Illustration And Visual Narrative - Assignment 01 : Editorial Illustration (Decisive Moment)
ILLUSTRATION AND VISUAL NARRATIVE GCD 61204
WEEK 06 - WEEK 10 (01.11.2023 - 29.11.2023)NAME: CHIN TZE WEI
I.D: 0357423
COURSE: Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Honors) in Creative Media
GROUP: Class 01 Sec 01
1.1
Week 06
3.2
Story research
3.4
Visual Reference
3.5
Moodboard
3.6
Sketch
3.7
Illustration
3.8 Animation
4.
Reflection
1. Lecture
WEEK 6: LECTURE
Figure 1.1 Lecture Note for Week 06
Lecture Note Week 06:
In this week's lecture, Mr Hafiz introduced us about "Composition Theory - Perspective".
The art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional
surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth,
and position in relation to each other.
Perspective: The representation of 3D objects on a 2D surface while giving the right impression of height, weight, depth, and position in relation to each other.
Figure 1.2 Examples of persective
Types of Perspective
1. One-Point Perspective- Objects emerge from a single point on the horizon line.
- The closer the objects are to the vanishing point, the smaller they become.
Figure 1.3 Example of One-Point Perspective
Figure 1.4 Example of One-Point Perspective
Figure 1.5 Example of One-Point Perspective
- Two vanishing points on either side of the horizon line.
- Objects recede towards both vanishing points.
- Purpose: To create a sense of space and dimension.
Figure 1.6 Example of Two-Point Perspective
Figure 1.7 Example of Two-Point Perspective
Figure 1.8 Example of Two-Point Perspective
3. Three-Point Perspective
- Two vanishing points on either side of the horizon line, another vanishing point high above / below the horizon line.
- Purpose:
- To achieve a sense of drama and scale
- To show more objects in a scene
Figure 1.9 Example of Three-Point Perspective
Figure 1.10 Example of Three-Point Perspective
Figure 1.11 Example of Three-Point Perspective
4. Isometric View
- Typically used when creating concepts of individual buildings
- Purpose: To clearly present three sides of a design without distorting perspective or obscuring detail.
Figure 1.12 Example of Isometric View
WEEK 7: LECTURE
Figure 1.13 Lecture Note for Week 07
Lecture Note Week 07:
In this week's lecture, Mr Hafiz introduced us about "Composition Theory -
Fore, Mid and Backgorund".
Composition: How image is put together, and there are tricks you can keep in
mind that, if used in the right way, can take your art to the next level and
make a piece really grab your audience's attention.
When composing a scene, creating an effective sense of the space is very
important.
Illustrating element within the image will immediately communicate a sense of
scale to the viewer.
Different types of planes:
1. Foreground (Close to the viewer)
2. Middle-ground (In between foreground and background)
3. Background (Far away from the viewer)
Figure 1.14 Example of different types of planes
1. Foreground (Objects that are nearest to the viewer)
- Arrange the subject matter to be at the foreground
- By using size differences and colour contrast to highlight foreground as main focus
Figure 1.15 Example of Foreground plane
2. Middle-ground (Objects in between foreground and background)
- Arrange the focus to be in the middle-ground.
- By using size differences and light/shadow contrast to highlight the main focus.
Figure 1.16 Example of Middle-ground plane
3. Background (Objects that are the furthest away from the viewer)
- Put the focus in the furthest view of the visual in the background
- By using shapes and light/shadow contrast to highlight the main focus
Figure 1.17 Example of Background plane
Good arrangement of visual focus using foreground, middle-ground and
background should also indicate a sense of movement, and rhythm in your
design.
This is known to be
Design Flow.
Figure 1.18 Example of Deisgn Flow
A design with good flow will lead the viewers' eye throughout the layout.
Images should be able to influence the way the viewer will digest your
content.
Figure 1.19 Example of Design Flow
Mr Hafiz also shared us a short video to study how to arrange the use of
foreground , middle-ground, and background and combine the sense of flow in
the animation.
Video 01: The Soloists (2021)
2. Instruction
Figure 2.1 Module Information Booklet
Instruction for Assignment 01: Editorial Illustration (Decisive Moment)
Assignment 01: Editorial Illustration (Decisive Moment)
- Briefing
- Choose an Urban Legend
- Local or international
- Must be urban legends happening now
- Art Style: Art Deco
- Only need to illustrate the turning point / decisive moment / climax of the story
- The Three-Act Structure:
- Act 01: The set-up
- First turning point
- To provide background (plot, character histories, settings, theme) to the audience
- Act 02: The Confrontation
- Second turning point / rising action / climax
- Characters attempt to resolve the problem
- Character development
- Act 03: The Resolution
- Third turning point
3. Assignment 01: Editorial Illustration (Decisive Moment)
In this assignment, you will create
a minimalist editorial illustration
based on an urban legend of
your choice using
Adobe Illustrator.
Your illustration will be designed for a digital media publication and should
include minor animations to enhance engagement.
Editorial illustrations are produced for newspapers, magazines and
websites to add a visual dimension to a piece of writing. This serves two
main functions – it helps to grab the attention of the reader as they
browse the publication, but can also help to add a new perspective to the
article.
For this assignment, we must find a related article/story that discuss
Urban Legends. The legends maybe local or international. The artstyle must
be derived from Art Deco.
Instructions:
- Choose an urban legend that interests you and aligns with the editorial theme.
- Research the chosen legend thoroughly and gather visual references.
- Create a concept mood board to explore the style, color scheme, and overall visual direction.
- Write a brief description of your chosen urban legend and how you plan to interpret it in a minimalist style.
- Begin sketching your editorial illustration. Focus on creating a clear and compelling composition.
- Develop your illustration in Adobe Illustrator. Pay attention to clean lines, simple shapes, and minimalism.
- Experiment with the use of color and typography, keeping the editorial context in mind.
- Start planning the minor animations you intend to incorporate.
- Refine your illustration, paying close attention to details, balance, and visual impact.
- Add animations to your design using Adobe Illustrator or other animation software.
- Test the animations to ensure they enhance the overall narrative without being distracting.
- Write a short artist statement explaining your design choices, including how your illustration reflects the chosen urban legend and the editorial context.
- Submit your completed editorial illustration as a high-resolution digital file (preferably vector format).
- Include a link to a presentation or video demonstrating the animations.
- Submit your artist statement and any process documentation.
3.1 Ideas (Urban Legends)
Before fully deciding which urban legend story to begin this project with, I explored several urban legends I had heard of and some of them comes from online sources, and topics that personally interest me.Research in Urban Legend
1. Bloody Mary
The first one is the story of Bloody Mary, which I heard about back in
primary school. This story talks about Bloody Mary is a popular urban
legend that typically involves a ritual performed in front of a mirror to
summon a ghostly apparition. The most common version suggests that if you
say "Bloody Mary" three times in front of a mirror in a dark or candlelit
room, the ghost of a woman named Mary will appear, often covered in blood
or possessing a vengeful demeanor. The specifics of the story can vary,
but the legend has been a staple of childhood scares and sleepovers for
many years. It's more of a spooky tale passed down through generations
rather than a historical account.
2. Hanako-san
Hanako-san, also known as Toire no Hanako-san (The Hanako of the Toilet),
is a popular Japanese urban legend. The story is centered around the ghost
of a young girl named Hanako who haunts school bathrooms, particularly the
third stall on the third floor. The legend often involves a specific
ritual where a person must knock on the door of the third stall three
times and ask, "Hanako-san, are you there?" Afterward, Hanako-san may
appear, sometimes as a ghostly figure or a pale, bloodied girl.
3. Woman in Asakusa
The urban legend of Asakusa is about a woman dressed in a white kimono
who asks for a light for her cigarette and then disappears without a
trace.
4. Kisaragi Station
Hasumi posted on an internet noticeboard about waking up in a train
carriage with all other passengers asleep. The train was not stopping at
the usual places and the conductor and driver were inaccessible. After an
hour, the train stopped at a station called "Kisaragi Station" which was
not listed online. Hasumi was advised to exit immediately by users on the
message board. She wandered outside the station but was unable to locate a
taxi and her GPS did not work. She then heard bells ringing and a drumbeat
intensifying, making her too scared to return to the station. She walked
into a long tunnel and encountered a one-legged old man before breaking
her heel and bleeding. She was eventually offered a ride by a friendly man
who later began talking gibberish, making Hasumi unnerved. Her last post
on the message board was at 4am before she decided to make a run for it.
5. Slit-Mouthed Woman
The Slit-Mouthed Woman, or Kuchisake-onna in Japanese, is a famous urban
legend that originated in Japan. According to the legend, a disfigured
woman wearing a surgical mask approaches individuals, typically children.
She asks a question like "Am I pretty?" If the person responds negatively
or with fear, she reveals her disfigured, slit mouth, often reaching from
ear to ear, and asks the question again. The wrong answers may result in
harm or even death.
6. Aokigahara Forest
Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees or Suicide Forest, is a
real location in Japan at the northwest base of Mount Fuji. The forest has
gained notoriety as a setting for various myths and, unfortunately, a high
number of suicides. The dense, eerily quiet woods have become associated
with paranormal activity and are a common subject in urban legends.
Legend has it that the Aokigahara Forest is haunted by yūrei (ghosts) and
that compasses may malfunction due to the high iron content in the area's
volcanic soil. The forest's association with death and the paranormal has
contributed to its chilling reputation. Despite the myths and legends,
it's important to note that Aokigahara is a real place, and the issues of
suicide there are serious and tragic. There have been efforts to address
mental health awareness and discourage suicide in the area.
Figure 3.1 Research on Urban Legends
Final selection of Urban Legend storyStory
After the reseaarch, I will choose the Urban Legend story,
Aokigahara Forest
as my final selection of Urban Legend.
I think that this story is more visual impact if I successfully complete
the animation.
3.2 Story research
Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees or Suicide
Forest, is a real location in Japan at the northwest base of Mount Fuji.
The forest has gained notoriety as a setting for various myths and,
unfortunately, a high number of suicides. The dense, eerily quiet woods
have become associated with paranormal activity and are a common subject
in urban legends.
Legend has it that the Aokigahara Forest is haunted by yūrei (ghosts)
and that compasses may malfunction due to the high iron content in the
area's volcanic soil. The forest's association with death and the
paranormal has contributed to its chilling reputation. Despite the myths
and legends, it's important to note that Aokigahara is a real place, and
the issues of suicide there are serious and tragic. There have been
efforts to address mental health awareness and discourage suicide in the
area.
There were several type of version about the Urban Legend story:
1. Suicide Forrest
2. Habitat of the Demon King
For the first story version, there are high number of suicide cases
happened at that forest. The people who suicide at the forest then will
become earthbound spirit and attract the next people to go suicide at
there. Next one is the malfunctioning of the compasses and GPS, people
died inside the forest and missing. Therefore, everywhere in this forest
there are skeletons of people trapped inside the forest and successfully suicides. According to the local news,
every Autumn, 600 police officers are assigned to pick up the skeletons at the forest.
Furthermore, for the second story version, the forest is one of the
habitat of the Demon King. Thus, at night, people will saw many spirit.
And the people who saw the spirits will die at there imediately.
Figure 3.2 Story of Aokigahara Forest
3.3 3-Act narrative structure
According to the teacher's instructions, we can use ChatGPT to help us
complete this part.
The below are the answer from Chatgpt.
Act 1: Introduction
- Setting: Establish the serene and mysterious atmosphere of Aokigahara Forest, with tall, stylized trees and a sense of quiet beauty.
- Composition: Frame a lone figure entering the forest, shrouded in mist and shadows. Use Art Deco elements to enhance the organic shapes of the trees.
- Color Palette: Stick to a muted palette, perhaps deep blues and greens with hints of gold or silver for an Art Deco touch.
Act 2: Rising Tension
- Setting: Transition deeper into the forest, where the atmosphere becomes more ominous. Trees could take on more abstract, almost otherworldly shapes.
- Composition: The central character should encounter subtle signs of the forest's dark reputation - perhaps distorted tree branches resembling hands or haunting shadows. Use angular Art Deco lines to create tension.
- Color Palette: Introduce darker tones and contrasts. Use bold Art Deco patterns sparingly to add a touch of sophistication to the eerie scene.
Climactic Turning Point
- Setting: The heart of Aokigahara, where the legend's climax occurs. The trees could take on surreal, distorted forms to represent the supernatural element.
- Composition: Your central character should come face-to-face with a significant element of the legend - it could be a ghostly figure, a symbolic object, or a manifestation of the forest's dark energy. Use strong diagonal lines and dynamic shapes to convey the intensity of the moment.
- Color Palette: Introduce a stark contrast between light and dark. Use deep reds or purples for highlights to emphasize the climax. Art Deco patterns can be more pronounced here, adding a layer of complexity to the composition.
Act 3: Resolution
- Setting: Exit the forest, bringing a sense of relief. The surroundings could gradually return to a more natural state, with the stylized trees becoming less distorted.
- Composition: Your central character could be shown leaving the forest, perhaps changed or marked in some way by the experience. Use Art Deco elements to signify a return to order.
- Color Palette: Gradually reintroduce lighter tones, symbolizing resolution and a sense of overcoming. Use Art Deco patterns in a more subdued manner to maintain a sense of elegance.
Stylistic Reference: Art Deco
- Utilize geometric shapes, bold lines, and symmetry characteristic of Art Deco.
- Experiment with rich, contrasting color palettes, with an emphasis on deep, luxurious hues.
- Incorporate intricate patterns and stylized motifs inspired by the Art Deco era.
Figure 3.3 3-Act Narrative Structure
3.4 Visual reference
I search some reference photo before I start to sketch my first sketch.
These are some photo that I have search on Google and Pinterest.
Figure 3.3 Visual Reference
3.5 Moodboard
When I gathered up all the information that I need, I start to go for the
moodboard.
The moodboards contain 3 section, visual references, colour schemes and
also rationale of Aokigahara Forest.
Rationale of Aokigahara Forest:
The Aokigahara Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees or Suicide Forest, is a real location located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest has gained notoriety due to its association with a high number of suicides. The urban legend you mentioned about Aokigahara being the dwelling place of the Ghost King and people disappearing after seeing ghosts is not rooted in any factual information but is likely a product of folklore and sensationalized stories.The association of Aokigahara with paranormal activity and ghostly phenomena is likely a way to add mystery and intrigue to the already eerie reputation of the forest. The forest's dense vegetation, the absence of wildlife sounds, and the quietness contribute to the haunting atmosphere, fostering various myths and legends over time.
It's essential to note that Aokigahara's reputation as a suicide destination is a serious and concerning issue. Authorities have taken measures to address this problem, including posting signs with messages encouraging people to think of their families and contact suicide prevention hotlines. The forest itself is a place of natural beauty, and efforts are being made to raise awareness about mental health issues and discourage suicide in the area
Figure 3.4 Moodboard 01
Figure 3.5 Moodboard 02
3.6 Sketch
When I had gathered all the visual information I needed, I started my sketch. Combining the two versions of the story, I decided to draw all the features that appear in both stories, such as Forest in Art Deco style, Habitat of ghost king, and many skeletons which people has successfully suicide at there.
The below sketch is the sketch I draw half way. It is slightly look similar to my final outcome.
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Figure 3.6 Sketch (50%)
Figure 3.7 Final Sketch
Relation between my sketch with the Urban Legend (Aokigahara Forest)
Figure 3.8 Explaination of my sketch
3.7 Illustration
I has illustrate my sketch using the software, Adobe Illustrator.
After Mr Hafiz demonstrate the grain effect and gradient effect in the
lecture, I then apply it on my sketch.
Figure 3.9 Final Illustration, JPEG
Figure 3.10 Final Illustration, PDF
3.8 Animation
But I start to gathered some ideas to try on animation.
According to the part, 3.3 3-Act narrative structure, during Act 02
(Rising Tension: Climatic Turning Point). It decribe that the heart of
Aokigahara, where the legend's climax occurs.
The trees could take on surreal, distorted forms to represent the
supernatural element.
Other than that, I decide to
add fog effect while start
up my animation.
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Figure 3.11 Animation Working Progress
Final Outcome of GIF animation
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Figure 3.12 Final GIF Animation
3.9 Artist statement
In the dense shadows of Aokigahara Forest, where death and mystery echo continuously, my illustration and animation aim to capture the essence of mortality and the profound mystical space that envelops it.
Through deep colors and intricate lines, I seek to outline the unique atmosphere emanating from Aokigahara, a place where the end of life and mysterious forces intertwine. In each frame, death is not a conclusion but a transition, sparking endless contemplation and associations.
The choice of medium for both illustration and animation is not arbitrary; it is crafted to better convey the depth and complexity of Aokigahara Forest. The interplay of lines and the contrast of colors aim to express the intricate theme of coexistence between death and mystery, guiding the audience to explore the subtle and mystical ties between life and death.
Through my works, I invite the audience to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of this mysterious place, contemplating our perceptions of death and those ineffable moments in life. It is a profound reflection on existence itself, and an exploration of the beauty of death and mystery symbolized by Aokigahara.
This illustration and animation project serve as my emotional expression towards the unique Aokigahara Forest, embarking on an artistic journey to explore the boundaries of death, mystery, and life.
After collecting information about those Urban Legend, I choosed the Urban
Legend that I think that is suitable for the assignment.
These are the process that I have made, include findings, colour schemes, rationale, story map, visual references and etc.
These are the process that I have made, include findings, colour schemes, rationale, story map, visual references and etc.
Figure 3.13 Process Document
4. Reflection
Throught this project, I learned a lot of knowledge about software and how
to use it. Which includes the basics of composition theory- types of
perspective, different type of planes- Foreground, Middle-ground and
background, design flow. These knowledges give me a good opportunity to
complete my assignment. I am quite satisfied with the final outcome of my
editorial illustration and GIF animation. It is an interesting and
memorable memory while doing the assignment, I learned many things and
applied them inside my assignment.
In this task, I had learned and able to demonstrate creative use of
software, which is Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, and have conduct
oral and verbal presentation to persuade and illustrate ideas and concepts
in a multidisciplinary setting as an individual.
From this task, it has conducted a lifelong learning (TGC 3.0), it able me
to learn independently and be intellectually engaged.
Quick Link
Google Drive Link
Project 01: Exercise Continuous
Project 02: Editorial Illustration (Decisive Moment)
