Illustration and Visual Narrative / Project 1: Exercises

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4.4.2023 - 4.7.2023
Johnny Lam Wee Zhe / 0363436 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Illustration and Visual Narrative
 

LECTURES

Week 1 - Intro to Pen Tool
On the first week of Illustration and Visual Narrative class, we are given a brief introduction to Illustration and Narrative. We also get to learn more about the the most crucial tools of Adobe Illustrator, the pen tool. As a practice, we learn to use the pen tool on the bezier game website in order to be familiarize with the tool.

Week 2 - Vormator
On the second week, we get to learn more about the other tools. We learn about the curvature tool, the shape tool, the shape builder tool, the blob brush tool and the pathfinder tool. For our exercise, we were also introduced to basic character design briefly and about the general shape of a character. Character with rounder shape tends to be friendly or cheerful, triangular shape are more intimidating and evil and the rectangular/square shape tend to be strong and sturdy.

Week 3 - Color
On the third week, there is actually no class as it is a public holiday. To make up for missed lesson, a lecture video is uploaded. It taught us how to apply color theme onto Illustrator and where to download color themes.

Week 4 - Illustrated Type
On the fourth week, we are taught a new set of tools. We learnt text box tool, create outlines, pencil and smooth tool, sharper tool, joining tool and width tool. As a practice, we download file from Adobe tutorial to get use to using the pencil tool and the ability to set from accuracy to smooth and in between.
Week 5 - 3D
On the fifth week of illustration and narrative, I get to learn more about creating a 3D model in Adobe Illustrator. As this feature isn't available when I first started using illustrator, this feature is completely new to me. I have learn to move the 3D models around, change the texture of the model, change color and even the lighting source.

PROJECT 1

Exercise 1 - Vormator

For our first exercise, we have to trace a simple shape which will be use to create character. Here are the given shape:
 
 
Fig 1.1. Vormator Elements
 
Sketches
As advised by Ms Anis in her lecture video, we sketch down ideas on how our character would look like. Here are some of my first initial sketches.

 
Fig 1.2.1 Sketch 1 (14/04/2023 Week 2)
 

Fig 1.2.2 Sketch 2 (14/04/2023 Week 2)


Digitization
The next step of the project, I begin to digitize a few selection of silhouettes of my sketches.
 
Fig 1.3 Digitizations (21/04/2023 Week 3)
 
In the end, I have selected the one of the better developed silhouette and begin my next process of the project. Adding colors and details to the character.
 

Fig 1.4 Selected Silhouette (21/04/2023 Week 3)

Colors and Details
I follow the tutorial video and head to the adobe website and look for a nice color palette. I downloaded a few but ended up picking the colors from this particular palette.

Fig 1.5 Selected Color Palette
 
I choose the purple color as its body as it is the color I envision my character to have and apply extra color on the inner part of my character's body.
 

 Fig 1.6 Adding Colors and Details Process (25/04/2023 Week 4)

At the end, this is the result I have created.

Fig 1.7.1 Result (25/04/2023 Week 4)

Fig 1.7.2 Result Outline (25/04/2023 Week 4)


Final Outcome
Somewhat unsatisfied with the result, I went ahead and redesign the details and color of my character initially as a 'what could have been' design. I have asked permission from Ms. Anis for a resubmission and she agree so the 'what could have been' design become the final outcome

Fig 1.8.1 Final Outcome (27/04/2023 Week 4)

Fig 1.8.2 Final Outcome Outline (27/04/2023 Week 4)

Exercise 2 - Illustrated Text

For the second exercise, we are task illustrating text typography. We went to a pictionary generating website to help generate two random words. Here are the result I get:
 
Fig 2.1 Pictionary Generated Result

In this task, we are told to either illustrate the two words together or design separate graphics for each word. The challenges given are as follows:
- The illustration and words must complement each other.
- The design make sense.
- Use non decorative fonts as the base of the design.

For my first of the design, I look up the internet for references and here are some of the reference I use:

Fig 2.2 Reference Images that suits my ideas (4/5/2025 Week 5)

First Attempt

Then following the references, I begin my sketches for my illustrated text. My first idea was to combine the two of the words into one graphic.

 
Figure 2.3 First Attempt Sketch (4/5/2025 Week 5)

Then, I start to digitize the graphic for my first attempt. The initial digitization is incomplete. Due to a misunderstanding of the task (realizing that you need both WORDS to be in the illustration), I scrap my first attempt.

Fig 2.3.1 Incomplete First Attempt Digitization (4/5/2023 Week 5)
 
Fig 2.3.2 Incomplete First Attempt Digitization (4/5/2023 Week 5)
 

 Second Attempt

I scarp all of my previous design and went back to the drawing pad and sketch out some new ideas. I initially want to make a bread shaped baggage with the word jelly splattered inside. I then abandon the idea, realizing that it may not 'make sense' as the challenges has stated so in the end, I decide to illustrate both words separately. Here are my second attempt sketch:

Fig 2.4.1 Suitcase Sketches (10/05/2023 Week 6)


Fig 2.4.2 More Jelly Sketches (10/05/2023 Week 6)
 
 Then I begin my digitizing my second illustration attempt.
 
Fig 2.5.1 Jelly Illustration digitization process (10/05/2023 Week 7)

Fig 2.5.2 Suitcase Illustration digitization process (10/05/2023 Week 7)


Final Result

Fig 2.6.1 Final Jelly Illustration (10/05/2023 Week 7)
 
 
 
Fig 2.6.2 Final Jelly Illustration Outline (10/05/2023 Week 7)
 
 
Fig 2.7.1 Final Suitcase Illustration (10/05/2023 Week 7)
 
 
Fig 2.7.2 Final Suitcase Illustration Outline (10/05/2025 Week 7)


REFLECTIONS

Although I am quite familiar with using adobe illustrator even before getting into this class, I have learn quite a few things and more features that I hadn't know before. There are also a few techniques been taught. It is great to be re-familiarize with the various technique of using illustrator. At this point in time, I'm sure there are still more to learn about this application.

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