Illustration and Visual Narrative: Task 1

2023.09.25 - 2023.10.30 Week 1 - Week 4

Teh Ming En/0364908

Illustration and Visual Narrative-Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media--Taylors University

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Lectures

Week 1: Introduction to Modules- The Pen Tool

Fig 1.1 Bezier Games (25/09/2023)

Bezier game is a tutorial or a game for learning how the pen tool works. Mr. Hafiz suggested we play the Bezier games to familiarize with the pen tool as we didn't have access to Adobe first week. This is my result with the Bezier game, I did it with 13 nodes.

Week 2: Vormator Shapes- Character Design Basic

It is a great starting point for us to know and practise our artwork design.

Stylized Design: 

~Iconic: Immediately recognize them even in black silhouttes

~Simplicity: Allows viewers to digest and understand the purpose of the characters easily

~Unique: Which in return makes them unique characters that are not only memorable, but makes an impact on the viewers

Principle of Character Design:

~Shapes: Explore the possibilities of combining different interesting shapes for your design

~Colour: Plays an important role in determining and separate the basic characteristics of heroes, villains and even background characters. Different colours give impressions of different emotions and is easily relatable by the viewers.

~Emphasis,Contrast: A good character exaggerates on the emphasis and contrasting visual elements to make the design stand out by using colours and different shapes

~Harmony: All shapes, lines, colour, motifs, patterns must be put together in a tasteful manner. Every element in the characters should complement each other and how reflect the narrative of the characters

~Expressions,Poses: Clear visualization of your characters behaviours, quirks, personalities make it easier to appeal to your viewers.

Week 3: Shapes, Light and Dark-Chiaroscuro

The use of light and dark to create the illusion of three dimensional volume on a flat surface.The purpose of chiaroscuro is to increase the scene’s dramatic tension by exaggerating the subject’s importance using color or light contrast.

Fig 3.1 Predominantly cast in light [The Calling of St Matthew (Caravaggio, 1599 - 1600)]

The Chiaroscuro is used in visual narrative because:

-This method is an excellent lighting choice to differentiate positive vs negative spaces

-Increase dramatic tension: Gives thrilling emotive depth on the look and feel in the scene

-Create sensational effect: Helps elevate fantastical viewpoints to emphasis on the narrative

-Attract attention: Establish visual hierarchy, the main point of the scene

-Make tasteful composition: The play on negative VS positive spaces creates attractive scenes

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Week 2- Vormator Challenge

Vormator challenge is a activity to inspire our creativity. We can only use eight shapes given to create our work. There are some rules we should follow when creating artwork: You are allowed to rotate, flip, and duplicate the elements. You have to use all the elements. Scaling is allowed, but proportionally, so skewing or free transform you. Add, subtract, intersect and group elements as you see fit the use of color is unrestricted; you can create your own colour schemes(e.g. use adobe Colour) You allowed to use gradients. The elements may be filled, the use of strokes is allowed. You are allowed to use filters or effects(e.g. drop shadows)

Fig 2.1 Vormator Shapes (2/10/2023)

First,  I trace the shapes given and fill colours.

Fig 2.2 Character Design 1.0 (3/10/2023)

I try to create a monster of my first practise. I use three colours that are Black, White and Red to fill the monster.

Fig 2.3 Character Design 2.0 (5/10/2023)

I was not satisfied with the Monster 1.0 version so the Monster 2.0 was born. I added more shapes to the Monster's top and base.

Fig 2.4 Apply colour and gradient (7/10/2023)

Then, I practise applying colour and gradient to the character. It is an interesting process.

Fig 2.5 Character Design (9/10/2023)

Finally, I choose to use gradient to colour the character. Then I start tracing the background.

Fig 2.6 Final Character Design (10/10/2023)

Fig 2.7 Final Character Design (10/10/2023)

Week 3- Chiaroscuro Exercise

We will learn how to use Pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator from the exercise. First, use pen tool to sketch the pear and colour it. Then, we use pathfinder tool to divide the pear and change the colour. Below is my artworks: 

Fig 3.1 Pears Artwork (11/10/2023)

Then we need to use a picture of a skull to draw a shadow on the pear.

Fig 3.2 Final Pears Artwork (12/10/2023)

Week 4 -Colours and Blending Mode-Human Chiaroscuro

Fig 4.1 Chiaroscuro People

This week we learned colours and blending mode by doing the human chiaroscuro exercise. Same with the pears but the new step is to make a clipping mask and put texture into shadow.

Fig 4.2 Human Chiaroscuro Outlines (23/10/2023)

Fig 4.3 Final Human Chiaroscuro (23/10/2023)

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FEEDBACK

Week 2: Nice. Looks good.

Week 3: Looks good. It is done correctly.

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REFLECTIONS

This is my first time learning Illustration and Visual Narrative. I must say creating a character in vormator challenge is an interesting exercise for me. I immersed myself in the process of creating monsters and tracing the background. I have learned to use light and dark, and how to work in clipping mask in chiaroscuro exercise. I have a large improvement in creative skills by practising the artworks. I found myself experimenting with new styles and different tools. It is fascinating and interesting for me. It pushes me always thinking outside the box. Everything is difficult at the start, maybe I didn't do well but I will work harder.