IVN - Illustration and Visual Narrative
Week 1
Hussain Waheed
0344802
BACHELOR OF DESIGN IN CREATIVE MEDIA
LECTURES:
Week 1: Introduction to Module
On week one, class one, we were introduced to the module, "Illustration and Visual Narrative (IVN) by our lecturer Ms.Anis. It was a brief introduction and we were told the rest of the class will be carried out on week 2 as our practical lecturer Mr.Kanaan was unable to attend the class on week 1.
Module Information Booklet
Assignment Brief Tracker
Week 2:
Lecture 1: Introduction to Character Design
Lecture 1: Introduction to Character Design
Week 2: Visual Techniques: CHIAROSCURO
It was on week 2 that we actually started our module. Ms. Anis gave the lecture and Mr.Kanaan carried out the practical session and introduced us to the basics of Illustration via Adobe Illustrator.
The lecture was about Character design and we were introduced in detail to the components required for creating visual characters that include Shapes, Colour, Emphasis & Contrast, Harmony, Expression and Poses. The second lecture was about CHIAROSCURO, which basically means the use of light & dark to create a 3 dimensional volume to tell a visual story.
Week 3: Lecture - Composition
Today's lecture was focused on composition in design and we were shown how it is used in photography, movies and other designs. We were taught on the effects of different styles of composition have on an image and setting. The use of light and dark (positive and negative light) on artworks and moviemaking is also lectured today. It's interesting to see how dark and light gives the 3D vision and brings the feel if backgrounds, foregrounds and mid-grounds.
Week 4 / Lecture 4 - Perspective
Today's lecture was based on Perspective and the importance and use of it in design along with the history of Perspective in Art. Perspective is the illusion of a 3 dimensional look created in design to depict reality. It can be shown through use of one or multiple vanishing points. According to the lecture, paintings before the 14th century had a poor depiction of real perspective forms although they were rich in other details. This however changed when Fillipo the Architect painted the first ever known painting with linear perspective in 1415. There has been many famous paintings with really good use of perspective, such as "The Last Supper" by leonardo Da Vinci and "The School of Athens" by Raphael. During the lecture, we were shown a video of the use of perspective and many rich elements used in the making of Las Menines.
EXERCISES:
Week 2:
Exercise 1: Vormator Challenge!
Exercise 1: Vormator Challenge!
As our first task, we were given a Vormator challenge. On this challenge, we are supposed to create a character using a set of shapes that we were given. The shapes and exercise slides are attached below:
For the vormator challenge, I first sketched some ideas in my head on my sketchbook.
Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 Vormator sketches
Figure: 1.3 Vormator Pen tool
I tried tracing the shapes as perfectly as I could on Adobe Illustrator and this was the result. There were some very slightly off curves on the shapes but overall I learnt how to do the whole thing using the pen tool so I guess that's ok. Here's the character I created for the vormator challenge. I'm excited to learn the colouring and adding more details to it.
Feedback: Ms.Anis said the character looks too simple and advised to sketch more on it. Now that I've become more familiar with AI, I will do a new sketch for the verometer challenge.
So after the feedback I went back to the design and tried to give my character a different look. I was still in on the fiery theme so didn't change the fire element but used more shapes and sizes to give a more fierce look to the charecter. Here is how it looks now:
Figure 1.3 Vormator character new look
So after the feedback I went back to the design and tried to give my character a different look. I was still in on the fiery theme so didn't change the fire element but used more shapes and sizes to give a more fierce look to the charecter. Here is how it looks now:
Figure 1.3 Vormator character new look
Practical Exercise: CHIAROSCURO Pear
This exercise is more about learning how light changes the look and feel of objects and designs, how the shades of colours change when exposed to light and dark. And also it is an exercise to familiarise more on Adobe Illustrator.
Figure 2.1 Pear tracing
Figure 2.2 Pear Tracing
Figure 2.3 Pear Coloring
Figure 2.5 Slicing Pear
Figure 2.6 Hybrid Pear
Figure 2.7 Separated Slices
Week 3:
After our composition lecture on week 3, we had a practical exercise. We were given 20 minutes to sketch 5 different backgrounds for our vormator challenge in a way that shows composition, negative and positive light, background, foreground and the mid-ground. Here are the sketches I drew.
After our composition lecture on week 3, we had a practical exercise. We were given 20 minutes to sketch 5 different backgrounds for our vormator challenge in a way that shows composition, negative and positive light, background, foreground and the mid-ground. Here are the sketches I drew.
Figure 3.1.1 Vormator background sketch
Practical By Mr. Kanaan:
On another long tutorial session on Adobe Illustrator, we were taught on some of the tools of Illustration such as Patterns, Colours and Colour swatches, Textures and Gradients.
Adobe color : https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel was also introduced to us today. It is a powerful and very useful website for designers. After the session I explored the swatches on Adobe Color.
Figure 3.2.1 Adobe Color
Figure 3.2.2 Adobe Color
So I explored Adobe Color for a while and chose a decent color palette to create my very first Colour swatch on Illustrator. For this I took a screenshot of the pallete and copied it to Illustrator for reference. And as Mr.Kanaan showed us, I made 5 squares for the 5 different colours and using the eyedropper tool, colored the squares with the colors from the Adobe palette.
Figure 3.2.3 Picking colors from eyedropper tool
And then from the color swatches panel, created a new swatch by selecting the squares. I named the swatch Friday.
Figure 3.2.4 New color swatch
Figure 3.2.5 Friday color swatch
After creating my own color swatch, I am going to create a simple pattern using the same colors.
For my first pattern, I created a square and drew some circles inside and colored the circles.
Figure 3.3.1 Creating pattern
And then selected the whole thing and dragged it inside the swatches. A new pattern is created. I named it Friday pattern and applied it on a rectangle. It works well but I feel like I need to attempt more complex patterns.
Figure 3.3.2 Friday pattern.
Figure 3.4.1 Pear gradients
Here are the sliced pears in both flat colors and Gradient colour looks.
Figure 3.4.2 Pear gradients comparison
To experiment on textures, I created two circles and applied a gradient on one, and a flat color on the other. Then I downloaded a texture from google images and created duplicates of it and placed one on top of the gradient-circle and one below the flat-circle.
Figure 3.5.1 Texturing
Following the arrangement of layers, I created two masks using the transparency panel and this is how it looked:
Figure 3.5.2 Textured
There are blending options on the masks as well that gives different looks on how the texture is applied on the gradient. After that, I applied the same texture on the pear and this is the result.
Figure 3.5.3 Final sliced pear
Illustrating background for Vormator Character
For this exercise, I opened a 1000x1000px document on illustrator and placed the initial sketch I made for the background right next to the artboard. After that, using the pen tool, I drew the outlines for the shades of the forest and trees on the artboard.
Figure 4.0.1 Artboard for background
After that, I went to the adobe color website to get some shades of blue that would go well with this design.
Figure 4.0.2 Adobe Color
And then imported a screenshot to illustrator, created boxes and replaced the colors with the adobe color pallete to create a new color swatch.
Figure 4.0.3 Color swatch
Figure 4.0.2 Adobe Color
And then imported a screenshot to illustrator, created boxes and replaced the colors with the adobe color pallete to create a new color swatch.
Figure 4.0.3 Color swatch
After setting up the swatch, I made shapes of sections on the lines using the shape builder tool and painted the with the new color swatch using the eye dropper tool.
Figure 4.0.4 Background
Figure 4.0.5 Background Illustration
Exercise 3: Chiroscuro - Self Portrait
For this exercise, Mr.Kanaan told us to use a self portrait taken with a single light source to create a personalised chiruschuoro. This is the image I chose. It is a selfie I took a while back when there was only a streetlight nearby.
Figure 4.0.6 Selfie
Figure 4.0.4 Background
Here is the background illustration I did on Illustrator
Figure 4.0.5 Background Illustration
Exercise 3: Chiroscuro - Self Portrait
For this exercise, Mr.Kanaan told us to use a self portrait taken with a single light source to create a personalised chiruschuoro. This is the image I chose. It is a selfie I took a while back when there was only a streetlight nearby.
Figure 4.0.6 Selfie
I used the pen tool to create the outlines of my face and then the Shape builder tool to create shapes. After that I simply colored them from the same colors as of the original photo using the eye dropper tool. here is the timeline of the process:
Figure 4.0.7 Timeline of self portrait
Figure 4.0.7 Timeline of self portrait
And here is the final result:
Figure 4.0.8 Final self portrait.
Week 4:
Figure 4.0.8 Final self portrait.
Week 4:
During today's tutorial session, Ms.Anis told us to do a few sketches using perspective that can also be used for the Background of the Vormator challenge. Here are my sketches.
Figure 4.0.9 Perspective sketch
Figure 4.1.0 Perspective sketches for vormator challenge
Vormator Challenge:
As I have previously shown, I was designing a Baby Balrog, related to the one from the Lord of the Rings franchise with a touch of my own. On my previous character sketch, the larger horns on it's head is facing upwards. Upon further exploration, I realised that Balrog horns actually faced downwards. With this in mind I changed that shape from my character so now it looks like this.
Figure 5.0.0 Character first sketch
Because of my very first attempt and the bad feedbacks I had to spend a lot of time experimenting with my character and shapes and I've finally come to this shape above and I feel positive towards it.
Figure 5.0.1 Balrog of Morgoth from Lord of the Rings
With Ms.Anis's approval I decided to go with this design and go on to colouring it. I first went on the internet to find suitable fire colour palettes and images with similar colour tones. Here are some images I downloaded and used as reference for colour.
Figure 5.0.2 Fire colours
Figure 5.0.3 Fire colour reference
After copying these images to Illustrator, I analysed the colours that I needed and created gradients varying mainly from different shades of orange and yellow to fill on each shape of my character. I applied the gradients in such a way that the heavier oranges fall on the lower side and the lighter shades of orange and yellow goes to the top so that it gives the on-fire look. I did the same for each of the shapes and when I was done I played with individual gradients to give a wholesome look.
Figure 5.0.4 Applying gradients on shapes
Figure 5.0.5 Duplicating shapes to look 3d
After doing some thorough shading using gradients for each of the shapes, I created a new layer using one of the vormator shapes; the one that looks like a teardrop; and enlarged it and put it behind my character's back to create the glow effect. I tried to blur it full (more than 100%) but it somehow created a box outline so it looked bad. So I blurred that shape using the gaussian blur tool to 100% and reduced the opacity to 75%. Here are the before and after images.
Figure 5.0.6 Glow shape
Figure 5.0.7 All the shapes
After lots of time consuming tasks, here I am with my final character design. Even though I have practiced texturing a lot on the previous exercise, I decided not to use texture on this one as it would affect the smooth 3d feel of the character.
Figure 5.0.8 Baby Balrog final Character
Background: To create the background, I did the same research, in fact I rewatched the first movie of the Lord of the Rings once again to get a good idea of it. I wanted the background of the character to have a similar theme as the Balrog from Lord of the rings but at the same time doing it the way I wanted to without all the fuss. And also it is a baby so there's a lot of differences that comes with it. For the background, I wanter to create a similar hall as the dwarves had in Moria. Basically these halls are just tunnels with huge pillars stretching as far as the eye can see. Which gave me the idea of duplicating a pillar's silhouette with a gradient back through the illustrator document. Here are some research:
Figure 5.0.9 The mines of Moria from LOTR
Figure 5.1.0 Mines of a dwarf kingdom
Figure 5.2.2 Background pillar mold
Figure 5.2.3 Background bts
These might look weird at initial arrangements but they does not disappoint when it comes to long working hours near a computer. I put a light greenish highlight on the side of each pillar before duplicating. After duplicating, I created a noice filter on the canvas.
Here is the final background look: I know I didn't keep it advanced or complicated because I felt like if too much designing or design elements in a single artwork saturates the mind.
Figure 5.0.8 Baby Balrog final Character
Figure 5.0.9 The mines of Moria from LOTR
Figure 5.1.0 Mines of a dwarf kingdom
When you look at these two images above, one get's mesmerised by the sense of repetition and flow it has. Such huge objects repeated and stretched far away has a really aesthetic look to it. To create that scene I first needed a main pillar design. Using the pen tool, I drew something similar to a pillar with very hard cut edges.
Figure 5.1.1 Mine pillar
After creating the pillar, I duplicated reflected and merged the two faces of the main pillar. Later I duplicated one more pillar, and by using a box above, united these two pillars, created a frame of pillars to stretch. I also put a block above the two pillars for personal reasons needed to avoid headspace when scaling the objects too much.
Figure 5.1.1 Mine pillar
After creating the pillar, I duplicated reflected and merged the two faces of the main pillar. Later I duplicated one more pillar, and by using a box above, united these two pillars, created a frame of pillars to stretch. I also put a block above the two pillars for personal reasons needed to avoid headspace when scaling the objects too much.
Figure 5.2.2 Background pillar mold
So then I transformed the pillars to create a copy of the file that is slightly transforms (enlarger and slightly shifting to left). After that I just kept duplicating again and again till the floor reach is limited.
Here is how it looks when viewed from a computer but this is only a reference point. Then I started creating duplicates to give the stretched mine look.
Here is how it looks when viewed from a computer but this is only a reference point. Then I started creating duplicates to give the stretched mine look.
Figure 5.2.3 Background bts
These might look weird at initial arrangements but they does not disappoint when it comes to long working hours near a computer. I put a light greenish highlight on the side of each pillar before duplicating. After duplicating, I created a noice filter on the canvas.
Here is the final background look: I know I didn't keep it advanced or complicated because I felt like if too much designing or design elements in a single artwork saturates the mind.
Figure 5.2.4 Vormator Backgroung
Figure 5.2.5 Background with Character
Figure 5.3.0 Game card design exploration
Figure 5.3.1 Game card design exploration
Figure 5.3.2 Game card setup
I put a texture to the background of the card as you see in the above image and colored the text box with a lighter green. Then I decided that it was too plain and needs more details so added a border with a name tag on top using the rectangle tool with curved corners.
Figure 5.3.3 GC with Border
The name of my character I decided to be Little Balrog since it seemed more appropriate at the time. I added a green gradient to the name box as well. To add more details, I created a button graphic with a fire symbol.
Figure 5.3.4 Fire symbol
Figure 5.3.5 Fire Symbol detailed
Here are the final images for my Character, Background and Game Card:
Figure 5.4.0 Character
Figure 5.4.1 Landscape
Figure 5.4.2 Game Card
Figure 5.4.0 Character
Figure 5.4.1 Landscape
Figure 5.4.2 Game Card
FEEDBACK:
Week 2: Ms.Anis said the character looks too simple and advised to sketch more on it. Now that I've become more familiar with AI, I will do a new sketch for the verometer challenge.
Week 3: Ms.Anis reviewed my sketches for the backgrounds. She said to go with a background that would have a contrast compared with the character. The character being a fireball, I am going for the night-shot and Ms.Anis also said she preferred that one.
Week 4: I showed Ms.Anis my new character sketch and she approved it and told me to start the colouring process.
Week 5: I showed Ms.Anis the progress of my vormator and she said it's good and that she really like the colours.
Week 2: Ms.Anis said the character looks too simple and advised to sketch more on it. Now that I've become more familiar with AI, I will do a new sketch for the verometer challenge.
Week 3: Ms.Anis reviewed my sketches for the backgrounds. She said to go with a background that would have a contrast compared with the character. The character being a fireball, I am going for the night-shot and Ms.Anis also said she preferred that one.
Week 4: I showed Ms.Anis my new character sketch and she approved it and told me to start the colouring process.
Week 5: I showed Ms.Anis the progress of my vormator and she said it's good and that she really like the colours.
REFLECTIONS:
Week 2: This week's lecture and practical session was a lot to take in. It was both exciting and overwhelming because of the load of content we received on lecture followed by a really long practical session but I think I've managed to follow everything so far. It's not a bad start but I'm hoping to learn more on Illustrator as it gets really technical sometimes and is difficult to follow.
Week 3: It was an interesting lecture especially because of the representation of movie frames which I particularly like. I've been watching movies to see how the shots are framed and been following the works of some cinematographers like Roger Deakins and the films by Christopher Nolan which are really good in terms of visual style and composition. The practicals and exercises were exciting but need some work and practise to get done properly.
Week 4: After 4 weeks of struggling with getting a hang of every subjects, this week proved very positive and I feel like I'm beginning to get a good grip on the things being taught. I have practically learned so much while doing the chairuscuro and Vormator character that can be used in so many types of design such as logos, artworks and branding graphics. I feel like now I can say that I can illustrate almost anything on Illustrator somehow disregarding the time it might take which would obviously get better with more practise.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING:
Week 2:
Week 3: Composition
Week 2:
Week 3: Composition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQNiqzuXjoM
https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-composition-140-iconic-shots/
https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-composition-140-iconic-shots/
https://www.instagram.com/bestmovieframes
Week 4: Perspectives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmR_Q1mtS7I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upxBGNcryRs
Week 4: Perspectives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmR_Q1mtS7I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upxBGNcryRs
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