I love clowns since my first birthday clown party, to a 7-year-old it was kinda a big deal. To me, clowns are philosophers, creatures of joy and color. They throw themselves out entertaining the world with their own stupidity, clumsiness and laughable blue. They are something different in this world full of boring people.
I pick my favorite “point of view” to create portrait of clowns. Through eyes of
1) Third-grader
“A class clown” is the first thing comes to my mind. I create a character name “Charlie” with a prankster personality. All his classmates hate Charlie as he’s lil jerk who always causes serious disruptions.
Development
I.
I combine a kid’s doodle with a page of vintage alphabet textbook as the background. I use hard cardboard to make a pop out text box with the word “Charlie Bad” to hint the audience about Charlie’s “reputation”.
II.
It takes me sometime to look for a suitable photo of a little boy who seems naughty. I cut out a clown outfit for him and paste him on a floral background to create contrast. I have quite a lot of fun experimenting the new scrapbook style.
III.I add in details like candy, toy coupons, notes and doodles.
2) Eccedentesiasts
Eccedentesiasts
[ex-cen-dent-tee-shee-ist]
- One who fakes a smile
- Someone who hides pain behind smile
I stumble upon this noun while browsing one of those pretentious tumblr blog. So the idea is to find someone who looks like he/she is forcing out a smile. I spend quite sometime to finally find this suitable photo. The man is smiling with his eyes shut tight, his smile looks so forced and staged which is exactly what i am looking for.
Development
I use a 2×2 layout, different outfit for each clown design. I use hand torn paper and candy to create elements of clown such as hat, crazy hairstyle, collar and face-paint.
3) Psychology
To most people clowns are fearful and creepy. Perhaps it’s their perpetually smiling face & exaggerated facial features that make people uneasy. They psychological term for fear of clowns is called “Clourophobia”. Some researchers believe that coulrophobia cases increased after the 90’s, when Steven Spielberg classic horror film “IT” depicting a murderous clown was released. Ever since then, clowns in movies are often portrayed as killers, villains and even paedophiles.
Development
Step one is to find a retro photograph of man who looks as creepy as possible. I distorted the image by extending the portion of his eyes. Paint in a red nose and eye makeup. I create a burnt-out effect around the edges of his hair and suit. I overlay two textures on top of it: an old medical record and damaged paper.
4) Emmett Kelly Jr aka. Willie The Clown
by laughing at me, the audience really laughs at themselves, and realizing they have done this give them sort of a spiritual second wind for going back into the battles of life.
Emmett Leo Kelly Jr, one of the “World’s Most Famous Clowns”. He was the son of Emmett Kelly, Sr., who was also a legendary circus clown. He successfully carried on his father’s character “Weary Willie,” famous for sweeping away the spotlight.
To Emmett Kelly Jr, Weary Willie is more than just a character or a career. Weary Willie is real to Emmett, he is a man who has given up as all factors of his life seem to be going against him. Yet, he is content to make out of what he’s got. He knows he will go on further. Weary Willie is a reflection of Emmett himself, Weary Willie is a belief and an alter ego.
Development
I.
I use a monochrome portrait of Emmett as the “base” of my design and tear the edge of the paper to give out a rather depressive vibe.
II.
I paste a piece of translucent paper on top of the photograph and make it flippable. I then add in elements on the translucent paper to create the alter ego Weary Willie.
5) Theatre Manager
“Funny money” literally.
Development
I.
To a theatre manager, clowns = commissions, tickets sold and dollar bills. The design for this point of view is rather straightforward. I use an image of money stacks as background.
II.
I print out some notes (risky af) and doodle on it.
6) Mime
If i am a mime, what will i think of clowns?
I would say we definitely belong to the same family tree, perhaps a long distant cousin. To a mime, clowns are flamboyant and loud. They express themselves through colour, shape and outfit. Hence a clown are that diva cousin who takes fashion too seriously.
Development
I.
My original idea is to find some retro model comp card but i find it too literal. I wanna make it funky, so i use this mugshot as base instead.
I cut out and overlay a floral fabric background to add a hint of femininity.
II.
Adding in details. Some serious dedications here.
III.
More details.
Hi Faith
There is no process recording of your 2D final project Zine?
Shirley