Banner Progress (After Recess)

So, I decided to not just re-resolution-ize each element that I have drawn as motifs, but also to change the composition of my banner. Because I feel that the last banner I have shown to Ina and the class has no feeling.

Ina also said that there was a lack of tiny details or texture in the micro level in order to entertain the viewer’s eyes when they look at the banner closely. So I was thinking, what should I do? if the banner is done in illustrator and in vector form, the texture might be needed to be in vector form as well. The flatness of digitalized image is not my cup of tea. I always like the touch of something hand-drawn and traditional.

So I decided to almost ‘re-do’ the banner by creating high-resolution hand-drawn images so I can retain the sketchy element. To add something more but subtle, I photoshopped the important elements such as the head, skeletons, and crown to have ‘dots’ in the shaded area. I hope it looks okay when being printed in original size.

I play with only two colors because…I don’t know what else to add in order to maintain the seriousness of it. I don’t want it to be as cheerful as my previous banner because in this new composition, there is an eye that is very sharp and full of emotion.

The process that I took is very traditional, almost like a photomanipulation + digital painting. Each element is manipulated and composed one by one. Then in order for my laptop not to crash, I flatten them after I’m satisfied the black-and-white composition. Coloring is the last step, and each element and corner of the banner is colored differently. It’s almost like a painting. I don’t know, I think this is my cup of tea even though it’s a lot of work.

Below is the progress. I hope it’s fine…

Motif Development Week 4

Feedback on Week 3

Based on the feedback on Week 3, I ‘narrowed down’ the story or topic before developing anything. Ina said the element of crops and plants sprung out of the goddess’ dead body is interesting, and I think so too. In addition, I thought it would be nice to have some elements that can give the vibe of ‘royalty’ or something that relates to the kingdom of gods, instead of purely vegetation and body. Based on these thoughts, I created individual ‘elements’ using pencil and pen.

Elements/Motif

The elements consist of various fruits and crops (not just padi) which grow in Indonesia, a Javanese crown, and a female half-face half-skull. I’m inspired to draw half-skull because I imagined the ‘supernatural logic’ behind the growing crops from the dead body. I thought maybe, the life of Nyi Pohaci was kinda ‘transferred’ to the crops, so the half-skull illustration to depict the ‘process of life transfer’, where her beauty was drained out, left with only her skull.

Below is some of the ‘cleaned-up version’ of the sketches. And I did some random watercolor splashes too for experimentation later.

Experimenting to create more motifs

I felt the singularity of those elements are lonely and less intricate. I could not imagine the South East Asian feeling if using the elements as it is to the pattern. So I tried playing around with the elements to create motifs. I did multiple mirroring, and I pretty like it.

Today in class, I tried combining different elements to make a not-symmetrical motif.

Developing patterns

From the modified motifs, I created regular patterns and somehow, I could feel something South East Asian/Indonesian from them. I want to try something that looks less regular, but I don’t really know how to do it…

More patterns are done in class. I prefer something more ‘geometric’ if it is a full repetitive pattern. I think I should draw more interesting elements?…

So far, this is my progress :).

Pattern, Art, Design and Architecture: Mood Board (Finalized)

The gallery is my finalized presentation/mood board for the assignment. I didn’t find any batik swatches in the library, but I have batik clothes so I might bring it for the presentation in Week 3. I hope through future trials and errors, and multiple experiments, I can create batik pattern that is both traditional and contemporary, so that it is representational of Indonesia in a timeless, universal way.

EGO – Final Assignment

:: EGO ::

Final ALL done

:: RESEARCH&INSPIRATION ::

1. Red Hongyi || 2. Groerhs || 3. @ibird_art

Red Hong Yi

Groehrs

ibird

The concept/style that I pursued for this assignment is illustration+digital collaging, slightly different from the inspiration I have searched. I prefer digital collaging rather than traditional arranging because it allows more flexible process and permutation of final results. Traditional arranging requires a lot of different materials and the color would be more ‘inflexible’.

I chose to use quite a number of my hand drawn pictures to make the whole panels uniquely me. Most of the times, hand drawn lines are individualistic.

:: PROCESS&INSIGHT ::

Fantasee

I am a dreamer, a fantasizer. The idea is about opening my brain, and you see what is in side. The first image is a trial to see whether this illustration of brain good enough to be in the collage or not. I use analogous colors from pink/red to blue/purple, with the intention to give clearer depiction of fantasy.

Handy

I am pretty handy. The idea is having a hand that can act like mechanical tools, hence my hands are quite versatile in making things, repairing things. I got the inspiration from a doctor who suddenly ‘foretold’ me that “there is something about your hand. Don’t work for others. Work for your own.” And some friends do tell me that I have magic hands. The analogous colors of red to yellow are chosen as they gave the impression of working. When you are tired your face turns red,  I guess?

 Dove

I am willing to help. I want to be a blessing for others. My hands are meant for benevolent things. Hence what i can think of to symbolize ‘blessing’ is dove. And to apply design synectics, I replace the wings with my hands. It gives the impression that with my hands, I fly to others, helping them and sprinkling blessings. At first i found difficulty how to make the composition smooth. The 2nd picture looks patchy, hence I try unhide certain layers and the color of the wings help a smooth transition from illustration to photo. I used split complementary colors of light purple, blue and yellow for the bird – aesthetic purpose. I add the tree as a ‘background’ because when I tried, it looks just nice, reducing the ‘rawness’ of the image. For the tree background, it is complementary colors of green and red. I use the original color of tree and its fruit to give more natural look to the image.

snake

But my heart is often consumed by jealousy. This deadly sin fades little by little as I grow older, but it still lingers there, poisoning me. Green is the color of jealousy, and a snake is chosen with the intention to depict ‘evilness’ and ‘toxicity’ of the the green jealousy. A heart is chosen to depict the kindness, humanity – which will be gone if jealousy consumes them. The line background is suggested by a friend and no, it’s not my style. Then together with the previous Benevolent hands image, I add the tree background. The difference is, the trees here are dead – because of jealousy. And for real, jealousy kills the humanity in us. The benevolent hands will not act the way they should be if the snake is still in our heart. Complementary colors of red and green is chosen – the red is ‘spices’ to the image; sub-ordinate role.

owl

To me, important virtues that I want and have to have are not just maturity and wisdom, but also youthfulness no matter what age I am at. Going to stay young at heart. I am inspired by my mom and some other parents who are still able to connect with modern teenagers and youngsters, but at the same time mature gracefully. To symbolize the wisdom and maturity, I purposefully chose owl and purple (color of wisdom). The youthfulness is depicted using rainbow and the happy silhouette. I delete the random tourist places at the feet of the owl because it looks redundant with the title. I wanted to depict youthfulness with the trait of being adventurous and exploring, however I think the silhouettes are enough to depict that.

beauty

I can’t deny that sick personality would make the most beautiful angel ugly, but in today’s world, looks are important too. Hence, if I can have both inner and outer beauty, why not? the flawless back skin is to depict outer beauty, and the garden inside the ribcage is for inner beauty. I chose roses because it’s the universal symbol for beauty and at the same time expression of love and other positive feelings. Red is for love and compassion. White is purity. the butterflies are to add aesthetics.

fashion illustrator

I want to be a pro fashion illustrator. Hopefully, as I graduate from ADM, I will already obtain the skill and the fame as a fashion illustrator, not just locally but internationally. Illustration: Elie Saab Haute Couture SS2015.

print

And hopefully, being a fashion illustrator is lucrative, making me rich. Nothing’s impossible, right?  Yeap, hopefully in 5 years time I ‘print’ money by ‘inserting’ my illustrations ;).

Memememe

The pictures in the third column of the final work have multiple and intertwined meanings. To summarize:

:: The whole thing shows a progress of drawing an illustrative portrait – my portrait. I draw parallel to self-development/improvement = as more lines/shadings are added to my life, I will be better.

:: So, the final result of the portrait is intentionally made to be the Ideal me because me in 5 years time may not be ideal yet. I may take more than 5 years to be ideal, right?

:: me = looks like a goddess. I am fantasizing myself as some fictional character.

:: better me = me is like a deer, animal that symbolizes kindness, maturity.

:: ideal me = other than using the finished picture of my portrait, I add make up to ‘her’. I don’t wear makeup now, so I think in the future I would be more ideal with makeup. The rose at the side lips to show that I speak beautiful, kind words. And i have wise friends like the owl!

:: me in 5 years time = me as fashion illustrator, will think a lot of illustrations.

:: ORIGINALS ::

Some of the images used are made by myself.

Hand raw owl raw

ref2

ref3

ref1

And my portrait and its processes.

:: REFLECTION ::

I am happy doing it. Even though I admit it is a bit last minute for the execution, I am satisfied that I can use the style that I like. More importantly, I feel that after this assignment, I can draw illustrations faster and better. Applying as many design synectics as possible is challenging actually, I spent more time planning then executing the final works, but it is really worth-doing. I want to make more ‘smart images’ that can talk to the viewers without words.

And thank you, Mimi for your guidance 🙂 I am exposed to many new skills thanks to your teaching in class and also the assignments <3.

The best is yet to be.