FINAL MAJOR PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS/ COMICS:

Brooks, M., & Caceres, R. (2013). The Extinction Parade. Canada: Avatar Press Inc.

Brunswick, G., & Portacio, W. (2013). Non Humans. Berkerley: Image Comics Inc.

Creative Bloq. (2014, January 8). 40 Illustrators to Follow on Behance. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from Creative Bloq: http://www.creativebloq.com/illustration/illustrators-follow-behance-12121512

Filmgrabber. (2013, October 13). Sin City. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from FilmGrab: http://film-grab.com/2013/10/13/sin-city/

Hardison, J., Sears, B., & Elliott, R. (2008). The Helm #1. Oregon: Dark Horse Comics Inc.

Laroche, E. (2008). Almighty. Edward Laroche.

Laroche, E. (n.d.). Almighty. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from EdLaroche.com: http://edlaroche.com/#/almighty-2/

Miller, F., & Rodriguez, R. (Directors). (2005). Sin City [Motion Picture].

Moore, A., Gibbons, D., & Higgins, J. (2005). The Watchmen. DC Comics.

Niles, S., & Templesmith, B. (2012). 30 days of night #8. San Diego: IDWPublishing.

Patterson, S. (2014). Colourising Images With Gradients In Photoshop. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from Photoshopessentuals.com: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/gradient-map/

Snyder, Z. (Director). (2009). The Watchmen [Motion Picture].

The champion annual for boys 1953. (1953). London: The Amalgamated Press Ltd.

Valiant Entertainment. (2013). Unity #1. New York: Valiant Entertainment LLC.

Vaughn, M. (Director). (2010). Kick-Ass [Motion Picture].

White, S., & Williams, T. (2013). Chronos Commandos: Dawn Patrol #5. London: Titan Publishing Group Ltd.

FILM:

Miller, F., & Rodriguez, R. (Directors). (2005). Sin City [Motion Picture].

Snyder, Z. (Director). (2009). The Watchmen [Motion Picture].

Vaughn, M. (Director). (2010). Kick-Ass [Motion Picture].

GALLERY EXHIBITIONS:

British library. 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. ‘Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK’

http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/comics-unmasked/

Design Museum. 28 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD. ‘Hello My Name Is Paul Smith’

http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2013/paul-smith

Somerset House. Strand, London, WC2R 1LA. ‘Pick Me Up 2014’

http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/pick-me-up-2014

Science Museum. Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. ‘Making the modern world’

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/making_the_modern_world.aspx

V & A, Cromwell Road. London SW7 2RL. ‘V&A Illustration Awards 2013’

http://www.vam.ac.uk/b/villa-2013

INTERNET:

Creative Bloq. (2014, January 8). 40 Illustrators to Follow on Behance. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from Creative Bloq: http://www.creativebloq.com/illustration/illustrators-follow-behance-12121512

Filmgrabber. (2013, October 13). Sin City. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from FilmGrab: http://film-grab.com/2013/10/13/sin-city/

Laroche, E. (n.d.). Almighty. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from EdLaroche.com: http://edlaroche.com/#/almighty-2/

Patterson, S. (2014). Colourising Images With Gradients In Photoshop. Retrieved May 24, 2014, from Photoshopessentuals.com: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/gradient-map/

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT EVALUATION

My final outcomes include: promotional concepts for a film: ‘Squid Grip City’ in the form of posters, trailer/ storyboard illustrations and related merchandise (top trumps and postcards). The final outcome was different to what I originally planned, except for the poster. I quickly realised that my initial plan to create a whole comic was not going to be achievable within the timeframe set and I wanted to create different types of merchandise rather than just one. I am pleased with how it progressed; the idea of doing a wider range of experiments and creations made the project more exciting and gave me greater freedom to experiment.

I have used multiple methods to show how learning has affected my project; for my final major project blog, I have entered my actions and progress at least 3 times a week for every individual week of the 7 weeks the project spanned. This regular diary-like evaluation of what I had achieved at every small stage in the project really helped me to notice what was working and what was achievable. It was also helpful in how alongside the FMP plan it made me constantly realise that I was working to weekly deadlines; I often would record daily/ weekly targets that I would set myself on the blog. I found the FMP plan useful in that it gave me specific targets and dates to achieve them and if I missed a deadline I knew I was working too slowly. As I learnt and progressed, my initial plan developed. My sketchbooks portray a much more visual representation of how my project developed; my sketchbook shows the process of experimentation, research and reference points that helped me improve my ideas. This aspect of working allows you a freedom and a carelessness that births potential for the creation of the unknown and allows for the unexpected to arise and this can be great if searching for a breakthrough in your project.

I met the main target of creating a poster for the ‘Squid Grip City’ film and I also met the early 2 week targets of research through gallery and comic shop visits alongside the experimentation when doing character design. I met these targets exactly at the time I set myself to achieve them. However my FMP plan targets to complete a full illustrated comic and a stop motion basically transformed into new targets. I essentially replaced these targets with better ones that helped me to get a more rounded project which was definitively achievable within the 7 week time frame set. My final product targets show a wide range of graphical skills which are consistent to my project so I feel that they are successful replacements of my earlier targets.

For the first two weeks of the project I succeeded in researching heavily, visiting exhibitions and comic book shops and experimenting with character design. In week 3 I had just come back from Los Angeles and had been inspired heavily by all I had seen and I had been given a fresh perspective on life and my project in general. This set off a spark inside me which helped me define my project direction. I realised and accepted that a whole comic wasn’t going to be the most rounded project so moved on thinking of new ways to go about illustration and a storyboard seemed like a good idea. So from week 3 onwards I started to draw up a storyboard of key scenes. I was sure that I wanted to use black and white illustrations which I would use for one of my final outcomes. Nearer the end of the project, I started to introduce some colour helped by watching adobe Photoshop tutorials online. I learnt how to use the marquise and gradient tools to my advantage and added a completely new element to my work. In general my self-taught Photoshop and sketching skills have improved immensely during these 7 weeks and as they have developed so have my ideas because these new skills have opened up new doors and possibilities which help create greater final outcomes.

I received a lot of feedback about my project, some more helpful and some not so. In the earlier weeks the feedback was mainly helping me to explore ideas surrounding the topic of comics and to try and help me identify in which direction to take my project. Tutorials were always good because they allowed you to compare progress with peers and would often inspire me to look at areas in which I hadn’t previously thought about. Feedback on my sketchbook stated that I needed to document more experimentation and research; for example evidence of visiting exhibitions and comic book shops. Feedback suggested that I explore another area of graphics whether that be merchandise or motion graphics with sound. I appreciated and took on board all advice; this helped me to strengthen my process. I would’ve liked to incorporate some motion graphics for example a film trailer would’ve been a great addition but this would’ve been at the expense of other work. Based on blog feedback I edited my blog posts to introduce more imagery alongside the daily evaluations. Overall the feedback experience was positive and definitely helped me learn and guide me towards enhancing my project to the next level.

This final major project has prepared me for the realities of the demands of a degree course. Hopefully I will be more experienced and know how to approach a brief in a more focused and efficient manor allowing me to achieve better results in the timeframe set. Next time I will know to appreciate how precious the time frame is and how important meeting deadlines whilst still challenging myself to produce ground breaking work. In general, time management is probably a big factor that I need to improve on. I am good at working hard and efficiently as I have shown in this final project but if I had realised exactly what I wanted to do earlier much more could’ve been possible. In general all my graphic design and illustration skills have developed but more specifically I would have to say that my pen drawing and adobe Photoshop skills have excelled over the duration of this project. These skills are incredibly useful my future work. There is still a lot to learn but to continue to boost these skills is vital in the long term and the sky is the limit so I need to keep challenging myself. Next year I will be studying graphic design/ illustration at ‘Central Saint Martins’ so I aim to use all that I have learnt on this foundation course and apply it to all future projects at CSM. I would also love to come back to finishing or simply exploring ‘Squid Grip City’ further over the summer and into next year.

CHC

FMP WEEK 7 - 16may

Today I have messed around heavily with my poster idea; I created a Photoshop composition idea using previous sketches cutting out certain characters/ things and then combining them to form something that looks like a film poster. Then printing and hand drawing, scanning in and Photoshop editing constantly in an attempt to perfect the individuals in this poster; this was problematic and highly frustrating however I feel that what I achieved in the end was fairly successful. Once I created the poster I messed around with the colour versions because colour is generally something that has been lacking with a lot of my work. I experimented heavily using the gradient filter for the majority of the time. I was pleased with how much original work I produced in a short amount of time.

Black and white poster.

Andy Warhol inspired multiple colour poster.

Bus shelter poster.

I also had made some top trumps designs previously in my sketchbook so when it came to producing them on Photoshop, it was relatively quick and easy and I am proud with how they look and think that there is an aspect of originality about them which most other top trumps do not have.

Top trumps front of cards for 5 characters aswell as front of pack card (3 darker cards on right) which is also image on back of every trump card.

I completed the film trailer storyboard of key scenes earlier in the week but came back to edit and try to perfect these frames in an attempt to produce something to be proud of.

Colour versions.

Colour version second part of storyboard.

Final black and white page 1.

Final black and white page 2.

So far so good, I have completed all that I set out to achieve with some time left over for minor edits to perfect what I can which is an ideal situation to be in. I cannot afford to be satisfied though, I need to keep plugging away at this project to get everything I can out of it.

Images: Authors own.

CHC

FMP WEEK 7 - 14may

I edited the 2 A3 sized illustration 6 frame storyboard to a level of which I am happy with now, so it is nice to know that something is definitely going to be complete for the final show but also I near completed a colour version of these A3s which is much more experimental and playful aswell as being done fully on photoshop which adds another angle to the work that I have produced so far. I also started design layouts for the poster, illustration postcards and top trumps. I need a lot more work to be done quickly to bulk up my output to emphasise that I have done a lot of work over this project. So it is going to plan and all would be so much more simple if I had a complete and original title but I am not convinced with what I have so far so this is the only thing holding up the rest of my project. This can easily be resolved but effort is key so really need to work hard over the next few days before the deadline. Below are a few examples of film/ TV posters that I have been inspired by.

Breaking Bad fan art.

Breaking Bad fan art - strong text/ image contrast.

Breaking Bad fan art - great illustration - messing around with scale.

Breaking Bad fan art - classic poster style I would like to adopt when doing my own poster.

Images: Google.

CHC

FMP WEEK 7 - 12may

Since my last post I have achieved quite a lot; my 6 frame trailer storyboard is near finished, ideas started to flood my mind and now I have added some text it is starting to look strong visually aesthetically. I am polishing that off whilst attempting to introduce a more graphic element to my work in the form of a title/ logo which could be used for merchandise and generally expanding my story/ film idea into a brand. So far so good, I have something to show for the 7 weeks but I need to keep pushing to reach the fullest potential possible with such a rich project idea I believe postcards, a film poster atleast would be great to put up on my board for the gallery. I plan to edit adding in graphic elements to my illustrations and also finish these neon logo style titles; below are a few examples of my own work and inspiration.

Google inspiration

Google inspiration

My own basic adobe illustrator experiments

Google inspiaration

My photoshop edits

My photoshop edits

A simple but 'very effective' logo I designed

Images: Google and authors own.

CHC

FMP WEEK 6 - 9may

Today the creative block was almost fully subsided where I have now produced a rooftop idea for my final illustration in this comic like storyboard. So far far so good, I feel that I have been quite adventurous in this final frame messing around with perspective heavily. I am at the stage now where all I need to do is add some text (comic sans maybe, I think it would be much more interesting to do something more original. I am happy with how it is going and I should polish this part of the project off nice and quickly so that I can move onto the title and poster.

CHC

FMP WEEK 6 - 7may

At this point in the project I have just finished 5 of my 6 illustrations to a strong standard; however I have hit a serious creative block where I am struggling to compose an idea for my final illustration in the trailer storyboard. I have chosen not to include any of my illustrations yet in this blog because I don't want them to be used by anyone else and also they are part of an unfinished piece which I will show on this blog when complete. I have been researching many artists, flicking through mountains of comics and surfing the internet like a maverick in an attempt to stimulate my brain into composition a strong final composition. Jamie Hewlett illustration is very inspiring as shown below for its wacky but original style which carries a definitive vibe with ease which is something I aspire to do. 

Either way I am starting to think of ideas the more I research and inspire myself. My opinion of what is good and bad has developed and changed from the start of this project giving me higher standards when it comes to my own work so the pressure I put on myself also makes this final composition much harder. Got to go and experiment with these new ideas now..I am slightly disappointed with how long this last piece has taken me to produce but hopefully it will be worth the wait- I have to make that so. With one week left I am giving myself the target to complete this final frame and then move onto the poster and more graphical side of the project in the final week.

Images: Google.

CHC

FMP WEEK 5 - 2may

Today I visited both Somerset house and the British library; two exhibitions, somerset house 'pick me up' in the morning and the British Library's 'comics unmasked' in the afternoon. These visits really helped to inspire me and highlight what I want to convey through my final project. The British library exhibition held works that were obviously produced by skillful artists but they all looked as though they could have been done by the same artist. Where as the somerset house exhibition provided me visual insight to more current, unique and fresh illustrations. I was really impressed and would like to develop a unique and original illustrative style for myself on this final project. Its also good to get a little break from the constant production of final project work and to get out and about visiting fresh places.

Somerset House. Strand, London, WC2R 1LA. ‘Pick Me Up 2014’

http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/pick-me-up-2014

CHC

FMP WEEK 5 - 30april

Today I got to the point where I had 4 out of my 6 illustrations pretty much finished. I am happy with how each one looks and together they are much better because they combine to sum up the story and give the viewer a more rounded perspective.  Although they are near finished I think I could redo some of them because my skills at these illustrations have improved tenfold since starting the first piece. Overall if I can sort out all 4, hopefully 5 or even push to 6 to be completed by the end of the week that would be great allowing me 2 weeks to focus on the poster and anything else.

CHC

FMP WEEK 5 - 28april

Today I received and took part in a group critique with a different to usual tutor. This gave me a fresh perspective on my project and overall I think that I am going in the right direction. However it takes some time and explaining to understand my project so I need to work on how I portray my ideas and make my purpose of what I am producing clear whilst keeping on trying to remain original in my style. Generally things are going smoothly, I am aiming to complete all storyboard illustrations this week so I can move onto the poster and title in the coming penultimate week of the project.

CHC

FMP WEEK 4 - 25april

This was a busy week so this post represents 2 days worth of studio work and a bank holiday weekends worth of activity. On the Wednesday I took part in the mid way project review where graphics students and peers looked at each others work and carried out a critique, giving advice where needed. This was a great exercise because it allowed you to see how others had gone about the project and showed how much they have achieved. Also when looking at the sheet where others described what was good and bad about my work, it gave me a perspective from others which highlighted a few things which had slipped my mind that I needed to do to boost my grade prospects. I shortly went about printing and filling my sketchbook to fulfil all angles which others had stated I needed work on and evidence of gallery visits. In general my feedback stated that I needed more evidence of gallery visits and work I had done but not recorded in sketchbook; so that was easy to do. However I realised half way through the project that I have now got to the stage where I can now start to complete the final pieces e.g. storyboard and poster/ that's what I should aim to be doing now seeing as time is running out.

Since the review I have found some inspiration and my work rate has increased to a level where I should hopefully have some good stuff completed by the end of the 7 weeks. The panic definitely helps me work faster but even with the increase of work pace I am still constantly reflecting on work and improving it. This constant changing/ improving is good but it does mean that whatever I do takes twice as long as I would ideally like it to take. Overall I am not as far ahead as I would like but the project is evolving much faster now for me so there is still hope.

CHC

FMP WEEK 3 - 16april

Today I did a few things, some name and title generation research for the project and then in the afternoon I visited the 'design museum'. After feedback and reviews from my tutor I delved into the world of literary techniques, establishing creative methods in which I could produce a name for my film. Some of these methods included collection of good relevent words then picking them out of a hat and mixing and matching them to see what I came up with. Another way in which I went about this was to listen to some of my favourite music and the lyrics especially to see if there was any stand out names.

The trip to the design museum later on was based on the designs of 2014 so far aswell as a 'Paul Smith' fashion exhibition so although neither were directly related to my project it was good to see some creative genius and strong graphics in the exhibition. I particularly liked the 2014 designs because they gave me some insight into the future and what kind of inventions could be abundant which could inspire me when creating my future based film.

Fig.1 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.2 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.3 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.4 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.5 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.6 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Fig.7 from Paul Smith Exhibition

Today provided me with a break from the grittier side of the project where the constant sketching can become a longer process then you would initially like; this gave me some space to rethink things and my method of going about completing this project. The name creation, especially the lyrics based method provided me with a name which I am quite pleased with and think that I will go forward with as the title of the film I am promoting. I have started drafting out the storyboard and fully enhancing my ideas digitally and thoroughly planning them before I sketch them out making the process quite bulletproof so I am pleased and I think this day and the easter weekend have really given me a boost to complete what I initially set out to do after a brief loss of confidence in the project.

CHC

FMP WEEK 3 - 15april

Today I started looking back at my main project, experimenting and doing basic groundwork. These seemingly pointless things I did today today would seem a waste of time at first; so I had to keep reminding myself why I was doing what I was doing. I did a few things such as draft out the sign for an american diner which I will use heavily in the storyline and storyboard of my final project. I also came up with a name/ title for the film I have created and am promoting. I experimented drawing out certain characters in quick rough sketches at certain angles to see if they looked as good as I had hoped/ would be suitable for what effect I wanted to create. I am pleased that I completed quite a few boring but vital jobs today however I have to admit that I worked extremely slow and at this pace I cannot see myself completing the project in time so I really need to step my work level up and this is the time to do that. To not work harder at this point of the project would be fatal in that my project would be uncomplete and I would possibly fail.

CHC

FMP WEEK 2 - 11april

Storyboard for animation plot.

The poster promoting our animation video.

Above is the final video the lens based students produced. Over this mini project I learnt a few basic ways of how and how not to work well in a group. We individually had skill sets and we divided the tasks between individuals so that certain people did certain things which they are more adapted to (eg lens based producing the animation, graphics promoting the animation).  I do not think this aided my FMP massively but generally I learnt quite a few things about how I would not go about completing my FMP and also how long things take to complete.

Images: Authors own.

CHC

FMP WEEK 2 - 9april

Today I worked alongside my fellow graphic designers and we completed a detailed storyboard for the stop motion animation story aswell as a poster promoting this small film. We worked well and completed all tasks faster than expected. Perhaps the products we achieved/ created today could be further enhanced by critique from others (other groups or more simply the lens based media students within our own group). A critique would allow us time to look at what we have produced in a different light and spur us on to spend more time bettering what we have already done. Friday will be a good time to make any final changes to all the work produced in this sub-final project. I am pleased with what we have achieved but I am not yet satisfied because I think if I need to improve my level of effort which should hopefully make my work better.

CHC

FMP WEEK 2 - 7april

Today I took an experimental turn in my final major project in a collaborative dimension. Alongside 2 peers from the same graphics pathway we combined our joint skills with another 3 individuals from the lens based pathway to form a group with a wide range of skills. We discussed each others projects and generally managed to work out a small mini project which would benefit everyone. This mini project was to storyboard, create a stop motion and advertise in the form of a poster- this short story we created amongst ourselves. Individually this collaboration storyboarding experimentation is relevent for me because I am currently developing my own storyboard and doing this acts as good practice and should help develop my skills in creating dynamic angles and great aesthetics in the form of a storyboard.I am pleased with how we organised ourselves as a group starting at nothing to eventually plan and map out what we need to do over the next week successfully and happily. So far so good, there is always room for improvement but the current pace that we are working at is definitely a good sign for progress and hopefully a good looking final product by the end of the week.

CHC

FMP WEEK 1 - 14march

I have collected a variety of visual sources of inspiration from books, the internet...and stuck them into my sketchbook and analysed aspects of them such as composition or strong points. For example I have collected a variety of logo designs which I will look at when deciding on branding my comic brand. I have started to consider names for my brand and comic individually which is a lot harder than I ever thought because it is quite an important decision and is one of the primary visual aesthetics that will represent what the insides show. Progress is being made and may have seemed to have slowed but it hasn't, I am just ensuring that I do the right amount of research for this project and evaluate everything that I do so that it is as strong as possible. I am pretty confident about the plot and format the comic will take. When storyboarding I need to do a full rough copy before I even consider doing anything final draft. Not much negative to say, I just need to keep this level of work up and keep producing first hand sketches, work and ideas and hopefully this project will be successful.

CHC

FMP WEEK 1 - 12march

I completed a series of illustration ranging from realistic to non realistic comic styles. This experimental work allowed me to think which direction I want to take illustration wise for the project and I decided that I would like to incorperate both styles into my project. I realised that a kindle comic was not an option as they cannot show colour and I want colour in my project. I have a few vague ideas of what I would like the storyline plot to be for this comic but I have not narrowed it down and decided fully yet. So far I am satisfied with the progress I am making but it would be much better to finally get clear about what I am going to do for this project hopefully by the end of this week.

CHC

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT WEEK 1 - 10march

The final major project began today, so I started to research comic brands and character design. I found some interesting and inspiring images and sources however I didn't feel quite settled on my overall idea. I kept coming stuck trying to think of an original comic theme or message and realistically most of those bases have been covered which created a problem for me. So I then looked at the context of the current world and what comics are currently doing well and adventure time is up there. So using this research I looked into new ways of formatting a comic and as an application was an alternative and intriguing idea. I talked to a few people and this seemed like a promising idea to make my project that much more interesting and different to just another comic. So far research and ideas are progressing slowly but that is to be expected at such an early stage when considering I have to provide myself a basis of a project to  last several weeks. I am pleased with my slight change in direction as it ranges across both scopes of illustration and graphic design quite nicely in an almost perfect half and half ratio. I am really looking forward to progressing on this project and completing my ideas to form a visual and possibly interactive final product to be proud of. I am going to carry out some first hand research tomorrow at comic stores in london and this should provide further inspiration and direction to help me develop on this project.

CHC

WEATHER PROJECT W3 D9

'Rained off' - referring to football match cancellations due to flooded pitches.

This is what I produced and I am happy with the illustration skill to create the supset individual and ipad full of information. However I am disappointed with the graphics of the lettering and clouds which are not as good as they should be. I think that I rushed the text and symbols without too much thought because I wasn't sure what to do with them; but now after some time out of this project and reflection I realise that I can improve this piece. All I need to do is scan this image into photoshop and edit the lettering and symbols by computer to generate a much improved final composition to be happy with.

Images: Authors own.

CHC

WEATHER PROJECT W3 D8

Today I simply finalised my ideas into one ultimate design and drew out a pencil sketch plan as the basis for shape and lines to be coloured in tomorrow. I am happy with this final design but I am not exactly sure how it will look as a final piece with colour added and exactly what colours I will use I am not yet totally sure of but I am pleased that much progress has been made. Maybe I should experiment with colour formats before putting final pen to page on my final hand drawn graphic illustration.

CHC

WEATHER PROJECT W3 D7

I experimented with changing colour on my original idea.

After some time to think, I realised the British weather was a bit too broad and hard to read; so I focused more intensely on the idea of how weather affects sport, particularly how football keeps on getting postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Above is my brief photoshop reference picture that I will use to guide me when I draw out the final plan for the project. I am quite happy with where I have ended up in this project despite all of the twisting and turning and changing topic that has occurred. Even though I wasted a lot of time following loose ends I feel that it wasn't all to waste because I learnt from the process exactly what I wanted to do. So if this plan is drawn out successfully then I will be very happy, otherwise I am already glad that I have reached this point where the end is in sight and its completely up to my hand drawing skills to determine whether I am successful or not.

Images: Authors own.

CHC