Illustration and Visual Narrative - Task 2

 

20th May 2024 (Week 3)  - 3rd June 2024 (Week 5)

Insha Thahirah Rajab - 0360671

Illustration and Visual Narrative - Section 01

Bachelor's Degree  in Creative Media (Honors) - Taylors University

Task 2

CONTENTS

Lecture

Instructions

Task 2

Feedback

Reflection

LECTURE

Tell Better Tales with Composition - https://www.youtube.com/watch v=tyb6r0sekXU&t=9s&ab_channel=Let%E2%80%99sLearnAboutArt

For this Task, we had to understand basic composition rules to create a background for our Pokemon Card. 

Composition: The act of arranging objects in an artwork/ frame.

Basic Composition Rules

1. Visual Narrative

2. Visual Flow

3. Visual Balance

4. Visual Hierarchy

Different Types of Shots

1. Establishing

2. Bird's Eye View

3. Frame within a Frame

4. Medium Shot

5. Close-Up

6. Worm's Eye View

4 Compositional Techniques

1. Foreground, Middle-ground, Background

2. Symmetry

3. Framing

4. Contrast

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK

Task 2 -  Pokemon Card

Create suitable shading, gradients, and textures to create further personality for the Vormator character. Add a suitable background and once completed, and add it to the Pokemon Card template. Make sure the character and background have depth and definition.

Objective: Place your Vormator character into a Pokemon card composition, incorporating foreground, midground, and background elements. You may also create a new shape not bound by the vormator rules or shapes. 

            

Figure 1.0 Vormator Challenge Character with further shading, colour, and shadow

Figure 1.2 Creating a suitable background for Vormator character

Figure 1.2 Example of Final Pokemon card

Tools to Use: Pathfinder, Shape Builder tool, Knife tool. You may also use other warping tools that will be introduced in the following weeks.

:research

 Since my character was a sweet treat, I decided to make the background similar to this. I decided to get the reference of background concept art, as this was not my strong suit. I looked at concept art from Wreck-it-Ralph and Adventure time, as this was the vibe I was going for.

Figure 1.3 Wreck it Ralph "Sugar Rush" concept art

Figure 1.3 Finalized Sugar Rush background design

Figure 1.4 Adventure Time "Candy Kingdom" Background design

:background

I started off creating a background for the character. I focused on framing and ensuring that the foreground middle-ground and background were established. I used my inspirations to create a colorful and pastel sweet treat theme, using candy canes to frame the primary focus on the character.

Figure 1.5 Simplified Background Design

Since my character was on a skateboard, I implemented a skatepark onto the middle ground, so that the skateboard object would fit in place with the background. The juxtaposition between sweet treat and skateboarding makes the character more visually interesting.

:first draft

I combined both the character and the background to create the first draft of the Pokemon card.

Figure 1.6 First Draft of Pokemon Card 

I added relevant text to fabricate the text on the original Pokemon Cards and give it a little more personality.

:texture, gradients, shadows

After some reflection and consultation, I examined past worked and concluded that I needed to add more texture and depth to both my character and background to follow the criteria.

I started off with playing around with some shadows.

Figure 1.7 First attempt at making Shadows 

I wasn't a fan of it and was not sure if we could add other shapes when adding shadows to a Vormator character. To play it safe, I decided to experiment with more textures and gradients, as I already included shadows in my first design which I believed was enough.

Figure 1.8 Screenshot of including Grain Textures and Gradients

After gaining more confidence with these tools, I decided to apply it onto my final Pokemon card. I was quite happy with the grain + gradient combo, but did not like the effect it had on the character's leg.

:final Pokemon Card Design

Figure 1.9 Final Pokemon Card Design

This is my final Pokemon Card Design. I added more grainy textures to the background and gradients to not only the character but foreground elements as well. 

FEEDBACK

The composition could be improved to make the character feel more interesting and add layers to the dimension. It feels flat and boring. The angle, size, proportion, and hierarchy at which the character is displayed are important to add more personality and character.

REFLECTION

Task 2 was great for experimenting with textures, gradients, and colors in Adobe Illustrator. I was not aware that there were so many features available to create additional layering and make objects more three-dimensional. I had a lot of fun learning background design and framing; using these compositional skills to create my very own original Pokemon Card was more fun than I anticipated.