PROJECT #3 - NEW FACES IN STRANGE PLACES
For this project, our class chose a subject and a setting randomly from a cup. From there we had to create the chosen scene in Illustrator. I started with several preliminary sketches and then I chose my final idea with the help of our professor's input. Along with creating the scene I also had to use many tools within Illustrator to prove my efficiency and overall knowledge.
IDEATION + NARRATIVE + SKETCHES:
In this story, a little girl finds a moth. Or is it the other way around? A young girl named Chihiro decided to walk down to a creek in Okinawa, Japan after moving into her new home just that morning. Chihiro is an aspiring artist whose family wants the best for her, so they moved closer to an art academy for her to pursue her dreams. It is spring so the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. As Chihiro crouches down to feel the cool water she notices a moth clinging to a rock, and it needs her help. The moth had recently emerged from its cocoon but the winds were too much and it could not fully spread its wings before being whisked into the creek below. The rushing water sends a spritz as it hits the rocks with force. The moth looks up to the young girl in admiration and hopefulness. Being a sweet girl, she gently helps the moth out of the water with a smile on her face. The moth may have even smiled too. Nobody else is around to help the little moth so it is thankful for her endeavors. The trust between the moth and Chihiro is important since children are sometimes afraid of bugs, and bugs are afraid of people.
I used this narrative to create my sketches and final sketch. For this project I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, not just a moth climbing a building because that is a little boring. I also wanted to represent growth, which is exactly what I did.
The preliminary sketches above were done quickly, except for the one I had already chosen for my final. I had many ideas of a moth climbing something tall, although something tall to us is not always tall to other creatures.
My final sketch is something I am proud of. I wanted to add more detail to the actual project, but I realized using simple shapes and colors was the best way to go. I wanted to capture the moment between Chihiro and the moth.
GOALS:
- I want to find my style in Illustrator with this project.
- I want to learn how to create an illustrated look even without a stylus.
- Being able to create a person that looks authentic is a goal of mine.
- I want to learn how to use new brushes in Illustrator and make them look the way I envision.
- I hope to be able to learn how to use what I already know even better than before.
- I would also like to plan my layers so that I do not get anything mixed up.
WORK IN PROGRESS:
I did not take very many work-in-progress screenshots simply because a lot of the work I did was small and probably would not be noticed until the final image was complete. I believe these two screenshots best show the difference between my sketches and the work I did on top. My process consisted of making simple shapes and adding shadows to represent depth. I wanted to be able to tell a story while keeping the work simple.
FINAL WORK:
My final image is shown above. I chose to keep many shapes and colors simple, but make the moth and the girl the most important parts of the piece. Specifically the moth because I added more detail to it rather than keeping it simple and unnoticeable. I wanted to show the relationship between Chihiro and the moth through physical connection. Both subjects are growing in different ways, and they are growing together.
KNOWLEDGE GAINED:
Overall, I realized that you do not need to make everything in your piece visually complicated to get a point across. By using colors, shapes, and the narrative, I was able to create something with meaning. If I were to do anything different I think I would try to add just a little more detail. I am proud of my final work and I love the colors I used. In the beginning, I did not think I would be able to produce something I liked, but I did. My expectations for myself in the future are to become a better designer and be able to tell stories through images and artwork even better.
