Blog 10 - Final documentation & Self Evaluation

 Final Panels

Self Evaluation

In this project of pixel, imaging and sound, we are required to investigate a contemporary artist and sound and get inspired by him/ her to reproduce 6-15 images and compile them into a 1 minute and 30 sec slide show. This project is called exploration. It is a very interesting project because we are able to explore different art style from different artist. There are a lot of different classmates doing different type of art style such as collage and photo-montage. However, I'm interesting in producing japanese style of illustrations, therefore I have chosen Aya Kato's work as a benchmark to get inspire from. 

Aya Kato's work are full of details and rich in colours. I have get inspired by her but however my artworks are not even close to her style due to lack of details and colours. However I'm happy with my artwork because I able to produce something new that is different from my current art style. However, I regretted on producing this panels with such a short time, I could have input more details in it. Due to me being indecisive on the theme, it has wasted a lot of my time on thinking about the story. It is difficult for me to sketch, digitize and adding effect with layering. 

Besides that, it is interesting to hear and electronic guitar composed japanese traditional music. It is very experimental yet fun to listen. I have learnt new thing through composing the japanese music. However, when it comes to editing, my sounds are lack of layering and depth. I learnt that i need to input more sound effects to make the sound more effective and interesting for the audience to listen to.

Blog 9 - Peer evaluation

100% work process, Presentation and Peer Evaluation

Panels of Alice's dream

Peer evaluation

- has the Japanese feel in it, and it suits the music that is composed well.
- however after seen the benchmark, my panels are lack of a lot of details compared to the benchmark.
- panel 4 the character looks like guy instead of girl
- the art style is good
- need more details

Lecturer's feedback

- could have pushed further if there're more time.
- lack of details
- can create more contrast with some of the elements in the panels
- sound is good, but very safe can create more depth in it.

Blog 8 - Progression 3 of Imaging and Sound

Document Working Day for Pixel Image and Sound component

Imaging
During this week, I finished digitizing and tracing everything in Adobe Illustrator, then I moved on to adding a bit of  effects on Adobe Photoshop such as adding some outer glow for certain elements to make them look more stand out.

Adobe Illustrator files

1. Down the rabbit hole

2. The smoking caterpillar

3. The grinning cat

4. One mad tea party

5. Playing cards

6. Just a dream

Adobe Photoshop files ( adding effects and backgrounds )

1. Down the rabbit hole

Sound
Arranging the sound files and editing the sound with Audition. Then change the pan two different layer in different direction to create depth. Export.

Blog 7 - Progression 2 of Imaging and Sound

Document Working Day for Pixel Image and Sound component

Imaging
During this week I have digitized a few panels in Adobe Illustrator, the colours are flat and plain.

1. Down the rabbit hole

2. The smoking caterpillar

3. The grinning cat

Sound
The music i choose to use for the slideshow is a Japanese traditional type of music. I couldn't find the instrument such as koto and sangen, so there music is composed by using an electronic guitar.

However, during the recording we have a difficult time to compose the music because we do not know what tabs to play to make it sounds more Japanese-like. Therefore, we did a bit of research about Japanese tradition music on electronic guitar and we found the tabs on http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/misc_scales/e_japanese_scale_tab.htm?no_splash. Then we compose an experimental Japanese traditional music with the electronic guitar.

I would like to thank my friend Jeremy Phun for helping me to compose the song, because I do not have and knowledge about music and guitars.

Blog 6 - 30% progression

30% production progress

Sketches of each panels after inking.
Sketch -> ink

1. Down the rabbit hole

2. The smoking caterpillar

3. The grinning cat

4. One mad tea party

5. Playing cards

6. Just a dream

Blog 5 - Story & Working method

Theme: Alice's Dream

Description of story: A story of what Alice sees in her fantasy dream.

Story line:

Panel 1: Down the rabbit hole

a girl falling down.

Key elements: Stopwatch, Alice, books, vase & flowers, teapot and tea cups.

Panel 2: The smoking caterpillar

a human-caterpillar smoking in a mushroom forest.

Key elements: Human-caterpillar, cigar, smoke, big mushroom, small mushroom and flowers.

Panel 3: The grinning cat

alice pulling the cat's mouth making it grins

Key elements: Alice, cat, fern, curve moon, and water flow.

Panel 4: One mad tea party

alice bathing in a teacup poured with tea.

Key elements: Alice, water flow, tea cup, teapot, cloth, muffins, flowers and mushrooms.

Panel 5: Playing cards

alice holds the cards of J, Q and K in her hands.

Key elements: Alice, poker cards, J, Q & K, roses, vines with torn, sun and flowers.

Panel 6: Just a dream

alice wakes up from her dream.

Key elements: Alice, teapot, tea cups, sun, leaves, mushrooms, book and flowers

Working method:

Imaging:

1. Choosing the elements from the story of Alice in the Wonderland for each panels.

2. List all the elements out.
3. Plan out all the composition of the panels in a small thumbnail. 

4. Detail sketches

5. Inking the sketches with sharpie

6. Digitize in Illustrator

7. After digitizing in Illustrator, bring the panels to Photoshop for further edit such as colour correct and texturing the image.

Sound:

1. Research about the Japanese sound.

2. Search the tabs of guitar that is similar to a cultural Japanese music.

3. Compose the different sound with a recording in a recording studio record in Audition.

4. Listen to each of the sound, arrange the sound in different layers and pan the sound to create more depth.

Blog 4 - Artist Exploration: Art Nouveau

We are to explore art history and look into pioneers of similar stylization before Photoshop come to existence.

The art style of Aya Kato is a bit towards Art Nouveau and gothic. Therefore I researched about information and history of Art Nouveau.

Art Nouveau was a movement in the visual arts popular from the early 1890s up to the First World War. It is viewed by some as the first self-conscious attempt to create a modern style. - http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/a/art-nouveau/

The artist of art nouveau during the history is research is Alfons Mucha.

He is Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist. He is well known of his distinctive style, he produce a lot designs, advertisement, illustration and paintings.

Examples of his artworks: