27.08.2021 - 00.00.2021 / Week 01- 04
Rebecca Thoo Hui Ying / 0350359
Bachelor of Designs (Hons) in Creative Media
Illustration & Visual Narrative Task 1
LECTURES
Week 01: 27.08.2021
We had a fantastic way of ice-breaking sessions with both lectures by
talking about~ cute animals early in the morning. (and something else
about animals too, that really made me awake hehe). We were introduced
to Ms Noranis (& cats) & Ms Jennifer for this class. Ms Anis
went on to briefed us on what we are to expect for this module, it is a
Core, meaning we will have to pass this module in order to level up! (I
am a very visual person, personally, I've been doing digital art for
about a year now, so going into this module I am very pumped about all
the projects we are going to work on!) After the suspended Ms Anis left
us on, we finally got our theme for the Webtoon comic, it is- HORROR! We
will also be looking to animate the web comic, which sounds interesting.
Ms Anis suggested for the students to have a tablet of their own for
easy maneuver in the class (which i already have!).
✧
Week 02: 03.09.2021
Introduction to Character Design
Consider about what will be the appealing factor, jacke the dog, bombastic
personality
✧ Shapes - easy for audience to identity a character,
sets an iconic character look.
Fig 1.1 Lecture's slides (03.09.2021)
The example Ms Noranis gave was the Disney movie, Aladdin
(1992).
The protagonist- Aladdin was given a stable frame to make the audience feel
at ease.
The antagonist- Jafar was given the funky shape, hence created an uneasiness
for the audience.
Both had similar shape - the upright rectangular, it all comes down to the
balance.
Genie is shapeshifter, his character design easily conveys it through the
shape the creators have chosen - the teadrop shape because water changes
shape.
✧ Colour - plays a vital role at determining who the
character is. Colour has the power for people to feel the emotion when
looking at the certain character.
✧ Example of Opposite
Colour Schemes
Fig 1.2 Finn & Jake from Adventure Time (03.09.2021)
They are of the opposite colours. Finn has a very cold colour scheme while
Jake has a more vibrant. This reflects back to the character's personality.
Finn is more of an inherently good character whereas jake is much more jolly
and fun. It gives an easy association and easy identification to the
characters.
✧ Example of Similar Colour Schemes
Fig 1.3 Genshin Impact Twin Traveler (03.09.2021)
✧ Emphasis & Contrast - picking one visual element in a character
& exaggerate it makes the character outstanding &
memorable.
Fig 1.4 Hades from the 1997 Disney Movie, Hercules (03.09.2021)
Hades is the villain of the story. The creators decided to go for blue
fire - the hottest fire for Hade's colour scheme.
Fig 1.5 Yzma from the 2000 Disney Movie, The Emperor's New Groove
(03.09.2021)
Yzma is the villain of the story. She has exaggerated long eyelashes that
made her eyes pop even more. She also has a bold pin design and
exaggerated headgear.
✧Harmony - all about colours, shapes, motifs, emphasis & contracts
to create a tasteful character.
Fig 1.6 Wall-E & Eve from the 2008 Disney Movie, Wall-E
(03.09.2021)
The characters from Disney Movie, Wall-E could only communicate with their
eyes, hence why the creators made the eyes expression filled to convey the
emotions.
✧Expressions - character expressions should be conveyed visually for
the audiences to know their behaviour/quirks and personalities.
Fig 1.7 Moana character sheet from the 2016 Disney Movie, Moana
(03.09.2021)
Week 03:
Visual Techniques: Composition
Fig 2.1 Examples of Composition
✧ Composition - a combination of more than 2 or 3 design
principles
Fig 2.2 Types of Shoots/ Composition
✧ Establishing - wide angle shoot that captures
everything. Example: use for introducing a character's
house.
✧ Bird's Eyeview - a dynamic shoot
✧ Worm's Eyebiew - puts audiences on the ground, a
different dynamic shoot
✧ Close-Up - be as close to the subject matter
✧ Medium Shot - audiences get to see a relative size of
the character
✧ Framing - to highlight and emphasis on a
scene
Composition Rule
✧ A balanced distribution of positive &
negative space (white & black, light & shadow) helps to develop the
mood, hence created the Visual Hierarchy
Fig 2.3 Composition Rule
✧ Frozen Picture Example: The audience's perspectives
are different, they might be able to notice the background 1st or they could
notice the subject matter moving, this is what is called Central Focus. Light
& Dark creates a contrast that allows users to identify with the Visual
Hierarchy.
✧ A good designer applies Visual Hierarchy that allows audiences to
perceive information that is correct in different ways.
Composition from the Illustration Guidebook
Rule of thrids
Fig 2.4 Rule of thirds
✧ Rule of thirds states that if an image is divided into 9 equal parts (3
vertical & 3 horizontal), the image will be more interesting &
pleasing if the visual areas of interest are placed in alignment with
these diving lines & intersections
Background, Midground & Foreground
Fig 2.5 Background, Midground & Foreground
Fig 2.6 Create environment art
✧ The subject matter is often in the foreground or midground, while the
world setting is often in the background of the setting the subject matter
is inhabiting
Contrast
Fig 2.7 Contrast
✧ Contrast means using a dramatic shift or change of aspects of the visuals
(within the same image) to guide the viewer's eyes through the piece
Week 04:
Visual Techniques: Composition (2): Perspectives
✧ Perspectives are vital to environment & layout design as it creates
diversions.
Fig 3.1 Thr Tribute Money (1426-27) - Fillipo the Architect
✧ Filippo the Architect uses linear perspective to create
perspectives by using vanishing points. It enhances the painting, more of a 3D
illusion.
Fig 3.2 The Last supper (1490) - Da Vinci
✧ "The Last Supper" - DA VINCI: the clever use of perspective makes it
feel like we are about to enter the room where the subject matter. Colour
of contrast between other disciples. The position of subject matter. All
the vanishing points back to Jesus. It is a very 3D depth art.
✧ Visuals we create need to deliver a story, a narrative.
Fig 3.3 "The School of Athens" (1509 -1511) - Raphael
✧ By combining the use of planes and perspectives an artist will be
able to create
Fig 3.4 Las Meninas (1656) - Diego Velázquez
✧ We were shown a Youtube video (Las Meninas: Is This The Best Painting In History?) in class. It was mind-blowing to see how the famed artist, Diego
applies extraordinary methods to his painting. Listening to this
breakdown of the painting, was amazing and the strong establishments
of the painting!
✧ Types of Perspectives: 1 Point, 2 Point, 3 Point & 4-5 Point
(fisheye)
Fig 3.5 One point perspective
✧ The way to determine a "point" is the number of vanishing
points (the point where all lines meet & create an
intersection/ a star)
Fig 3.6 Parallax Effect
Fig 3.7 How to create a sense of Depth
Perspective from the Illustration Guidebook
Two-Point Perspective
Fig 3.8 Two-point perspective
✧ Two-point perspectives are vanishing points on either side
of the horizon & the objects & buildings within the
scene are drawn to both of these vanishings points.
Fig 3.9 Three-point perspective
✧ Three-point perspectives consist of 2 vanishing points on opposite
sides of a horizon but with the addition of another vanishing point
high above or below the horizon
INSTRUCTIONS
EXERCISE
Task o1: Part A Vormator Challenge
Ms Jennifer advised us to have our character sketches ready for
week 02. I started by importing the shapes into Adobe Illustrator
to play around with the shapes. I treat this task as a lego game,
whereby we will need to figure out a way to form a character.
After the 1st attempt in "lego-ing" a character, I realised I tend
to use the "drop" shape more, hence the reason why i have decided
to create a character that has pointy ears.
Fig 1.1 Vormator Elements (27.09.2021)
Character Inspirations:
Fig 1.2 Inspirations(01.09.2021)
Step 1: I imported the shapes into Ai and played around with
assembling & experimenting with the design of a potential
character. I realised I tend to lean into creating characters
that have pointy ears and utilised lots of "the
drop".
Step 2: With a somewhat direction of where my character design
is going, I went on to Pinterest to search for references. I
also liked the idea of creating a long tail or tails, something
like a gumiho (nine-tailed fox). I have always had a fascination
with mystical creatures that have unique powers that made them
majestic.
Step 3: The characters I came up with were heavily influenced
by the poses from the 3 bigger images I've inserted into my
inspiration board.
Sketches:
Mercury, Character 01
Fig 1.3 Character Design: Mercury
Mercury is of a made-up Mythical species called the Dragox
(Cat & Smaller Dragon Hybrid). As shown on the right
in red outlines, I used shapes that have a sharper end to her
design to symbolise her ability- to freeze & defroze. The
pointy shapes along her spine & behind her ears are
designed to shoot sharp icicles when encountered with the
enemy. I took inspiration from the gumiho and created the
eight-point star tailed for Mercury, the shape also has a
similar shape to a snowflake. To balance out Mercuy's
sharpness to the character, I've added the round shapes to her
face, round paws as well as a fury mane to help soften her
design. Basically, the idea is to make Mercury is a menacing
creature with a cute face. Mercury was
actually my last design.
Fig 1.4 Character Design: Florix
Florix is a Flower Skunk. I took inspiration from the
Flower the Skunk in the 1942 Disney film, Bambi. The idea I
had was to make a mystical character that is friendly and
approachable yet the character is a powerful being. I
channeled Flower's cuteness into Florix's design with the
patches on her face and the flower on her forehead. The idea
for a Flower Skunk is that they are a mystical species that
only exists in the deepest and purest part of the earth. It
channels its power from the earth to heal everything it
touches. The eight-point tail symbolises flower in this
connotation. Florix is an overall cute creature.
Fig 1.5 Flower the Skunk in the 1942 Disney film,
Bambi.
Fyreihyu, Character 03
Fig 1.6 Character Design: Fyreihyu
Fyreihyu is a made-up mythical creature called the
Frinkixm, it is a creature that lives in volcanic mountains.
It draws its firepower from consuming lava from the earth,
hence the reason why its eyes are of a molten orange. I wanted
to make a character that features a longer ear, as shown on
the right I made the ears by duplicating "the Drop" shape and
combining them with "the tentacle". The reason for this long
ear design is that the Frinkix has a heightened hearing
ability. This is a simpler design compared to my other two
character design.
Digitalisation (05.09.2021)
Colour Study
Fig 1.6 Character Design: Colour study
I tried 2 colour schemes to see which suits Mercury's design
more. Because of her ability to freeze items I decided to make
her colours cool tone by trying with blue and purple
tones.
I've also changed a bit of Mercury's facial design. I amended
the eyebrows and mouth to look more friendly and inviting.
(compared to her previous design, she looked like she's about
to bite someone off hehe)
Fig 1.7 Comparison of character after adding graident
I felt I could not deliver Mercury's character &
personality much by using only solid colours. So I added
gradients to her character to make it look more interesting.
I've also added details, like the slight blush on her checks,
the blending from her paws to her legs as well as a cute little
snowflake birth mark pattern on her leg.
Fig 1.8 Shape arrangement & Final Character Design
Fig 1.9 Final JPEG Character Design (Mercury)
Fig 1.9 Final PDF Character Design (Mercury)
Task o1: Part B Vector Illustration
Card Design Inspirations:
Fig 2.1 Card Inspiration & Colour Palatte
(10.9.2021)
I was not expecting to do a tarot card size kind of card
for my character, I have always liked Tarots Illustrations,
I've done some myself in my free time too. I was beyond
happy to go on in for a round of inspiration searching. I am
drawn towards Card Designs that have a border, framing the
subject matter at the center. Because Mercury is a
snow/freeze power mythical creature, I think it's going to
be nice to make the background into snow mountains or
glaciers.
Fig 2.2 Exploration of "Mercury" Card Design (10.9.2021)
I first positioned Mercury in front of the chosen glacier
reference picture to see if I liked the composition. Once
the position is determined, I used the Brush tool to outline
the light and shadowed area of the glacier to create a more
3D look. I struggled with choosing a suitable background
colour for the glaciers as it has a close tone to my
character. Glaciers are naturally of a lighter shade, I
decided to switch into Azure (a darker shade of blue) whilst
still staying on the blue theme. I've also explored the
Transparency tool on the right tool pannel. I changed the
colour blend of sketch 3 onwards to Colour Dodge. I added
pink clouds to add a bit of colour into the art.
Fig 2.3 Final Background Choice (10.9.2021)
After completing the first draft, I took a few hours off
the project and came back with fresh eyes. The colours of
the background & my character blended together. I
switched my colour palette to more of a Mauve colour, with
more purple tones. I liked the end results of my
experimentation with colours! I removed the clouds and added
a simple sun instead. The final background is more stable in
terms of balance in this illustration.
Fig 2.4 Final JPEG Background Choice (10.9.2021)
Fig 2.5 Final PDF Background Choice (10.9.2021)
Fig 2.6 Font Exploration (10.9.2021)
I then experimented with different font types to see
which one suits the look and feel I'm going with. I ended
up using The Luiston (font on the left). I outlined the
font & enlarged the points in the alphabet "M" &
"Y" this is to add more spice to the font.
Fig 2.7 Final Background, Font & Framing Choice (10.9.2021)
This is the final background I decided to go with!
Keeping with the purple theme, I added a dark purple shade
as the border whilst keeping Mercury inside an oval shape.
I've also inserted my font's placement.
Fig 2.7 Element explorations (11.9.2021)
Fig 2.8 JPEG Game Card Design (11.9.2021)
I realised as a game card, there should not be any indications
of what the card is about to be. So I have amended as per the
lecturer's advice to remove the wordings. The below are my final
versions.
Final Game Card Design: (24.09.2021)
Fig 2.9 Final JPEG Game Card Design (24.9.2021)
Fig 2.10 Final PDF Game Card Design (24.9.2021)
Week 02: Character Design (03.09.2021)
The idea is good, suggestions to go with Mercury as it has a
more dynamic pose. Ms Anis also suggested adding something to
the legs so they will not look stumpy.
Week 03: Character Design (10.09.2021)
Character feedback from the lectures: well done, the
colours I've choosen are nicely incorporated. I've also used
complex graphics in my design.
Week 04: Game Card Design (17.09.2021)
Game card design feedback from lectures, well done,
no comment... 😂
Week 05: Game Card Design (24.09.2021)
Suggestions to remove the back card wordings.
REFLECTIONS
Illustration has always been my strong point, the first time
I've read the module outline I was excited and up for the
challenge! Our first task was an interesting challenge. We
were limited to use only the given shapes, it took some time
for me to explore and develop a direction of how my
character will look like.
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