Games Art and Design BA1a Character Project

Games Art and Design BA1a Character from the Edo Japan time period. Received 19th October

Week 5
Our next project is to create a concept for a character from a specific time period; mine being Edo Japan. We were also required to read 'The Tinderbox' and choose one of the characters to base ours on. I've gathered a collection of different styles and objects from this era, and am debating between doing a Samurai soldier, Lady of the Court, or a Witch. I'll begin silhouetting for these to help me decide which to pursue. I so far enjoy the armor Samurai wore, it is bulky and robust, and the Court Lady who wore long thick gowns, with delicate hairstyles and make up. There are folklore and myths in Japanese History that I could use if I pursue the witch character.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/56/69/31/566931d9d5e59aac08ae74db4601cdff.jpg

http://www.iz2.or.jp/fukusyoku/kosode/images/112-a.gif

Namazu is a creature of Japanese mythology, and is known to be associated with floods and earthquakes, among other beliefs. Towards the end of the Edo period, in 1855, an earthquake struck and Namazu was seen to be punishing human greed, as to rebuild money was more evenly shared between the classes. It was then that people began to call the Namazu the Yonaoshi Daimyojin, which means 'the god of rectification'.

Namazu Reference: http://historyofgeology.fieldofscience.com/2011/01/namazu-earthshaker.html

Edo Clothing: http://hubpages.com/hub/History-of-Kimono-Part-4-The-Early-Modern-Period-Edo-Period#

I have chosen to pursue to witch, and base her on the Namazu. This means she needs to have catfish characteristic, which I shall explore when iterating, and take into consideration when choosing a final composition for my concept painting.

I began exploring the Samurai and Court Lady of this time, to help decide a design for the witch. She will wear a long kimono like a court lady, and have a wide obi, as this was a trend in the this time period.

I explored head silhouetting, kimono styles and character size briefly before iterating further into particular aspects. Her size should help portray her like a catfish.

Japanese women often had their hair up with nice detail and accessories. I chose a hairstyle I liked the most and thought would suit the character, and began iterating her face. She started of young, but this didn't suit her purpose. To be wise, she needed to be older, so I began studying older faces.

The next composition study was dynamic composition and analyzing how angles and lines impact the feel of an image.

Horizontal Lines - This suggests homeostatis/tranquility/rest. Examples are fallen trees and calm seas. In this photo there are many horizontal lines in the sky and sea, giving a peaceful feel alongside the warming colours.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Sunset_2007-1.jpg

Vertical Lines - These suggest stability/strength/power and can emphasize height/ distance/scale. In this photo you can see multiple building all varying in height, but all looking independent and stable. It also feels like a bold and powerful city.

https://jdnarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/chicago-cityscape.jpg

Diagonal Lines - These suggest action/movement, such as in clothes and hair, waves and rain, and swords and guns. This painting by Dan Dos Santos has multiple composition types, not just his use of diagonal lines. The angle of the sword in the foreground suggests action, and its position and focus suggests it's importance. The whole painting is angles, the walls are no longer vertical, giving the room more energy for movement, which is also apparent by the creatures in the background.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr4tPmKXOs4J-0A8XGSG7892rOxYxcVXq_GeTqUhxYibxVZy__2k1n8cm-ETQCBQwCJ_mLb7wBJQWJkn6MkVkoWaXM8DSwDy6FLwE50xSLZp7bjQLCZsNoJWQUVoFbAruptMA4inCZps/s1600/dan_dos_santos_dresden_files_4.jpg

Jagged/Irregular Lines - These give the feeling of unease and tension. A good example is lightening. Often jagged lines can show destruction and damage. The lightning looks powerful and erratic, and contrasting to the darker mood of the rest of the painting. The jagged lines emphasize the feel of battle and tension between two forces.

http://www.wall321.com/thumbnails/detail/20130617/fantasy%20art%20battles%20artwork%20lightning_www.wall321.com_64.jpg

Curves - These show grace, elegance and beauty. Often used in character figures, facial features and hair. Light waves create curved lines, keeping the mood peaceful and showing the beauty of the environment. Van Gogh's 'Starry night' contains almost all curved brush strokes; as a result the sky looks beautiful and magical. The vertical but curved plant in the foreground doesn't disrupt the feel, but shows the distance of the sky.

http://uploads2.wikiart.org/images/vincent-van-gogh/the-starry-night-1889(1).jpg

Implied Lines - This is using the lines to direct the viewer to certain aspects of the painting. It can help lead the eye over the photo in a certain manner and emphasize focal points. In Dan Dos Santo's painting below is central with an implied line down the painting. The cat touches the sun rim slightly, enough to lead the eye down the painting to her necklace. Her neckline and sword all point down so the view continues to follow down and see the flowers fading.

http://www.this-is-cool.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/dan-dos-santos/dan-dos-santos-fantasy-art-image-gallery.jpg

http://7-themes.com/data_images/out/78/7037853-thor-lightning-art.jpg

http://www.timpratt.org/images/bone_shop_web.jpg

Games Art and Design BA1a Project Timepiece

BA1a Second project Brief: Create a final concept painting of a timepiece - Received 5th October

Our project for the next couple of weeks is to create silhouettes, iterations, a model sheet and a final concept painting of a time piece we have designed. To begin with I have brainstormed as many forms of timepieces I knew, and searched to find more examples and ideas. My piece can be an item of jewelry, a tower, an hourglass or based on something older such as a pendulum clock, water clock, foliot clock or sundial. I have began using Alchemy to create silhouettes, and will continue researching on timepieces.

Week 3
To develop more ideas I created a mood board. The idea of small, delicate and intricate items appeals to me and will likely be implemented into my timepiece design.

Images from these sights:

https://www.pinterest.com/julla5/clocks/

http://harukosugawara.com/sozai/cImage6_m.png

http://cdn.bigbangfish.com/555/Japan-wallpapers/Japan-wallpapers-2.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4c/3f/a5/4c3fa5ee6e210df3944818f2593a8b7c.jpg

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/537a44dbe4b0e9e345821774/537a53cde4b0bbcc0ca93198/538679bee4b07dd15683b9a8/1401321923049/RedSofa+jewellery+Elvish+Willow+ring_09.jpg?format=1500w

http://image2.oasap.com/o_img/2012/06/11/12053-67375-home/fungus-design-flower-ring-chain-bracelet.jpg

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://g03.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1d.NtJVXXXXasXXXXq6xXFXXXA/Gothic-style-black-female-lace-bracelet-ring-one-finger-chain-female-birthday-gifts-WS-09.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Gothic-style-black-female-lace-bracelet-ring-one-finger-chain-female-birthday-gifts-WS-09/32485065314.html&h=750&w=750&tbnid=hMKMg1MUcesrvM:&docid=hsc_ueuh30yMkM&hl=en&ei=4h0VVr-UCIubNvSXmLgM&tbm=isch&ved=0CF8QMyg7MDtqFQoTCL-N77m7sMgCFYuNDQod9AsGxw

http://jessdare.com/library/image/Dare_02.jpg

https://jewellerychina.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/meld_studio115_06.jpg

http://orig10.deviantart.net/ed60/f/2014/348/9/6/zirthnyr___silver_and_red_quartz__by_lunarieen-d89uyy5.jpg

https://japantraditionsculture.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/kimono_by_estheryu.jpg

http://image2.oasap.com/o_img/2012/06/11/12053-67375-home/fungus-design-flower-ring-chain-bracelet.jpg

https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5871231/il_fullxfull.282339436.jpg

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/537a44dbe4b0e9e345821774/537a53cde4b0bbcc0ca93198/538679bee4b07dd15683b9a8/1401321923049/RedSofa+jewellery+Elvish+Willow+ring_09.jpg

Settling on an item of jewellery, I have made more silhouettes and sketched over some to explore the idea further. I have chosen two silhouettes that I can iterate on, one is a long bracelet/watch, and the other is a pendant that looks similar to a pocket watch.

I concluded the I could use more intricate details on the pendant, and liked my designs more for them. To at more depth and detail I have gone for overlaying designs on the metal work, also exploring symmetry on some. I have been exploring metal work on pocket watches and lockets, and looking at hand crafted pieces so I can make an intricate design.

Keeping them to line drawings at this phase makes it easier to design a pattern without worrying about the detail of the metal just yet.

Week 4
Continually drawing these and repeating some means I can take aspects I like and eventually create the final design. Symmetry looked more aesthetic, however the top layer of pattern isn't necessarily and makes the locket look more unique. Whilst deciding a final design for the front and back of locket, I sketches composition ideas that showed off the lockets features.

Games Art and Design BA1a Project Insects

BA1a First project - A final concept piece for an insect - Received this on 21st September

To begin with I begin by making silhouettes on Adobe Photoshop. I made multiple patterns and shapes to form these silhouettes, ready for me to later iterate them. I also used Alchemy to create my silhouettes. This program was useful in generating shapes and forms I couldn't by solely using Photoshop. 

I have created multiple silhouettes and have chosen a few to roughly iterate. I created sketches over the silhouettes to explore how I could create an insect from the form I had made. I would've liked to have created more silhouettes so I could explore even more designs when sketching over them.

I have settled on an idea that I found through roughly sketching over the silhouettes. I am now altering and exploring its form until I am happy and will create a character sheet. I found myself veering away from insect like features, so kept searching for images of relevant insects and analyzing. Through Google image searches on praying mantis', beetles, ladybirds, ants, bumble bees and wasps, I have designed certain aspects of my insect on these creatures. For the face, I have mainly used the Praying Mantis, and studied images found here http://clipgid.com/praying-mantis-face-drawing.html .

After exploring composition, light and colour yesterday, I have found images that follow some of the styles I have learnt.

The above still is from the film The Road, image from http://www.aceshowbiz.com/still/00003871/the_road37.html

The composition follows the divine proportions, in that the man and son are in a focal point of the shot, and also directly underneath the painting on the wall behind.

This other still from The Road uses the 'L' composition. The bottom right corner is the main focus, with a sharper focus on the man and his son.

This photograph shows light distortion in the background, as particles in the air block or alter the light direction, causing a misty look. There is a lot of reflective light allowing us to see the trees, and it is likely there is a more direct light source on the rocks as they are brighter and clear. There are shadows underneath some trees as the light has been blocked along the way. Image from http://photographyheat.com/20-stunning-photographs-of-beautiful-trees.

This still from The Dark Knight rises, has Bane under a spotlight, casting heavy shadows in areas that don't get light. With a black background, he is highlighted more, and the only point of focus in the still. His muscles are emphasized by the shadows, and these shadows also make him look more menacing.

Image from: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/e/e2/Bane_Empire_1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120128230019

On separate documents I have iterated my insect further, exploring slightly different forms, colours and texture. I have been experimenting with multiple brush types to get different effects for the insect. My first iterations didn't vary much in design difference, but when I used more brushes and colours my work began to vary and I created more ideas. This gives me options for my final design. Whilst iterating, I could expand the backstory of my insect, and think about how it moves around. I have used a Praying Mantis as reference for the face and neck, and caterpillars and ants as leg references.

http://clipgid.com/praying-mantis-face-drawing.html

https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/sl/28/1.html

My insect uses its long neck to reach for food on other branches, and sometimes partially opens the tail for shelter or a little protection. This shows off its main aesthetic features. Using these ideas I have began my character sheet.

This basic diagram shows the tail open and closed. In my character sheet i have show the in between phases.

I have completed a small set of iterations for the legs, head and tail. I believe there are more textures I could have explored with different brushes.

This insect could have variations depending on where it is situated. I feel the the tail could have a few different variations which are adapted to its environment, as its purpose is protection and camouflage.

I have a basic character sheet, detailing the basic movements of my insect.

I have sketched a few composition ideas that show of my insects main features; the protective unraveling tail and long neck to reach further for food. My leg iterations are all quite similar, making it harder to choose which I prefer as I believe there are more forms that could've been explored. I have chosen the top left composition (from the image below) that shows the insects features well and in a position it would reach for food. 

My small project is coming to a close, and my final piece is nearly finished on Photoshop. The design is based of the iterations from earlier, and the composition chosen is based on a composition idea, just mirrored. I'm trying to blend colours well and highlight and sharpen areas I was more focus on.