Illustration and Visual Narrative | Task 1

Week 1 - Week 4 (25/9/2023 - 23/10/2023)
Melvin Yung Khun Yew | 0357241 | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
COM 61304    Illustration and Visual Narrative

Task 1 

---

This portfolio consists of:

• Lectures
• Instructions
• Work Process
• Feedback
• Reflection

Click on the link to jump to that part of the portfolio

---

Lectures

↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑

Week 1: The Bezier Game

To start the first class, Mr Hafiz introduced us to a little fun game that can assist us in understanding and being able to utilise the pen tool in Adobe applications as it is one of the most important tools for drawing and creating illustrations in later classes and assignments.

The Bézier Game at https://bezier.method.ac/

Thus I gave it a try: 

Outlining circle

Outlining a car using 12 nodes

I gave the car challenge another go and got even fewer nodes here:

Outlining a car using 10 nodes

Aside from the Bezier Game, Mr Hafiz also guided us step-by-step on how to create the outlines for the shapes. Thus, here's my effort on shape outline tracing.

Outline tracing of shapes provided for the Vormator Challenge

Week 2: Character Design Basics

Stylized Design

• Iconic
• Simplicity
• Unique

The principle of character design

• Shapes
  Shapes design a character's silhouette to identify a character from one another

Monster Inc. © Pixar, 2001

            The shapes can add some weight to their personality

Aladdin © Disney, 1992

• Colour
  Colour can be used to establish the basic roles of the characters by determining and separating the
  basic characteristics of heroes, villains and even background characters.
  

  

  Star Wars Franchise © Disney
  
  

  Colour can even determine psychology by giving out impressions of different emotions.
  

  

  Inside Out © Pixar, 2015

  
  
• Emphasis & Contrast
  These principles are used for exaggeration to memorate
  Colours and shapes are often emphasized and contrasted in a good character design to make them stand out 

  

  Tangled © Pixar, 2010

  
  

  

  Inside Out © Pixar, 2015
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
• Harmony 
  Every element (shapes, colours, motifs, patterns) in the design should complement each other
  Visual hierarchy and how it reflects the narrative of the characters
  

  

  Inside Out © Pixar, 2015

  
  
  
• Expression and poses
  Clear visualization expressions (behaviours, quirks, personalities) are important for easier visual appeal to viewers
  

  

  Inside Out © Pixar, 2015

  
  

Week 3: Chiaroscuro

What is chiaroscuro?
        - The use of light and dark creates the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a flat surface.
        - Tonal contrast

The purpose of chiaroscuro:

• To increase the scene's dramatic tension by exaggerating the subject's importance using colour or light contrast.

• To create a sensational effect that helps elevate fantastical viewpoints to emphasise the narrative.

• To attract attention by establishing visual hierarchy, the main point of a scene.

• To make the tasteful composition when negative spaces and positive spaces are used to create attractive scenes

References and video suggestions: 

Barry Lyndon 1975 - A Cinematic Canvas

https://youtu.be/0cDhRSOCuBE

Chiaroscuro Lighting in Film — Balancing Cinematic Light & Darkness

https://youtu.be/NzCXVfzQ-EI

    Adobe Tools Exercise:
        Pencil Tool (Shortcut: N)
        Pathfinder (Divide)

Adobe Illustration Practice for Week 3:

Fig Outlining and shaping of light and shadow on the pear

Fig Segmenting and recoloring of the pear

Homework for Week 3: Shadows of anything you favour and cast in on the pear

After careful consideration, I decided to use the portrait photo of a woman in the chiaroscuro exercise folder in Google Classroom and cast the shadows on the pear.

Original woman portrait photo 

Outlining and shadow selection using pen tool

Base colour selection of pear

Finished work

Week 4 - No class (Lecturer sick leave)

Week 5 - Chiaroscuro

In week 5, Mr Hafiz led us to try tracing out a man's silhouette and replacing the shadows into images with patterns. Guiding us on how to use the clipping mask to replace the dark shadows.

Select the reference image and dim the layer to 50% after selecting the image as a template.

Trace out the outline of the targeted man

The next step is to compound all the shadows into a single compound path in Object > Compound Path (Adobe Illustrator)

After that, clip the compound path of shadows with the patterned image I found on the internet which is interesting.

 And there you have it!

Clipping mask of pattern on the shadow

Background darkening to see the details better

---

Instructions

↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑

Mr Hafiz gave the class briefing on this whole module and the module learning outcomes through the online Microsoft Teams meeting. 

Task 1 (20%) - Individual: Exercises
The first task will be exercises that aid and benefit me in gaining theoretical and practical knowledge in illustration and visual narrative to inform and provide me with the necessary experience to take on this module.

Submission
Daily in-class technical exercises

Vormator Challenge character

Game card design

Learning goals

• Generate and communicate design concepts and solutions through manual and digital skills effectively and skillfully.
• Use creative thinking skills and methodologies to explore, generate and test a wide range of conceptual ideas.
• Use information and communication technology to source navigate, select, retrieve and manage information.

---

Work Process

↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑

Vormator Challenger character design

In this challenge, it's the ultimate challenge of my creativity. What it means by that is that I need to create a character design with limited shapes provided as shown in the image below.

Vormator Challenge: Shapes

Using the shapes, I have decided to create a character that portrays a good person's characteristics with the character shape language in mind. 

The Walt Disney: Shape Language

Circles and triangles are the main base shapes of my character, as I want to bring kindness and reliable characteristics into it. Here is my first attempt at the character design:

Fig 1.1    Hydro Person Design Ver 1.0 — 6/10/2023

Wireframe of the design version 1.0

I went with the hydro character design to further strengthen the personality of friendly as we know that the water H2O is harmless to us. Thus blue colour becomes the main tone of my character.

In the meantime, I'm working on another character design referencing Robin Hood.

Fig 1.2    Design 2 — 8/10/2023

However, I found that I was having a hard time visualising the outcome of this character (characteristics, personality) so I put this 2nd design aside.

But this 2nd design attempt gave me the inspiration to add the hand design to the first hydro character. Thus, I began to work on the design refinement again as I was still not satisfied with the first version of the hydro character. 

Refinements added:

• Curly hair-like design
• Tongue with darker blue colour
• Fine textures and details on the beer tankard
• Legs and shoes
• More detailed hands
  
• Colour change of the icon on leather aprons

Fig 1.3    Hydro Person Design Ver 2.0 — 15/10/2023

Later, I decided to add shadow details to the character to make it look lively.

Shadows on arms and legs — 1/11/2023

Game Card Design

The first version of the game card design

As I was not satisfied with the first version of the background design, I decided to change the background of the game card based on the medieval tavern as the character is holding a tankard.

Tavern reference
Source from https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=medieval+pub&asset_id=478490472

I created the tavern background with a mixture of the shapes provided by the Vormator Challenge and freeform shapes. Gradient tools are also used to create the ambient light effect from the candle and the firepit.

Tavern background design with the wireframe — 1/11/2023

Final product: Pokémon Card — 1/11/2023

---

Feedback

↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑

Week 2

General feedback: Good outline tracing on the Vormator Challenge shapes

Week 3

General feedback: No particular feedback was given

Week 4

No feedback - no class

Week 5

General feedback: No particular feedback was given

---

Reflection

↑↑↑ Back to top ↑↑↑

• Experiences
  Even though this Illustration and Visual Narrative class are being conducted online through Microsoft Teams every Monday, I am still able to feel the fun of this module with every lecture and the information I received throughout these 6 weeks of class. Despite this module seems easy on paper, the sheer amount of effort and time one needs to put into it surprised me especially when I was doing this first task. Character design with limited elements and materials really put my knowledge and skill applications to the test. 
  
  
  
• Observation
  In my spare time, sometimes I look up on Pinterest watching and admiring other professionals' work. The amount of knowledge and time they put into their work is what I can't imagine. Moreover, Mr Hafiz patiently taught and guided us on the features and functions of Adobe Illustrator, I believe I can see a better version of myself compared to when I was still in the Foundation in Design course at Taylor's College.
  
  
  
• Findings
  I found a lot of cool info that piqued my interest in how to create a successful character design during these 5 weeks of lectures and the practical use of them throughout this first task that requires me to develop a character from scratch. From the principles of character design to the visual effects to further portray moods in scenes, I can get to touch on these pearls of wisdom thanks to the lecturing from Mr Hafiz Zamri.