Illustration and Visual Narrative Project 2&Project 3

Illustrations and visual storytelling

Tuesday, 26.2023

 23/10/30 - 2023/11/20 (Week 6 - Week 9)

Jia Wenbing /0365436/

content:

Project 2 - That (Decisive) Moment

Project 3 - Transitions 

Week 6

Introduction to Composition

Figure 1.1 Week 6 Lecture Slide

Mr. Hafiz emphasized that the most demanding aspect of creating artwork lies in effectively composing it. One should deliberately arrange the focal point of the scene to make it noticeable, even in the most understated manner. 

BASIC COMPOSITION VISUAL RULES

• Visual Narrative
• Visual Flow
• Visual Balance
• Visual Hierarchy

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHOTS

• Establishing
• Bird's Eyeview
• Frame Within a Frame
• Medium Shot
• Close-Up 
• Worm's Eyeview

Week 7

Composition Theory 2 // Perspective

Figure 1.2 Week 7 Lecture Slide

Mr. Hafiz has taught us that art with three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional  surface could give the right impression of height, width, depth, and position in relation.

One-Point Perspective 

• drawing objects emerging from a single point on horizon
• as images get closer, it will vanish

Two-Point Perspective

• vanishing points on each other sides which create a greater space
• establish two sets of overlapping perspectives line

Three-Point Perspective

• the third vertical axis gives a far broader range of angles and a "look down" feeling
• more extreme view angle

Isometric View

• the third vertical axis gives a far broader range of angles and a "look down" feeling
• more extreme view angle

Dynamic Application

• mostly applied to illustration scene to adhere perspective method strict way

Week 8

Composition Theory 3 //Fore, Mid and Background

Figure 1.3 Week 8 Lecture Slide

Mr. Hafiz introduced us to different lanes when composing a scene as it is very essential to grab the audience sight.

• Foreground
• using size differences and color contrast to highlight the foreground as the main focus
• Middle-ground
• using size differences and light/shadow contrast to highlight the middle ground as main focus 
• Background
• using shapes and light/shadow contrast to highlight the middle ground as main focus
• Design Flow 
• Good arrangement of visual focus using foreground, middle-ground and background should also indicate a sense of movement, and rhythm in your design.

Figure 1.4 Week 9 Lecture Slide

After we had our compositions done, Mr Hafiz ultimately stepped further to next part of our assignment which is introducing on a type of animation called Secondary Action.

Secondary Actions:

• continuation of action prompted by the primary action where all of these actions work together to create a more seamless animation.

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Practical

Week 7 Transparency Gradient and Noise

Figure 3.1.1 Video of Creating Texture using AI

Figure 3.1.2 My Application of Texture Effect

During this week's lectures, Mr. Hafiz showed us a video tutorial for enhancing the depth of the whole image and we have learned how to create textures by adding effects of "Grain" to our illustrations combined with linear, radial, and freeform gradients.

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Instruction

Task 2 ( 20% ) - Decisive Movement

Exercise & Marking Criteria : 

• Concept and interpretation of the urban legend (20%)
• Design quality and minimalist style (30%)
• Effective use of color, typography, and layout (20%)
• Integration of minor animations (15%)
• Artist statement and process documentation (15%)

Learning Goals : 

• To develop an editorial illustration to represent the chosen text
• To interpret the narrative's decisive moment or the climax of the narrative

Timeframe : 

• Week 6 – Week 9 (Deadline on Week 9)

Find out more on...

Figure 3.1 Task 2 Intro to  Editorial Illustration

  

  Figure 3.2 Task 2 Decisive Movement Instruction

Project 2 - That (Decisive) Moment

This week we were given a new assignment in which we had to illustrate a specific turning point in an urban legend of our choice. Mr. Hafez also added that we only allowed the use of Art Deco style in this illustration.

The story I chose is the story of the midnight bus in Beijing, a Chinese urban legend. I brainstormed different elements that I could include in my illustrations, and I also came up with mood boards as part of my research. I wanted to combine a Chinese art style with an Art Deco style to better reflect the setting of the story.

Figure 2.1 The (Decisive) Moment (13/11/2023)Week7

Figure 2.2 Mood Board (13/11/2023)Week7

I mostly experimented with flat compositions as it suits both art deco and chinoiserie styles.

Figure 2.3 Sketch (Part 1)

Figure 2.3 Sketch (Part 2)

I needed to digitize my illustrations to convey the best parts of the story.

Figure 2.4  The decisive moment 

                                                                                   Figure 2.5   final animation

Digital Triptych:For this exercise we need to create a digital triptych.  Build on the previous animation to create a triptych showing narrative excess.

Project 3 - Transitions 

I showed Mr. Hafez the content of my draft before digitizing it, but because the time was too short, I couldn’t tell my story clearly. I later sent my story to Mr. Hafez and started working on it my digital triptych.

Figure 2.6 Sketch (Digital Triptych)

Figure 2.7 before (Digital Triptych)

Figure 2.8 during (Digital Triptych)

Figure 2.9 after (Digital Triptych)

REFLECTION

This project was a lot of fun, and even though it was painful for me to draw with Adobe Illustration, I still enjoyed the project and it allowed me to complete a very good illustration.  At the same time, it makes me more confident to use Adobe Illustration to draw illustrations in the future.  During the drawing process, I paid great attention to the harmony and matching of colors to express the complete line of the story.