It is time to open Project EGO!

When i first got the brief I was rather afraid as we were playing with colours and colours are rather tricky!

As there was no limits on the style, I decided to research on the different techniques that I could use to bring out the colours in my work. Therefore, bringing my research on the techniques below that I would have wanted to play around with.

RESEARCH ON TECHNIQUES:

This technique attracted me the most as it was watercolour cut-outs that really made the whole landscape colour stand out despite the colours being un-natural in the photo.

CONCEPTS:

ME + NO SLEEP = DAY-DREAMING ME

ME + STRESSFUL CONDITIONS = DISORGANISED ME

ME + MAKING DECISIONS = INDECISIVE ME

ME + LOOKING AT PHOTOS FROM OVERSEAS TRIPS = NOSTALGIC ME

My concepts are derived from mainly my personality and character.

ME + NO SLEEP = DAY-DREAMING ME

Due to submissions, I had very little sleep because I had to stay up mainly to finish up my submissions as I take very long to do them. Leading to me sleeping very late everyday. When I’m tired, I tend to daydream a lot or zone out when people are talking to me. Thus, I decided to use this concept as it represented me a lot.

• Firstly, the technique that I wanted to go for in this panel is the mixture of both B&W and colours. I feel that the use colours would bring out the B&W subject in my work, giving it more emphasis and focus.
• I used a sloth to represent me in this panel as I feel that I am similar to a sloth that I can actually sleep for very long hours and laze all day if i could so the sloth represented me the most.
• The skull and gears is to represent that when I have no sleep, I look dead on the outside(Skull) whereas my brain and mind is still working, showing the gears that would not stop moving.
• The last one shows a picture of a girl(Me) in my day-dream state where the grey-scale is to show how much is being drained of me when I dont have enough rest and the clouds to represent my day dreams( aka building castles in the sky). Therefore, I added castles in the clouds to represent it as day dreams.

ME + STRESSFUL CONDITIONS = DISORGANISED ME

When I’m in very stressful conditions, I tend to be especially disorganised and lose control of myself.

• The technique of this panel is to explore the use to colour gradient which is why i chose a mood board in which the colours can be easily blended with each other.
• I chose a goldfish to represent myself as I have a very short memory span in which I always forget stuff easily. Also, people always say I have a big forehead which is why I chose the Oranda goldfish instead of other types of goldfish. The colours of each fish also represents the different unique sides of me each time i’m stressed.
• This illustrated me when im in a stressed condition(I tend to put my hoodie up when I’m feeling more stressed out). Also, I put myself in a hourglass as I am feeling restricted by time which is also representative of due dates. The top part is coloured whereas the bottom isnt is to represent the colour getting sucked upwards instead of downwards like normal. Therefore I’m feeling stressed because of time pressure.
• Disorganised me is represented by a girl ambushed in weed. I chose weed as weed tends to grow in a disorganised manner and they would just grow anywhere, everywhere. The picture of the girl also shows that she is tired and in pain.

ME + MAKING DECISIONS = INDECISIVE ME

I have a very indecisive character, in a way that whenever people ask me to decide on something, I tend to have trouble deciding on which one i want. Especially when people always ask me ” Where you want to go to eat?” I always end up saying ” You decide” because I cant choose where I want to go!

• The technique I decided to try out for this design is the vector designs as I really wanted to learn how to use illustrator to create new designs! It was hard for the first time of using it but after awhile I had better control on what i wanted to design!
• I used a Monarch butterfly to represent me as the characteristics of the Monarch butterfly is the same as me, it is always travelling! Monarch butterflies migrates the most to different countries each time that I feel represents me as I tend to go overseas every year at least once( I LOVE TRAVELLING! More in one year the better!) I was mainly inspired by this photo of a butterfly to get my design for the triangular pattern of the butterfly. 

• I used the arrows at a cross junction to represent the choice I have to make when making a decision that all the choices look the same to me which is why I cannot make myself choose one that i prefer.
• I animated this character to represent me when i’m indecisive. From the photo you can actually see that the eyes are all staring at different directions, showing the different choices and how i’m stuck at which choice to make.

ME + LOOKING AT PHOTOS FROM OVERSEAS TRIPS = NOSTALGIC ME

Whenever I go overseas, I tend to take plenty of photos to keep as memories and when i’m back, i would print out these photos and keep it in a separate photo album. When i have spare time, i would take out these photos and look at them, bringing back memories of how it felt to go to these countries. Looking at the photos made me feel nostalgic which is why i decided to use this as one of my panels.

• The technique that i went for this panel is the nostalgic feel which is why i decided to use wood transfer for this particular panel, invoking a more nostalgic feel to the viewer. I went for Obama’s HOPE colour palette as i felt it would suit the wooden feels for the whole concept. Illustrating a self portrait of me was definitely the most difficult part of this process and i took a really LONG time figuring illustrator out for this particular portrait(SOBS). Despite feeling like changing my concept after not being able to get the right consistency for my self-portrait illustration i’m glad i stuck to it and that it turned out better than expected!

• I used hands to signify the camera such that it would show of me bring the photographer and taking photos from different countries in the world, signified by the globe.
• I used the clock in the left eyeball to signify that one side of me wants to go back in time to when i was overseas in the photo whereas another side of me is still in reality. Thus, the colour divide shows the past and the present.

 

FIRST DRAFTING OF WORKS

CONCLUSIONS & THOUGHTS

Ultimately at the end of the day, I felt very satisfied with my designs as i feel that it really represented my moods when i’m faced in such situations. This experience was definitely tough because i explored different techniques and softwares to make my designs. But i’m so glad that i did and eventually learning how to use illustrator the hard way(YAY). Even though most of my designs now are very illustrated and digital, if given more time, i would most definitely like to explore more techniques and hands-on kind of styles! I definitely had fun with illustrator and woohoooo thats a wrap for 2D!