-_img_02.jpg)
Fig 3.3.2 Viral photo of Moo Deng
Daisy
I wanted to create a character with this particular flower - Daisy. One of the main reason of choosing it is because of a song i have been repeating for quite a while which is also call "Daisy". Unfortunately it can't be found anywhere yet as it is an unreleased I heard from the singer's concert. The song portray Daisy as someone mysterious yet joyful. I did also search up what Daisy signifies in the internet and it shows that it signifies new beginnings, joy and cheerfulness. So I tried to elaborate them into my design.
Fig 3.3.3 Reference and Inspiration for Daisy
3.4 Design Exploration
I drafted 3 designs based on the inspiration.
The "Moo Deng" mascot came out quite interesting I will say. I guess it's because I messed up it's proportions which I did try to save. It eventually did not end up making to my finalize design list.
Fig3.4.1 Moo Deng mascot design
For the otter, I created some protection gear around it but I felt that it looks more like a ninja than a rugby player for some reason. I actually like the way it came out although there is some proportion problem.
For Daisy, I ended up calling it Miss Daisy as I think that is what suits the best. Although it looks different from what my sketches looks like, but I think this version looks the best and I ended up choosing Miss Daisy as my final design.
3.5 Process of creating Miss Daisy
Sketch
At first, I just tried piecing some "Drops" shape together to create it's petal. Going along with the flow It became her hair. I wanted to portray this character as someone shy and mysterious. To make these features clear, I emphasizes it on it's small gesture where her hands were hidden and eyes were half cover from her "petal" hair.
Fig 3.5.1 Sketch Of Miss Daisy
First Draft
After finishing my sketch, I moved it into Adobe Illustrator. In the end the legs turned out being different because "The Wurst" shapes looks odd as it's leg proportions was very very weird for me. I tried playing around with other shapes to see which can be her potential legs and I ended up with "The Tentacles" shapes. I was still not satisfy with this design because this version of leg make her look more like "Ursula" than a flower.
Fig 3.5.2 First Version of Miss Daisy
Final
I decided to change the legs design of Miss Daisy as I find that the longer I see it the odder it looks . After a few try outs, I eventually choose to keep using "The Tentacles" shape but the difference is that I let Miss Daisy have a more humanlike torso which is her having two hands and two legs. This version of Miss Daisy looks more cheerful and joyful just as what Daisy is suppose to signifies as. I also added a dress for her to create more layers. Her feet wasn't suppose to add petal element, but I find that the overall looks more balance after adding it in. At last, I finalized the design of Miss Daisy.
Fig 3.5.3 Final Version of Miss Daisy
Extras ( pathfinder)
Before class, Mr. Hafiz shared with us some video tutorials about using the pathfinder tools.
Fig 3.5.4 Tutorial of using pathfinder tools
We also have a tutorial section on recreating the Adidas logo using the pathfinder tools. Mr. Hafiz guided us step by step to complete it. Thankfully I was able to catch up on the steps but I did struggle with the last step which was merging the lines and the leaf together.
Fig 3.5.5 Pathfinder Exercise
After that we were assigned with an extra task which we can use the pathfinder tools to create shadow and details for our character. I choose to emphasize on the petal details as flower petals usually have layers of colors.
Fig 3.5.6 Miss Daisy with Shadow Details
4. Reflection
At first I was scared that the limitation of shapes was gonna affect on the outcome of my character design but thankfully it did not happen. Instead, the rule of limiting shapes benefits me more in this project as it help keeps my design stay minimal. Like the saying less is more, if we were given freedom of using different shapes, I feel that i will easily get lost in the process of designing my character. The overall experience on this task was fun for me as I get to test try creating different draft although most of it end up being a disaster but I truly have fun with it too. In the end, I learn that proportion is really really really important as one mistake in it will eventually turn one character into a nightmare. I eventually learn that from my "Moo Deng" design. The more we mess up the more we find out, thanks to that design I ended up creating Miss Daisy which turn out great for me.
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment