Design Principles - PROJECT 1: Self-Portrait

27/09/2022 - 11/10/2022 / Week 5 - Week 7

Glen Owen / 0354952

Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

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LECTURES

Week 7:

A simple briefing on our next project which is "Sense of Place". We also got our feedback on our final ideas on the self-portrait.

Week 6:

Dr. Jinchi gave feedbacks to all of the students about the sketches they have made.

Week 5: 

In this week, Dr. Jinchi gave feedbacks and suggestion on our mind map and also our upcoming sketches for the self-portrait

Pre-recorded lecture

Self-portrait is a self representation in the form of a drawing/painting/sculpture/design. It is a visual depiction of the self. It represents the designer/artistーin other words, how he sees himself, what he's feeling, and how he wants to be seen by others. It's not necessarily about creating a realistic image of yourself; instead, it's often an exercise in self-exploration.

Fig 1.1 Self Diagram (Week 4)

Self diagram is a diagram that can give an idea of what we could focus on making our self-portrait.

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INSTRUCTION

Project 1: Self-Portrait - Design Principles

(Week 5 -Week 7)

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PROGRESS

1. Idea Exploration and Sketching Ideas

    Before I start to make my self-portrait, I gather some information for my mind map and ask some of my friends on their perspective on me then list it.

Fig 2.1 List of information I gathered (highlighted text = featured in self-portrait) (Week 4)

Fig 2.2 Updated diagram (Week 5)

    After gathering some information, I brainstormed every single idea that I have. I explore every night in Pinterest because my brain decided to explore it at night time. I decided to draw my self-portrait based on how I see myself. Perhaps I'll add some features from my interest to make it more appealing.

    I am thinking of drawing 2 selves of me, one is myself and the other one is my alter ego. I used Jojo's Bizarre Adventure series as my visual reference because I like the series.

Fig 2.3 Dio Brando from JJBA https://pin.it/2GGp1GF (Week 4)

Fig 2.4 Doppio and Diavolo from JJBA: Golden Wind https://pin.it/4KCDADo (Week 4)

Fig 2.5 Rohan Kishibe from JJBA: Diamond is Unbreakable https://pin.it/13lPMyE (Week 4)

    For my self-portrait I wanted it to be menacing & villain-like. I'll probably use traditional art for the sketches and digital for the rest because sketching in paper is more comfortable. While I am browsing some ideas through my phone gallery, I found one of my picture that my friend took and the one I edited months ago. I use this picture I got as my character reference. I came up with 3 sketches because of brainstorming loads of ideas in Pinterest for almost 4 hours in total.

Fig 2.6 Picture my friend took and I edited it for fun back in May 10th, 2022 (Week 4)

Fig 2.7 Skecth #1 (Week 4)

    In this sketch it's expressing that "Wicked Raptor" is in a disguise by pretending to me and pointing at someone to not mess with me. It's less intimidating here personally so I tried to explore again. Plus it looks very plain.

Fig 2.8 Sketch #2 (Week 4)

    Sketch #2 is basically me posing bizzarely and "Wicked Raptor" is emerging from me like how a spirit would emerge from a body. Dr. Jinchi liked the idea of the emerging since it's emphasize the spirit. I locked this sketch as it has potential, but still I do more exploration because I don't like how I draw myself here and the emerging pose looks goofy.

Fig 2.9 Sketch #3 (Week 4)

    Sketch #3 is me laying down on my bed while trying to grab something while "Wicked Raptor" emerges from the bed. Again, I'm not satisfied with it and do more digging in Pinterest.

    It's only a rough sketch, there is still some exploration I need to do because somehow I don't really like Sketch #1 and #3. Dr. Jinchi says that Sketch #2 is good because it can shows the emphasis on the persona(me). I forgot to mention that for the alter ego itself I called it "Wicked Raptor". Anyway, I continued to explore more idea in Pinterest for another hours, I don't know how long it is but I could say it's probably hours.

Fig 2.10 Sketch #4 (Week 4)

    Moving on this sketch, I enjoy how I sketch it because it's really fun. Adding the python as a scarf is an idea I came up and the movement of the wine in the glasses is calming. The only thing I don't like here is that I drew myself like a crazy villain that has lost it's mind and the way I drew "Wicked Raptor" is weird.

Fig 2.11 Sketch #5 (Week 4)

    Sketch #5.... to be honest it doesn't fits the villain in me. Instead it's like focusing to "Wicked Raptor" controlling me like how a puppeteer controlling it's puppet. But yeah, at least it's emphasize "Wicked Raptor" as the villain here so I'm just gonna post this in the blog.

Fig 2.12 Sketch #6 (Week 4)

    The final course meal for the sketching. I combined sketch #2 idea with the other sketches. Improvising and making the work really menacing and villain-like. I also added some ominous vibe later on so the villain-like will be effective. I am planning of giving a text too later on when I am digitalizing this sketch. The reason I chose cobra in this sketch because it symbolize immortality.

      In the end, I chose sketch #6 to be the one that I will focus on because I am satisfied with it after I don't know how many hours of digging deep in the Pinterest rabbit hole. Dr. Jinchi suggested that I need to add more balance to the right side too.

2. Digitalizing Progress

    I chose sketch #6 do be digitalized because I love this skecth so much since it's a combination from the previous sketch. Of course, first of all I trace the sketch to make the line art in my phone and after doing that I'll put the base colors for the design work.

Fig 3.1 Line art (Week 5)

Fig 3.2 Base color with aura effect around the subject (Week 6)

    I don't like the way I put the aura here, so I fixed it by making the aura manually. I change the right hand of the alter ego to a weapon instead because I have a hard time to fit the hands.

 

Fig 3.3 Experiment #1 (Week 6)

    Now that I have done with the base color, what I will do next is shading and lighting. This process took me 2 hours because I am thinking of which lighting direction would be cool. I chose to do the lighting below and top of the character. 

Fig 3.4 Lighting the character (Week 7)

   Time to give details. I have added some details on the character but only at the pants part. As for the cobra I have made some scales for it and details on it.

Fig 3.5 Added patterns on pants (it's quite invisible since I use dark color to blend with the pant) (Week 7)

Fig 3.6 Cobra with details (Week 7)

Fig 3.7 Experiment #2 (Week 7)

    The reason I put this as an experiment is because I tried testing filters on the aura layer, which gives this motion picture. With this experiment, I tried to blend it with the aura layer I have duplicated. I have made a background for this work because it's kinda boring if there's no background personally.

Fig 3.8 Background I have made for the work (Week 7)

Fig 3.9 Experiment #3 (using the background at 3.8 to the subject) (Week 7)

    I felt like there's something missing in the background. Then I thought of giving like a starry galaxy effect while the purple lines is like a worm hole. I also tried to give some texts on the work.

Fig 3.10 Experiment #4 (Week 7)

Fig 3.11 Experiment #5 (Week 7)

Fig 3.12 Experiment #6 (Week 7)

    It took me 8 hours of work. Does it worth it? DEFINITELY! The result didn't betray my expetation and I am mesmerized by the visual I have made with my own hand. There is also a sacrifice that I have made after done with this work, my stylus rubber tip ripped along the progress I have made.  For Experiment #6 I tried using filter, but I prefer the original one (Fig 3.9) although the filtered is more beautiful.

Fig 3.12 "Evil Ascended" - Final Submission(Week 7)

    What you see here is me inviting you to join my eternal slaughter. Together we can dominate the world and end those pathetic humans that should not be worthy to live in this world. Fear not I won't betray you.... unless you wanted to betray me. My Stand "Wicked Raptor" shall eat your soul and shall control every movement that you'll make. With our willpower combined, we can achieve "Heaven".

Fig 3.13 "Evil Ascended" PDF (Week 7)

Fig 3.14 Video Progess of Digitalizing (Week 7)

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FEEDBACK

Week 7

Good execution for the work. Try to lift the word a little bit higher and make the alter ego a little bit cointrast.

Week 6

Add some explanation on each sketches you've made to describe what you are trying to express in the sketches. Sketch #4 and #5 is great, but Sketch #6 is better. Try to make the spirit in sketch #6 hand's grab the thigh part. Perhaps add more balance at the right side.

Week 5

The mind map is simple. Sketch #2 has potential for the emerging idea. Overall, you could do more exploreation.

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REFLECTION

Creating my self-portrait is fun actually. I enjoy every moment when I am drawing this portrait. Although sometimes I cringed myself for making it like really fantasy thing. Even though I have dug deep in Pinterest, I can eventually found the reference that suits my taste. I felt the power surging inside me when I try draw myself look really cool. The fact that we can use any medium, it gives me freedom to express my idea.