Illustration and Visual Narrative Project 1

 Illustrations and visual storytelling

Tuesday, 26.2023

 23/09/25 - 2023/10/28 (Week 1 - Week 6)

Jia Wenbing /0365436/

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Table of Contents 

• Lectures
• Instructions
• Practical
• Feedback
• Reflection

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Lectures 

Week 1 Introduction to Modules

Mr. Hafiz introduced the overall module information to the class in the beginning week. He first began to instruct us

on how to engage in an online game designed to enhance our proficiency in using the pen tool within Adobe

Illustrator. Our task involved successfully navigating through all the car stages using the bezier method, ultimately

the lesser nodes used indicate how you master the skill. After completing the work, we need to upload a screenshot

of our work on Microsoft Teams.

These are my results I found this game quite challenging at first but after several times trying, I got familiar with it

 but my highest score was able to be 15 nodes only.

The Pen Tool

Figure 1.1 Final results of my Bazier Method's car

Week 2 Vormator Shapes

Lectures: Character Design Basics

Figure 2.1 IVN Lecture Slide 1.0

In this lecture, I have understood the concept of STYLIZED CHARACTERS DESIGN should be: 

• ICONIC: 
• Allow the audience to see the image at a glance and recognize it immediately
• SIMPLICITY: 
• allows viewers to digest and understand the purpose of the characters easily...
• UNIQUE: 
• Not only will it be memorable, but it will also interest your audience.

PRINCIPLES OF CHARACTER DESIGN

• SHAPES: 
• add some weight to their personality
• Explore the possibilities of combining different interesting shapes for your design
• COLOUR:
• Colors play an important role in determining and separating the basic characteristics of heroes,villains, and even background characters.
• utilize the psychological color to give impressions of different emotions and is easily relatable by the viewers
• EMPHASIS, CONTRAST:
• A good character exaggerates the emphasis and contrasting visual elements to make the design stand out by using colors...
• HARMONY:
• All shapes, lines, colors, motifs, and patterns must be put together in a tasteful manner
• every element in the characters should complement each other and how reflect the narrative of the characters
• EXPRESSION, POSES:
• Clear visualization of characters' behaviors, quirks, and personalities makes it easier to appeal to viewers
• Examples: Long eyelashes exaggerate disgust and display emotions to a vain-like quality

Week 3 Shapes, Light and Dark

Lecture : Chiaroscuro

Figure 3.1.1 IVN Lecture Slide 2.0

CHIAROSCURO: 

Italian term 'light-dark'.The use of light and dark to create the illusion of three-dimensional volume on a flat surface refers to a "clear tonal contrast technique".

The purpose of the technique is to increase the scene's dramatic tension by exaggerating the use of color or light contrast. It also highlights illuminated parts with predominantly dark settings and the focus point or subject of a scene is brightly colored.

CHIAROSCURO WIDELY USED IN VISUALNARRATIVE BECAUSE...

• excellent lighting choice to differentiate positive vs negative spaces
• positive face ( subject matter or object of interest in a visual )
• negative face ( filled space or background that surrounds subject matter or object of interest in visual )
• increase dramatic tension and thrilling emotive depth on visual
• create sensational effects that elevate fantastical viewpoints
• attract attention that establishes a hierarchy
• make tasteful composition 

Figure 3.1.2 Portrait with Chiaroscuro Design

Figure 3.1.3 Tenebrism Technique Painting

Week 4 Colors and Blending Mode

This week, our focus remains on the chiaroscuro technique, but we're taking it a step further by applying it to portraiture. It's been captivating to delve into the use of the Pathfinder and Clipping Mask tool.

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Instructions

Task 1 Exercise ( 20% ) - Individual Assignment

Exercise & Marking Criteria : 

1. Vormator Challenge Character 10%
2. Game Card Design 10%

Learning Goals : 

• To generate and communicate design concepts and solutions through manual and digital skills effectively and skillfully
• To explore, generate, and examine a wide range of conceptual ideas
• To utilize information and communication technology to source navigate, select, retrieve, and manage information

Timeframe : 

• Week 1 – Week 4 (Deadline on Week 6)

Find out more info below...

 Week 2 

Practical: Vormator Challenge

Vormator is a project designed to provide each student the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to produce beautiful work with little resources.

We are given the same set of shapes and tasked with using these shapes to come up with our own distinctive design while adhering to the guidelines in the Rulebook. Thus, we are required to work inside a rigid framework to produce something original. In this endeavor, it all boils down to talent and ingenuity. 

For the first task, we need to generate our character with our own creativity but only allow form with the given shapes below.

Figure 2.2.1 Lists of Vormator Shapes

But first, we need to submit our tracing of the shapes with all the Adobe Illustrators pen tools to indicate that we have mastered the skill set. This is my drawing shape of the outline.

Figure 2.2.2 My tracing of the shapes

After extensive research to gain inspiration, I worked with existing elements to create my creations.  My character is 

a fox, but it's a nine-tailed fox.

Figure 2.2.3 My tracing of the shapes

Then, I implemented the gradient effects also to color up my characters.

Figure 2.2.4 Applying gradient colors to my characters

Final Character Design:

Figure 2.3.5 Final Character Design, Week 6 ( 30/10/2023)

Figure 2.3.6 Final Character Card Design, Week 6 ( 30/10/2023)

Week 3

Practical: Pear Chiaroscuro Exercise

During hands-on time, we have learned how to use and make the most of all the 

Pathfinder panel commands in this Illustrator tutorial for the Pathfinder tool.

Figure 3.2.1 My Pears

We employed pears as our subject matter and sketched the shadow lines to depict our

desired effect. Utilizing the pathfinder tools, we divided the pears into two parts, applying a dark color to one side to create a shadow, thus giving the objects a three-dimensional appearance. Additionally, we could incorporate extra elements, such as

seeds or other colors. The final task involved creating a skeletal skull using the pear as our foundation. These represent my completed artworks:

Figure 3.2.2 The skull on pear

Week 4

Practical: Human Chiaroscuro Exercise

This week, our focus remains on the chiaroscuro technique, but we're taking it a step further by applying it to

portraiture. It's been captivating to delve into the use of the Pathfinder tool to seamlessly group elements that share

common attributes, thereby streamlining the process instead of painstakingly selecting each one individually. 

Figure 4.2.1 Human Chiaroscuro 

Additionally, I've gained valuable insights into incorporating texture within shadows by making effective use of the

clipping mask feature. I have used the gradient for a colorful background in the first portrait whereas interactive

combinations of sky and ocean views for the third one.

Figure 4.2.1 My Final Attempt of Human Chiaroscuro 

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Feedback

In Week 2, Mr. Hafiz recommended that it is best if I can remove the outline of my characters and be well-utilized in the shapes to create a creature. 

In week 3, Mr. Hafiz commented that my character was good but maybe could add some layers to the wings to make it look more constructive.

 

In Week 4, Mr. Hafiz suggested that I could add on some effect towards the vormator shapes such as rotation in terms of radial then analyze which part of the character can also input the chiaroscuro technique. 

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Reflection

Firstly, the most vital thing is that I have gained valuable insights into concepts of chiaroscuro by incorporating the

lights and shadows. Mastering the tools is the key to success in design activities when time and resources are

limited. Secondly, I discovered that even the simplest things like slice tools and clipping masks could turn into

something amazing if we put enough creativity and effort into working on them. With the Vormator Character

Design activities, we used some simple shapes but were still able to create some 'cool stuff'  beyond our

imagination. Overall, it was so fun that we learned new features every week and applied them to our characters.