WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
I built up layers of Fimo according to the wire frame and thickened Tez out according to his character reference, trying to adhere to his personality and physical symbolism attributes like his slinky, craftiness. Once I'd finished defining his details, like his toes and mask, I baked him to solidify him. However, the delicate bits like the head dress ornaments were shaped and cooked seperately so that they could eventually be glued on, making it look more realistic. Once it was suitably hardened I painted the markings on in two layers, and then varnished the mask, mirror and ornaments, but not the body, because I wanted his fur to stay matte so that the mask would look more artificial and less like markings. Once this was all done I got some green feathery material, cut it and glued it the back of his neck to form his mane.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
As tomorrow is the last day of the project at college before half-term I will be busy tidying up the work space ready for the exhibition when we come back, so I don't expect to be as productive as I have been on previous days. However, I will make sure that I go back through my sketchbook, adding notes and highlighting as appropriate. It is worth noting that I am almost completely ready to set up my display. All I have left to do is Quetzalcoatl's model, the final poster and two storyboards, all of which I will do in the next week.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
20.05.09 -- Badges & model research
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
On tuesday I used the college's badge maker to create four batches of my final six designs. It took me a while to size them correctly, and the process took me a while to get into, but eventually I got into the flow of it and found it a very enjoyable process. These badges will be available to take at the final exhibition, to prove how effective it is as a merchandising and advertising technique.
Also, on wednesday, I collected images of models for merchandising from King Kong and Final Fantasy, as well as some images from Harryhausen's films to use as research for my own models that I intend to make. I have also put the article from Imagine magazine about him in my sketchbook as further evidence of research. I have chosen to create my models using wire frames and Fimo clay, so I have collected these ingredients and finally crafted the frame and began building up layers of clay for Tezcatlipoca.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will finish off building up the model's layers and crafting the figure's details. Then I will cook it and paint it according to my character design.
On tuesday I used the college's badge maker to create four batches of my final six designs. It took me a while to size them correctly, and the process took me a while to get into, but eventually I got into the flow of it and found it a very enjoyable process. These badges will be available to take at the final exhibition, to prove how effective it is as a merchandising and advertising technique.
Also, on wednesday, I collected images of models for merchandising from King Kong and Final Fantasy, as well as some images from Harryhausen's films to use as research for my own models that I intend to make. I have also put the article from Imagine magazine about him in my sketchbook as further evidence of research. I have chosen to create my models using wire frames and Fimo clay, so I have collected these ingredients and finally crafted the frame and began building up layers of clay for Tezcatlipoca.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will finish off building up the model's layers and crafting the figure's details. Then I will cook it and paint it according to my character design.
Monday, 18 May 2009
18.05.09 -- Badge designs & finished bookmark
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
I sketched some ideas for badge designs and introduced some vague washes of watercolour to get a specific idea of what they would look like in a circular format, keeping in mind my research. I picked out a few of these to proceed with and actually turn into badges, and although I originally only wanted three character based designs and a logo, I ended up choosing five character ones and a logo. Like the bookmark, I finished these designs digitally.
I also finished my final bookmark today. First I printed it on normal paper, then cut around it to leave a white border to embolden it. Then I traced and cut around the shape onto thin card and used it as backing to make the bookmark thicker, like the examples I looked at.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will make my final badges tomorrow, as well as beginning the plans for my modelmaking. To do this I will look at the modelmaker Ray Harryhausen, after reading an article about him in Imagine magazine.
I sketched some ideas for badge designs and introduced some vague washes of watercolour to get a specific idea of what they would look like in a circular format, keeping in mind my research. I picked out a few of these to proceed with and actually turn into badges, and although I originally only wanted three character based designs and a logo, I ended up choosing five character ones and a logo. Like the bookmark, I finished these designs digitally.
I also finished my final bookmark today. First I printed it on normal paper, then cut around it to leave a white border to embolden it. Then I traced and cut around the shape onto thin card and used it as backing to make the bookmark thicker, like the examples I looked at.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will make my final badges tomorrow, as well as beginning the plans for my modelmaking. To do this I will look at the modelmaker Ray Harryhausen, after reading an article about him in Imagine magazine.
Friday, 15 May 2009
15.05.09 -- Bookmark design
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
First I drew up some possible designs for my final bookmark, taking inspiration from the ones I'd bought and annotated for their specific qualities. In the end I chose an entirely character based design, giving Quetzalcoatl a more accessible, cute look and drawing him in a long, vertical posture to suite the format, so that his head pokes above the pages of the books. I then drew this idea up on Photoshop using my graphics tablet and coloured it so that it is ready to print tomorrow.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
Tomorrow I will finish my bookmark and proceed with my badge designs.
First I drew up some possible designs for my final bookmark, taking inspiration from the ones I'd bought and annotated for their specific qualities. In the end I chose an entirely character based design, giving Quetzalcoatl a more accessible, cute look and drawing him in a long, vertical posture to suite the format, so that his head pokes above the pages of the books. I then drew this idea up on Photoshop using my graphics tablet and coloured it so that it is ready to print tomorrow.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
Tomorrow I will finish my bookmark and proceed with my badge designs.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
14.05.09 -- Logo design & bookmark/badge research
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
As I said I would do yesterday, today I continued with the work on my logo. I did this by scanning in my three favourite samples, englarging them, reprinting them and then asking my peers to pick out their favourite on aesthetic principles, and then the one that looked most Aztec or Central American in style. To my surprise I found that the different questions received different answers almost every time, so I decided to merge the two designs. First, however, I started reproducing them in Adobe Illustrator, but found that the results were too sleek and straightforward. I wanted something with more roughness and texture to it, to imply that it is both ancient and Aztec. So in the end I drew some more designs with black and white watercolour that melded the two peer-chosen designs until I settled on one that really worked for me.
On wednesday I completed the research pages for the badges and bookmarks I bought earlier in the project. As I did with the research into logos and posters, I annotated and picked the merchandise apart so that I could understand it thoroughly.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will continue the work I started on bookmarks and badges by drawing possible designs for my own merchandising, then set about drawing them up digitally.
As I said I would do yesterday, today I continued with the work on my logo. I did this by scanning in my three favourite samples, englarging them, reprinting them and then asking my peers to pick out their favourite on aesthetic principles, and then the one that looked most Aztec or Central American in style. To my surprise I found that the different questions received different answers almost every time, so I decided to merge the two designs. First, however, I started reproducing them in Adobe Illustrator, but found that the results were too sleek and straightforward. I wanted something with more roughness and texture to it, to imply that it is both ancient and Aztec. So in the end I drew some more designs with black and white watercolour that melded the two peer-chosen designs until I settled on one that really worked for me.
On wednesday I completed the research pages for the badges and bookmarks I bought earlier in the project. As I did with the research into logos and posters, I annotated and picked the merchandise apart so that I could understand it thoroughly.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will continue the work I started on bookmarks and badges by drawing possible designs for my own merchandising, then set about drawing them up digitally.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
12.05.09 -- Logo design
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
I used internet search engines to collect a variety of popular film and television logos including Jurassic Park and Transformers, as well as three film posters. I then annotated these images, picking them apart to acknowledge how they can easily imply the theme and genre of a film with only a simple shape, font of image. From this knowledge, which I paired with imagery from my characters, concept art, plots and research into the Aztecs themselves, I sketched some ideas and analysed them to pick out which was the most effective.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
From here I will develop a final logo digitally, perhaps using Illustrator to create a smooth, simple shape. I can then use this logo for merchandising, in my poster, badges and potentially the bookmark too. Once the logo is fully designed I can create the final poster ready for the display.
I used internet search engines to collect a variety of popular film and television logos including Jurassic Park and Transformers, as well as three film posters. I then annotated these images, picking them apart to acknowledge how they can easily imply the theme and genre of a film with only a simple shape, font of image. From this knowledge, which I paired with imagery from my characters, concept art, plots and research into the Aztecs themselves, I sketched some ideas and analysed them to pick out which was the most effective.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
From here I will develop a final logo digitally, perhaps using Illustrator to create a smooth, simple shape. I can then use this logo for merchandising, in my poster, badges and potentially the bookmark too. Once the logo is fully designed I can create the final poster ready for the display.
Monday, 11 May 2009
11.05.09 -- Concept art
WHAT I HAVE DONE TODAY:
I sketched out some designs for scenes, objects and weapons that have helped me further expand on the world I've created within this film, and backs up my understanding of my characters. For example, I drew rough sketches of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl's temples, then introduced watercolour, using the colour to help with symbolism. This helped me to imagine what kind of environment their personalities would inspire, and how their colours and general appearances would influence their surroundings. Hence Tezcatlipoca's temple and city was portrayed as desaturated and arid, while Quetzalcoatl's is exotic and colourful.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will research into popular logos for film and television, as well as posters, and will annotate them to identify their common themes, symbolism and composition. After this I will sketch out ideas for my own logo and poster, which will be created later on.
I sketched out some designs for scenes, objects and weapons that have helped me further expand on the world I've created within this film, and backs up my understanding of my characters. For example, I drew rough sketches of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl's temples, then introduced watercolour, using the colour to help with symbolism. This helped me to imagine what kind of environment their personalities would inspire, and how their colours and general appearances would influence their surroundings. Hence Tezcatlipoca's temple and city was portrayed as desaturated and arid, while Quetzalcoatl's is exotic and colourful.
WHAT I WILL DO TOMORROW:
I will research into popular logos for film and television, as well as posters, and will annotate them to identify their common themes, symbolism and composition. After this I will sketch out ideas for my own logo and poster, which will be created later on.
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