Illustration and Visual Narrative 2017

29th of Aug '17 - 14th of Sept '17 (Week 1-Week 4)
Jaslyn Tjhai (0333039)
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Exercises

Exercises

Week 1

On the first week of classes Mr. Hafiz explained a little about what we are going to do for this semester by showing us the module outline. Afterwards we moved on to our first tutorial which was to trace a few shapes and create a character out of them using Adobe Illustrator. This tutorial is also an exercise also known as the Vormator Challenge. Mr. Hafiz also showed us a few examples on the internet.

Fig. 1.a. Vormator shapes that I got from google

Fig. 1.b. Examples of works created from vormator shapes

For this exercise, we are going to use the pen tool for tracing. Afterwards we are going to duplicated the shapes that we traced and build a character out of those shapes. One thing that we have to pay attention to is that we are not allowed to distort any of the shapes.
To start off, we create new document in Illustrator with 2 artboards, then we place the picture of the shape that we are going to trace on the first artboard where we dim the images to 25% by clicking the layer of the image twice.

Fig. 1.c. Workspace Illustrator 1: dimming the image

Then we create another layer for us to trace on that layer.

Fig. 1.d. Workspace Illustrator 2: tracing the image using pen tool

When all the tracing work is done, we can start creating our own character using the shapes. At first I tried to create a lion but it didn't turn out well and it's not finished yet so I decided on a new character.

Fig. 1.e. First character that I did in class

For this character I was actually thinking of a flower but it turned out to look like a broccoli so in the end I named it Brokorori.

Fig. 1.f. Second try on my vormator character

Fig. 1.g. Total shapes that I used for my vormator

Week 2

On week 2, we were taught on how to create shadows and add texture using the Illustrator which will be applied on our character. Mr. Hafiz showed us some examples on chiaroscuro where it's a kind of work that uses strong tonal contrast on light and dark usually for dramatic effect.

Fig. 2.a. Chiaroscuro examples

After showing us some examples, we did an exercise on a chiaroscuro pear. So same thing, we trace the pear first.

Fig. 2.b. Workspace Illustrator 1: dimming the image

Then we start adding shadows by drawing a shape that's bigger than the pear on the parts that we wanted to have the shadows. After drawing the lines, select the objects, go to pathfinder and click on divide. After dividing, ungroup the shapes and delete any excess shapes that's not used and start adding colors.

Fig. 2.b. Workspace Illustrator 2: adding colors and shadows to the traced pear

Then we were asked to try and work on the exercise, add shadows and textures.

Fig. 2.c. Final result of the chiaroscuro exercise

Week 3

On week 3, we were asked to finalised our vormator character by adding shadows. Then we moved on to laser cutting on Thursday (practical day). Where we were taught by Mr. Hafiz and Mr. Jeff on how to use the laser cut software and what kind of format we should use for it. We were required to clean any additional lines in out vormator in order to cut out our character.
Any grouped objects should be ungroup and any compound path should be disabled or removed otherwise it wouldn't work on the software for laser cut. I had a hard time trying to clean the lines on my vormator as my character is kind of complicated. But in the end I still manage to clean the unnecessary lines.

Fig. 3.a. Workspace Illustrator 1: clean lines ready for laser cut

Here's what my character look like after laser cutting it.

Fig. 3.b Brokorori laser cut

Fig. 3.c Brokorori laser cut 2

Fig. 3.d Brokorori colored

Week 4

On week 4 we were asked to create a background for our character which will be used for the Pokémon card. We were asked to also include characteristics and information of our character for the card. The template of the card are to be searched online. I also had a hard time figuring out what kind of background is suitable for my character as my character can actually be a 'psychic' Pokémon or a 'grass' Pokémon. I tried a psychic Pokémon background at first.

Fig. 4.a. My vormator with background 2

Then I changed it to grass type Pokémon because I think it suits my character more.

Fig. 4.b. My vormator with the final background

I added some leave texture for the trees, wood texture for the tree trunks, ground textures for the ground, and moon texture on the moon.
Then I started working on the card which took me some time to think about what kind of powers my characters will be having. The references for my Pokémon cards are below followed by my Pokémon card.

Fig. 4.c. Pokémon card references

Fig. 4.d. Final result of my Pokémon card

In case you wonder what my Pokémon character/vormator character evolved from, here's my character before it evolved. Its name is Brokobud.

Fig. 4.e. My Pokémon character before it evolved to Brokorori

Links to my exercises files: Exercises