Zine

Generating Ideas

Ideas

The Dragon Kiln has been a constant source of inspiration for my drawings. I decided to put this place into the zine so people are able to share my experiences there.

I had been there many times to draw and develop composition studies of the Kiln. Here are some of the drawings that i did:

75 Compositions

75 Compositions 2


Layouts

Ideas 1

Ideas 2

Ideas 3

Initially, I designed the zine based on the compositions i did previously. The layout was more image-based. The overall book takes the format of a traditional Chinese scholar book.


Continuing with drawing

Drawing

After doing many composition studies of the kiln, i developed a final, fully rendered drawing as the last page of the zine.

Cover Drawing

Also, i did a cover drawing of the kiln.


Designing the Cover Page

Fonts

Cover Page

I tried out many fonts and decided to go with the more formal and bold calligraphic fonts.


Adding Texts

As the initial layouts looking more like a photo book, i decided to include texts to the image like how Chinese landscape paintings are always accompanied by poems.

I adopted an English poem by Marcus Bussey. The poem describes the historical and cultural value of the Dragon Kiln. However, i translated the poem into Chinese for the Zine as I found Chinese was more apt for the kiln that tells the Chinese history.

 

(English)

In the beginning was Light!
The primordial silence was shattered
by the Big Bang
when all that is began to unfold.

After many experiments in form
Humanity emerged,
Children of the Light,
recycled stardust.

In our hands Light became Fire.
Our love of Fire gave birth to Culture.
Around the campfire we gathered
to tell stories, cook food, share memories.
We tamed Fire and Fire tamed us.

The magic of Fire birthed
the alchemy of Culture,
and Culture lead to Technology as surely
as a seed becomes a tree.

From the intestines of the Fire
vessels emerged to hold our food,
to carry our drink, to cherish our Dead.

From the fiery furnace of the Dragon’s belly
came bricks to build homes, villages and cities.
As these things arose communities grew and flourished.
Just as we kindle the Dragon’s Fire
it gives birth to us

(Chinese)

在开始的时候是光明!
原始的沉默被打破
大爆炸
当所有这一切都开始展开。

在形式上经过多次实验
人类出现了,
光明之子,
回收的星屑。

在我们的手中变成了轻火。
我国消防的爱情生下文化。
周围的篝火我们欢聚一堂
讲故事,烹调食物,分享回忆。
我们驯服火和火驯服我们。

火的生产经历的神奇
文化的炼金术,
文化引领,以技术为肯定
作为种子成了树。

从火灾的肠子
船只出现持有我们的食物,
携带我们的饮料,珍惜我们死了。

从龙的肚子的火窑
来到砖建造房屋,村庄和城市。
由于这些东西出现社区成长和繁荣。
正如我们点燃龙之火
它孕育了我们。

2CFont of texts inside the pages

 

Writings


Designing the Layouts

The previous one had too much images and texts going on in a single page which did not suit the calm and serene place. I change the layout such that each page has a single image accompanying a part of the poem.

Designing the Pages

In the above image, the top page was looking too cluttered so i changed it so the left has only the text and the right was an arrangement of the compositions i did.


Final Layouts

Cover
2 Final B2 Final B3
Last