Illustration & Visual Narrative: Lectures and Task 2

 Illustration & Visual Narrative: Lectures and Task 2

NAME: Adeline Wong Chyn Nee (0344017)

I.D: 0344017

COURSE: Bachelors of Design in Creative Media

MODULE: Illustration & Visual Narrative

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LECTURE

Week 4: Composition 2: Perspective

Fig. 2.1 Lecture Screenshot

In week 4, we explored further into composition and one of the important principles to study is perspective. It is constantly used in paintings, drawings, comics, and more. Therefore, by understanding perspective, we get to expand our skills for more styles of designs.

Fig. 2.2 Byzantine art 

Back in the 14th century, beautiful paintings like these lacked the sense of perspective with different vanishing points and that made them look slightly dorky.

Fig. 2.3 Fillipo Brunelleschi's first perspective drawing

A Florentine architect depicts the Baptistery in Florence from the front gate of the unfinished cathedral. The linear perspective system projected the illusion of depth onto a two-dimensional plane by the use of a 'vanishing point'.

He developed the use of form, volume, light, and shadow into perspective.

Fig. 2.4 Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper

This painting by da Vinci is a 1-point perspective painting of Jesus Christ and his disciples. All of its vanishing points are placed towards the middle where Jesus Christ is sitting. It is a painting that allows the viewer's eye to glide throughout the whole painting and land in the middle point at the end.

Fig. 2.5 "School of Athens" by Raphael

Not only that but this painting by Italian painter, Raphael, is a painting that clearly differentiates the foreground, midground, and background. 

Fig. 2.6 "Las Meninas" by Velázquez

Through the video below, we learn the significance of the "Las Meninas" painting by Velázquez. I too found this painting fascinating after understanding the philosophy behind it.

Fig. 2.7 Video "Las Meninas: Is This The Best Painting In History?" by Nerdwriter1

So what does perspective means in art?

It is a principle that helps a design to create more depth and illusion, making a 2D object become 3D.

Types of Perspective:

1. 1 Point Perspective
2. 2 Point Perspective
3. 3 Point Perspective
4. 4-5 Point Perspective (Fisheye)

Another simple way to create depth is to use layers (usually used in comics) as long as they mimic a 3D dimension, a sense of depth is created.

Week 5: Visual Technique: Chiaroscuro

Fig. 4.1 Lecture Screenshot

Fig. 4.2 Good visual hierarchy example

The details of illustrations get to be appreciated better when there are good value tone, shapes, sense of perspective, and positive & negative space. In this example, the foreground, middle ground, and background help a viewer to narrate the visuals effectively with visual hierarchy.

Fig. 4.3 Good visual hierarchy example

To create movement, we can utilize shapes and lines, not only that but maximizing overlaps makes any visual interesting as well.

Fig. 4.4 Good visual hierarchy example

By mismatching different shapes and lines, we will get a more interesting layout whereas having everything horizontally, we can start by differentiating the establishing patterns and rhythm by layering different patterns and elements, which will create a more effective visual.

Fig. 4.5 Painting by Suraj Finearts

Fig. 4.6 Painting by Jason Anserson

In order to start, we are taught how to practice our skills and create an effective design by imitating other artists' art, like a quote from Picasso, "Good artists imitate, Great artists steal."

By studying another artists' art or design, we learn to determine how elements work in order to create interesting work.

WHAT IS 'CHIAROSCURO'? (KEE-AA-RUH-SKYOUR-ROW)

Chiaroscuro refers to the use of light and dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a flat surface. Without this technique, art and designs would lack flow and visual hierarchy.

Fig. 4.7 Examples of Chiaroscuro used in comic

So why is Chiaroscuro used? Well, it is because this artistic choice would increase dramatic tension and create the sensational effect, pull your attention to the subject in an intense way, and create a tasteful composition with positive and negative spaces.

It is also a great way for us to study form and practice value.

Week 7: 3-Act Structure

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INSTRUCTION:

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ASSIGNMENT BRIEF (Project 2)

Decisive Moment! (Animated poster design)

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VISUAL RESEARCH

PROJECT 2: Decisive Moment!

To start with this project, I did some research on my favorite genre of movies, Horror! I usually prefer to watch horror movies alone during midnight, when it's quiet outside and I can allow myself to fully experience the fear from watching a horror movie. Call me weird, but I find comfort in them. Some of my favorites are Lights Out, The Exorcist, and of course, The Shining. 

Screen captures of scenes before the climax of movies:

Fig. 3.1 Scene capture from "The Exorcist"

Fig. 3.2 Scene capture from "Lights Out"

Fig. 3.3 Scene capture from "The Shining"

The similarities of the 3 scenes above show the moment before the climax action happens, the anticipations which get the audience on the edge of the seats and take their blood run cold.

We can tell that these scenes utilize lighting to create an effect of uncertainty and suspense. This technique allows the audience to put their focus onto the subject of suspense that is usually not identifiable which then leads to fear and that my friend is a very clever way to create a suspenseful horror scene in films, in my opinion.

One movie in particular that I watched recently on Netflix is "The Curse of La Llorona". This movie is about the legendary ghost La Llorona who stalks the night -- and the children. This movie features a social worker single mother and her own kids who are drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope of surviving La Llorona's deadly wrath is a disillusioned priest who practices mysticism to keep evil at bay.

Fig. 3.4 Original poster of "The Curse of La Llorona"

Towards the end of the movie, La Llorona appears once again in the attic of the Garcia family home, this scene capture, in particular, has a similar approach from the previous 3 scene captures, where the devil or killer stands in front of a light which creates a silhouette and shadow, creating suspense and fear amongst the audience.

Fig. 3.5 Scene capture from "The Curse Of La Llorona"

SKETCH

For my poster execution, I have decided to create a low-angle stairs scenario that includes 2 young girls sitting at the space landing of a flight of stairs that are placed in between 2 doors. Through my visual research, I will use the technique of light and shadow to create an interesting poster design.

For my sketch, I created these 2 different versions of the design with the animation in mind. I thought to myself, "How would I make a horror poster scary without having to design a detailed demon creature?" In this case, a detailed La Llorona, which is pretty difficult given her demonic facial features and stained white dress and veil. The draping and folds of her dress would have taken too much time to execute.

Fig. 3.6 Sketch 1 & 2 of my poster (inspired by an original poster)

That is when I thought of this commonly used technique in the horror genre, which is how the demons (or other demonic characters) appear only in the shadows or when the lights are switched off. This would mean that I would have to change the color intensity of 2 of the same design, with La Llorona emerging from the shadows in the darker one.

Fig. 3.7 Sketches of poster 1#

After finalizing the theme and that I'm clear of the idea, I start to create the outline of my vector design in Illustrator. By creating this foundation, I can start deciding my color palette for the next process.

Fig. 3.8 Colouring of posters 1#

Next, I proceed to fill in the colors, I chose a greyish-green for the base color and added highlights as well as shadow coloring to create an eerie and dusty look. 

After I was done with the first coloring, I realized so many mistakes I have missed that I could not see in the outline. Details such as wrong layer placement, white spaces, wrong stairs shape, and gradient, and also the gradient and placement of the top stairs layer.

Fig. 3.9 Screenshots of uncorrected details (false layer placement for the middle of stairs)

Fig. 3.10 Screenshots of uncorrected details (shape of stairs)

Fig. 3.11 Screenshots of uncorrected details (white spaces of the side of stairs)

Fig. 3.12 Screenshots of uncorrected details (colors of top stairs)

After realizing my mistakes, I turned to my trusty friends, the pen tool, and the direct selection tool, of course, to tweak the details until I was satisfied with it. 

Fig. 3.13 Sketches of poster 2#

Fig. 3.14 Sketches of poster 2#

(click on image to enlarge) This is my second version, which is after correction of shapes, gradient, and white spaces. This version would make a lot more sense if compared to a real-life scenario such as the stairs would become darker as it goes up due to the light intensity. 

Fig. 3.15 Colouring of posters 2#

Finally, to give it a poster look, I added the finishing touches such as:

1. Title: "The Curse Of La Llorona"
2. Tagline: "She wants your children"
3. Grain Overlay

Fig. 3.16 PDF of the final poster

My final poster is a horror-themed 2-poster, with light and dark lighting intensity. From the chosen horror movie "The Curse Of La Llorona", my objective is to brings the eerie and ominous feeling of La Lorona's hauting out on a poster. As a horror genre lover, I hope that the viewers can sense and appreciate the beauty of a dark horror poster.

Decisive Moment!- Animated Poster

Fig. 3.17 GIF Animation draft (no audio)

 

My draft came out fine with my initial idea however, it was lacking creativity and the extra eerie effect. So, I experimented with different techniques and transitions to create a complete and smooth GIF.

Fig. 3.18 Screenshot of timeline in Photoshop

For this attempt, I added a small light flicker detail at the beginning and changed the texts red to signify the threat of La Llorona's haunting.

Fig. 3.19 GIF Animation with added effects (with and without audio)

Final Poster GIF

Fig. 3.20 Final poster GIF 

Reflection:

Throughout Project 2, I have explored the world of poster design and GIF animation which I'm not going to lie, I felt slightly intimidated by the sound of it. However, upon completing this project, it made me realize how intricate but fun animation can be, although we have just touched on it, I feel that it goes way beyond this and I'm excited for what else I can do with this set of skills. The exploration was a great experience.

I feel like this project requires a student's great sense of design in order to create a GIF that is able to connect with the viewer/ audience and I have practiced that in this very design experience. I am happy with the outcome of the GIF and hope that others (especially horror fans) would like it!

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Quick Links:

link to tasks 1&2 and lecture blogs