Illustration and Visual Narrative

- April 07, 2023

Z7.4.2023 - 2.6.2023 (Week 1 - Week 9)
Tan Jian Xin / 0350784
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Project 1 - Project 4

Project 1 (Exercise 1 - Vormator character)
Week 1 (Pen tool)
Mr Hafiz introduced pen tool by asking us to play the bezier game.

Figure 1.1: Bezier game

Week 2 (Vormator)

Figure 2.1: Shapes for vormator character

Shortcuts for Adobe Illustrator

L = circle tool
M = rectangle tool
alt + shift = pull the shape from the middle
alt (hold and drag) = duplicate shape
ctrl/window d (after alt, hold and drag one out) = duplicate
pen, curvature tool, direct selection = adjust curvature
shift + m = shape builder tool

click once, release, then use select tool and choose to break shape = break shapes
pull = combine shapes
alt (hold) + click = delete shape

Figure 2.2: Character design

Character Design
round - supportive
triangular - mischievous
square/rectangle - stable

After sketching out the shapes in Adobe Illustrator, I arranged them according to my sketch at first. However, I don’t really like the facial features. After I placed the eyes in place, I thought it would be sufficient to just add eyes to my character. For the horn, I thought it would make the silhouette of my character more special by changing the shape of the other horn. The feet or leg of my character is referred from the ducks. I added some wings and asymmetrical hands to my character. Thus, the character is completed.

Figure 2.3: Character outline

After that, I counted the number of shapes I’ve used in my character

Figure 2.4: Number of shapes I've used

Week 3 (Color)
As this week is a holiday, we were informed to watch the pre-recorded video about color and complete our vormator character. Then, I started to find colours at Adobe Color. As I really liked the green I saw, I decided to give my character more shades of green. Besides, as the horn is different on both sides, I decided to mismatch the colour of the horn and the eyes a little. The final result is shown below.

Figure 3.1: Completed vormator character

Project 1 (Exercise 2 - Illustrated typography)
Week 4 (Illustrated type)
N = pencil tool

Pencil tool with different fidelity

Pencil tool used to draw sail

Pencil tool used to draw ligature

Press R to rotate and press alt + click center of flower. Click copy after defining angle and ctrl + d to duplicate.

Pencil tool used to draw flower

Shift + w = width tool

Practice using pencil tool to draw carrot

Week 5 (3D)

Pathfinder = Window + pathfinder // Shift+ctrl+F9
Window + 3D and Materials

Before adding 3D effect

After adding 3D effect

Object (Ex: metal, steel, cardboard)
Lighting (add shadow)
Select appearance to switch off 3D and Materials

Appearance to switch off 3D effect

Object + Intertwine + make (click//lasso tool)

Practicing intertwining

Week 6 & Week 7
Exercise 2 (Illustrated typeface) & Project 2 (MyTIGER SDG Illustration poster)
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1KhF4NdtXPPY-oI6ECR-GKb7Ij8UBbTBzRdG6e_RTb_M/edit#slide=id.g243234421a8_0_0

Project 3 (Digital triptych)

Week 9 (Light & Shadow)
Chiaroscuro exercise (light and shadow) is taught to give the image more depth, and to enhance the following in an artwork.
- Visual Depth
- Atmosphere and Mood
- Symbolism and Metaphor
- Visual Hierarchy and Focus
- Contrast and Conflict
Besides, we may also search for watercolor images to fill in the color of the pear.