PROJECT REPORT OUIL505: APPLIED ILLUSTRATION GABRIELLA BRACHO
CONTEXT PROJECT OVERVIEW RESEARCH INITUAL IDEAS DEVELOPED IDEAS PRODUCTS & FINALS END OF MODULE EVALUATION
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | PROJECT OVERVIEW
The beginning of this module was riddled with confusion and different ideas. It was difficult to really pin down an idea and roll with it at first but once I got the concept down it was quite a wild ride. This project gave me a chance to really learn a lot about professionalism in regards to presentation and application. This module was also an amazing chance to really have fun with a project as one last big hurdle to my second year. With that kind of buzz surrounding me it made this module even more fun than normal. Keeping myself organised and on my toes with such a big module like this was certainly a challenge but it was a good one none the less. I was passionate about the themes I was exploring, it was an extremely interesting to see how this project eventually evolved into something akin to a homemade franchise and product range. I was eager to see how it would eventually grow and I honestly had no idea that it would evolve in that manner. PROJECT OVERVIEW
There were significant changes made along the way which were almost inescapable but they did show me how a project changes along the way, and the ideas with it. The major themes that I have stuck with throughout this module were those revolving around folklore, character, design and product as well. My major goals with this project was to achieve a strong emphasis on character, as well as narrative and include world-building as apart of the themes of taking the audience into a mysterious world of traditional folklore from around the world. I got a chance to create concept work and character designs which was one of the reasons why I really wanted to pursue this project to its fullest.
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | RESEARCH
The research process at the beginning of this module was really enjoyable. I have always adored looking up practitioners especially if they are practitioners in an area of interest for me. I took this chance and decided to look at certain products and illustrators who I both admire and draw great inspiration from. At first I actually found myself looking at animated films when it came down to good art direction and character designs, I looked at the concept artists working on certain films, as well as concept art from various amounts of medias. Song of the Sea and the Secret of Kells were the starting point.
RESEARCH
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | INITIAL IDEAS
There were a lot of questions running through my head in regards to what kind of project I want to be going for. What will interest me long enough? What am I passionate about? What do I like? Aside from deciding what specialised area I want to focus around on, it was difficult to find a theme and concept to keep me going. My early project proposal is extremely broad but I did get a chance to gather my very muddled thoughts whilst writing it. Then I decided to ultimately pick up a theme that is rather personal to me as a practitioner, to focus on something surrounding my own heritage and perhaps bring to light a culture that few people would know much about. The idea of choosing Peruvian folktales and South American art as a concept and theme came from just that, from my own heritage. This module soon became a module where I could really go crazy and have fun with something that I am passionate about.
INITIAL IDEAS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | INITIAL IDEAS
Once I picked out four stories in which I would base my characters off I realised that this project won’t just be touching upon character and narrative, but it will also most likely fall into other categories of specialisations. At first I was going to revolve my project around a set of books but after some consideration I felt like that idea wouldn’t interest me anymore, or I that I might not pursue book design as a practitioner. Midway I did tweak my proposal and in turn my project overall. The sketchbook process was a really interesting way to grapple my theme and concept. My sketchbook has always been something that I feel strongly towards, this stage of the project was extremely helpful and made me realise what kind of aesthetic and layout I wished to pursue with the end results and eventually what products I’ll be applying these images on. One of the main focuses of this project was the use of pattern, landscape and colour, as well as character design and product marketing. Creating characters has always been a passion for me and a key part of my practice overall. INITIAL IDEAS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | DEVELOPED IDEAS
I had a chance to also develop the ways in which I present and design a layout, I took into consideration the background and foreground of my illustrations especially when it came to planning out landscape and scenery. It was interesting to se how my pencil sketches and paintings could be translated onto a digital platform and screen. I took time, but I feel much more comfortable with Photoshop then I have with past modules. Whilst I primarily used digital with this module I wanted my illustrations to look as natural and as traditional looking as possible so it would still have that aesthetic and quickness that I am usually associated with and used to.
DEVELOPED IDEAS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | DEVELOPED IDEAS
Once I had the idea down that I was going to focus most of my illustrations around promoting an animated film or short(s), since I had already looked into film and character work in my research at the beginning, I delved a little deeper and chose to create a very basic storyboard that indicated narrative, character and colour. I slowly began to get used to using this new digital process, it has been something that has slowly developed over the last few months and I was ecstatic to get a chance to really flesh it out with this project. Initially I was a bit nervous at the prospect of that thought, eventually I decided to triumph over my fear and kick myself out of using my sketchbook, and get out of my sketchbook overall. This stage of the project was by far a highlight and perhaps one of my favourite moments in this module. Being able to really experiment with this new medium was a fitting way to end this year. DEVELOPED IDEAS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | DEVELOPED IDEAS
‘THE SUN CHILD’ Character Sheet
DEVELOPED IDEAS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | DEVELOPED IDEAS
DEVELOPED IDEAS
‘FOLKLORE’ Promotional Poster Design (landscape)
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | PRODUCTS & FINALS
The process of applying these illustrations onto mock-up files and products took a lot of consideration despite be preparing and having an idea of what kinds of products I thought were suitable for this project. It was a really eye-opening process and it made me realise how my illustrations and designs can be applied to something that is real-world, that it has an existence and is actually placed somewhere. At the beginning of this course I felt as though my practice didn’t really have a place and that my images held no real context, but after this project and overall module I do feel more confident in placing my illustrations on something, or creating something that has a significance or use. Researching different products that would be appropriate for this project, and the items I am promoting as well as where my finished character designs will exist within these products. PRODUCTS & FINALS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | PRODUCTS & FINALS
PRODUCTS & FINALS
‘Folklore’ Promotional brochures
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | PRODUCTS & FINALS
After a while I didn’t want to apply the final illustrations onto too many products, or products that would otherwise be entirely irrelevant to the nature of this entire project that I’ve set myself. Applying the characters on various of different mock-ups proved to be really effective and I developed certain button ideas from my sketchbook into full coloured images. A lot of the basic sketches in my visual journal show that I did pick up a few of them and chose to develop them when the time came to refining down ideas and when the final few weeks of this module started running. It was a really interesting and fun process and I am happy that this brief gave me the chance to actually apply my images onto a product or as a print. ‘Folklore’ itself has turned into a brand and now I am unsure whether or not to carry on and work on other branches of this pseudo franchise and look into other areas of folklore from around the world. It is a possibility. PRODUCTS & FINALS
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | PRODUCTS & FINALS
PRODUCTS & FINALS
‘The Art of Folklore’ Art book
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | END OF MODULE EVALUATION
This module has certainly opened my eyes and firmly kicked me out of my comfort zone. It’s been an amazing module to work on overall, I feel like I’ve learned a lot despite their being setbacks and weaknesses but I do feel like I know much more than I did going into this module. 505 has allowed me answer some questions about myself that were beginning to arise from my time in PPP as well in regards to my professional practice and where I want to take my practice in the second year and perhaps even in the near future overall. I’ve developed skills in presentation and organisation of my work and learnt how to layout presentation boards that are to a near enough high standard. I feel much more confident in creating presentation boards than I did at the very beginning of this year and with other earlier modules. I’ve also learned just how easy it is to create a quick mock-up and overall learned how to apply my illustrations onto something that exists within both the industry and the world. I felt that before my practice felt very light and creating images didn’t have enough weight to it, but 505 has given me a chance to find that place and apply my work onto a wide range of products and real world uses. The beginning of this module was extremely valuable for me since it really set the stage for this entire project and gave me a lot of key points of inspiration in regards to artists, products and areas that I wish to explore. At first I chose character and narrative as one of the major areas that I am interested in, that lead me into finding really amazing practitioners who ranged from concept artists who worked on film and game design to book illustrators. Character design has always been something important to me but I feel as though I never had the chance to really explore it and actually apply that excitement onto something practical and usable. END OF MODULE EVALUATION
When I had finally chosen a concept to develop around I considered myself lucky since this module then turned into something personal for me, as well as something that I am passionate about. I decided to base my concept around Peruvian culture and folklore, since folklore and mythology was one of the key themes in my proposal at the time I saw it to be a perfect chance to go crazy and have fun with that theme alone. My mother keeps a whole collection of Peruvian cloth and pieces of textiles with her from her past trips there, so I saw that as a perfect chance to draw and respond to the colourful artwork of Peru through my early sketchbook work. My sketchbook has been a key tool throughout this entire module and I’d honestly be lost without it. One of the major highlights of this entire project was definitely getting used to using digital as a proper medium and using it as a tool in which I can explore my practice through a different way other than through my sketchbook. In fact I was determined to get away from my sketchbook as soon as studio brief 2 came around since I know that from past modules I’ve had issues actually getting out of that sense of safety in my sketchbook and going out and actually producing and refining my work. It was a key problem for me back in Level 4 but now I do feel like I’ve grown from those past mistakes and really turned to a new yet familiar kind of medium through digital drawing and painting.
APPLIED ILLUSTRATION | END OF MODULE EVALUATION
The glaring issue I have with the module however is the fact that I didn’t produce enough practical exploration and feel like I am lacking there. Due to the changes in my project overall it became more and trickier to produce and print a wide range of different results from my illustrations. I was worried that the initial audience of my project wouldn’t be achieved and that it may appeal to an entirely different audience. Some of the work and final illustrations may not feel as though they are a part of a wider set, and I do believe that making it more apparent that a majority of the final mock-ups and designs are aimed towards promoting a film release and animated short. This whole project has been a really fun yet challenging at the same time given the amount of organisation and timekeeping I’ve had to keep consistent throughout the whole module itself. Keeping tabs on my blogging and organisation has been pretty crucial for this project, as well as the amount of hours I put in each day and working out how long a certain piece of work will take. I do feel like I really want to carry on with this specialised area into Level 6 and perhaps look into other areas of interest, I also want to start applying more of my illustration onto an industrial scale and start to consider the manner of production that I go through. I feel pretty strongly about the amount of work that I’ve produced over these last few months and about the breadth of that work as well as the quality. In the end I really, really enjoyed this module despite the challenge and I can’t wait to see how this will feed into the next few months in regards to my practice.
END OF MODULE EVALUATION