Illustration & Visual Narrative - Task 1 : Vormator Challenge

25.09.2024 - 11.10.2024 (Week 1 - Week 3)

Brenda Wynn (0372128)

Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelors of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 1 : Vormator Challenge

JUMP LINKS

LECTURES

Week 1

There is no physical class. But, we were told to view the videos and materials that is provided in the google classroom that can help us to get a better understanding about both our assessments and the module.

Week 2

We were encouraged to try a online game called The Bézier game that can be help us to practice the pen tool. Here are some examples and shapes that I tried:

Figure 1.1.1 Bézier game (02/10/2024, week 2)

These are a few tools that I learned from the videos provided in the google classroom and also from the tutorials shown in class:

Pen tool= to make lines or arched lines.
Direct selection= to select and move shapes.
Curvature tool= to make new shapes by moving one part or more from the shapes.
Reflect tool= to mirror a shape
Shape-builder= to merge shapes into 1 shape

Week 3

We learned how to use the shape-builder tool and the pathfinder tool. Here are what the pathfinder tool and the shape-builder tool is used for:

Pathfinder= used to combine, divide, cut shapes, and so on.
Shape-builder= used to combine shapes to create new shapes, or to subtract unwanted shapes.

Mr. Hafiz also provided us a video tutorial on how to create the twitter logo using shape-builder and showed us how to create the adidas logo using the pathfinder tool. These are the examples:

Figure 1.2.1 shape-builder tutorial (09/10/2024, week 3)

Figure 1.2.2 path-finder tutorial 2 (09/10/2024, week 3)

Figure 1.2.3 path-finder tutorial 2 (09/10/2024, week 3)

We also learned the difference in shape psychology, such as: circles, square, rectangulars, spirals, and crosses. In addition, we were also informed about how geometric shapes can effect the psychology of our characters. Here are the definitions of shapes languages and how they can affect the characters:

Circles= used for outgoing and friendly characters.
Squares= used for dependable and confident characters.
Triangles= used for malicious and sinister characters.

Figure 1.2.4 shapes languages (09/10/2024, week 3)

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK

Vormator challenge

The task requires us to make our very own character. We were told to sketch our character beforehand to make the process much easier when we move it to Adobe Illustrator. Before I sketched my character, I looked into some references. These are the references I worked with:

Figure 2.1.1 references (03/10/2024, week 2)

Reference sources

The idea behind the character is that I have already settled with a bear as the main body. But, I wanted to incorporate some more unique features to it. So I added the tentacles behind the main body, resembling a octopus. For the name of my character, I named it Octobear. The main reason I named it Octobear is because it is a hybrid of a bear and a octopus. The other reason is because it is created on the month October. Here is the sketch of my character:

Figure 2.1.2 vormator challenge sketch (03/10/2024, week 2)

To start, I used my sketch as a template to coordinate the shapes better. I used the shapes given and altered the size while maintaining the shape without stretching it. I also overlayed some shapes together to create a new shape.

Figure 2.1.3 sketch in Adobe Illustrator (03/10/2024, week 2)

For the first design on Adobe Illustrator, I tried to make it as similar to the sketch and adjusted some features to accommodate the shapes given. On this phase, I got to learn some shortcut keys that made it much more efficient when making the character. This is my first design on Adobe Illustrator:

Figure 2.1.4 first design on Adobe (03/10/2024, week 2)

After some consideration, I decided to change the design of my character while still settling with the first concept. I wanted to make my character look much more fierce and scary in general. To do so, I explored the shapes more by making new shapes and overlaying it on top of each other.

Figure 2.1.5 re-design progress 1 (09/10/2024, week 3)

For the tentacles, I used the transform option to flip the tentacles to make each tentacles go a different way. I also incorporated different color shades on each few tentacles to make it more alive, the farther it is the darker it gets.

Figure 2.1.6 re-design progress 2 (09/10/2024, week 3)

I adjusted the first design to make it look much more scary by changing the face shape first. Then I explored the shapes to create the facial features and I also changed the overall front paw shape to make it look much more identical to a bear's front paw. Following the front paw, I also adjusted the paws to make it look much bigger. Lastly, I changed the pattern on the stomach. This is my character design and silhouette before using the pathfinder and the shape-builder tool:

FINAL CHARACTER DESIGN

Figure 2.1.7 final character design (09/10/2024, week 3)

FINAL CHARACTER DESIGN SILHOUETTE

Figure 2.1.8 final character design silhouette (09/10/2024, week 3)

After the main body and general design is finished. I decided to incorporate the new tools I learned. Which is the pathfinder and shape-builder tool. I used pathfinder to merge the paws of my character to make it easier to manage. I also added details around the knees to make it look more visually visible.

Figure 2.1.9 details progress 1 (10/10/2024, week 3)

For the tentacles, I used shape-builder to make it look more defined and identical to a octopus tentacles.

Figure 2.1.10 details progress 2 (10/10/2024, week 3)

I also added some fur and shadows on the main body and the paws to make it even more realistic by using the shapes provided. Here is the design of my character with details and shadows.

FINAL CHARACTER DESIGN WITH DETAILS

Figure 2.1.11 final character design with shadows and details (10/10/2024, week 3)

FINAL CHARACTER DESIGN WITH DETAILS SILHOUETTE

Figure 2.1.12 final character design with shadows and details silhouette (10/11/2024, week 3)

Character Background Story=

When Octobear was a cub, he and his family went adventuring near the valley. It just so happens that it was a steep hill, where they were going to. Unfortunately, Octobear was way behind the group, lost his balance, and fell into the water. He tried to get back ashore, but eventually fell into the waterfall. By a miracle he survived the fall. Just as he got up, he was pulled into the water by a octopus. As he was in the water, he realized he can breathe underwater and swim. That was when he realized he has grown octopus tentacles. The octopus took care of him until he was fully adapted to his new body.

As time past, Octobear grew up and has finally adapted to his new body. Then the octopus offered him a condition where he can be a bear again. The condition was to kill someone he hates the most, and it was his mother. Ever since he was little, he has always believed that his mother abandoned him. So, with that in thought he went out to find his mother. As he was adventuring, he found her near a valley. He was ready to confront her, but changed his mind when he heard his mom say how much she misses him and the troubles she went through to find him. He left, but then a voice called him. It was his mother, and after all these years they finally shared a loving moment together as a mother and son.

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FEEDBACK

Week 2= We were told to not stretch or distort the shapes given for the vormator challenge.

Week 3= We were informed to not use gradients to create new shapes for the vormator challenge.

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REFLECTION

Experience=

The first week of class, I figured that a lot of my peers were already skillful on using Adobe Illustrator. I felt a bit lost when using the app itself, but I have watched the tutorial videos given. So, I can guide myself through the app easier using the videos given. Now, I am able to use Adobe Illustrator much more fluently after some practice. I learned how to make a character using the shapes given and the right tools on Adobe, such as pathfinder, shape-builder, etc.

Observations=

During these few weeks, I have come to learn that even though I work on a fast pace. I wasn't a very consistent person, rather than consistent I kept changing my character design and re-designing it. Although, because of that I was able to practice using Adobe Illustrator more and I got better at using Adobe. I have also seen my peers work and they were excellent.

I do however think that it might be better if I follow the steps first, rather than jumping into them first and follow the steps after. But, it was still a learning experience that I took.

Findings=

Through out the week, I have found that I can work in a quite fast pace. I have also learned a lot about Adobe in the last few weeks, through both videos that were provided and also some practice. I also came to a conclusion that, it takes a lot of practice to get better at something you want to achieve.