The Pretty Life of Alyph

Exercise 3: Color & Mood

During the first lesson of colour, we are encouraged to make our own colour palette. As I went ahead searching for my favourite French romantic movies, I was surprised to find out the pervasiveness of red and green as in the romantic scenes. This inspired me to attempt using this complement colour set in painting a screenshot from French animation Song of The Sea.

Couldn’t you feel safe and pleasant in the comparison of red and green colour, given that they are the representation of nature and … Christmas.

Actually, I am painting this for my own mom and dad for their 21st anniversary~

The original colour version – my first water color work.

The second one:

Exercise 2 – Abstract Compositions (Black & White)

I love this exercise – to represent the essence of a story through emphasising, simplifying and adding a little bit more interest with love.

Frame 1-6:

Frame 7-12:

Yes, it is the tale of your Little Prince.

(1) Once upon a boy, he had nothing but love but received nothing but misunderstandings.

(2) The little prince, alone, left his lonely planet.

(3) Through space and time travelled him, searching for meaning.

(4) Different as the worlds may seem, the ridiculousness of adulthood is universal.

(5) Through space and time travelled him, searching until the next landing.

(6) This planet is a bit different, but what was it?

(7) The world is alien to me in the same way, he thought.

(8) Then he came across a little fox, who was meant to be.

(9) Hold as long as it feels, love as soon as they found. Day and night, rain or shine, the fox didn’t speak, the boy never cried, again.

(10) “I almost forget about my rose, little fox, have I told you that I had a rose? I once had her on my lonely planet. She had only me on the lonely planet. I have indeed stopped thinking about her now. She might just want some watering again. A bit warmth is also needed to keep her strong. Would you ever miss someone, little fox? I mean, I think she needs me now.”

(11) Through space and time travelled him, running for his only love and treasure.

(12) “Here I am the little prince. Having you is enough for my whole little planet. Do you know that? Nothing else I have seen can complete me.

Here I am as I will always be. Having you is enough and I shall never leave. Do you know that I love you? Ever and Forever I will always be.

Rose. My rose. I love you on my own and I will always be~”

I enjoyed working with Shirley (Li Xintong). We are the perfect match, inspiring each other through being ourselves – sensitive and imaginative.

We used photoshop to transform the pieces of elements in each frame applying the newly learned concepts of design.

The concepts I learned:

Balance & Harmony: To provide a sense of balance, we need to consider the size, proportion and position of each element. We applied (1) Symmetrical: Frame 6, 8; (2) Asymmetrical: Frame 2, 10; (3) Radial Balance: Frame 5, 9; (3) Crystallographic Balance: Frame 3, 4.
Unity & Variety: We added interest to the reading experience through both chaos and order. We created Unity & Variety by alignment: Frame 3, 4, 10 (all has unity alignment but varies to different extents).
Emphasis: We applied a lot of technics to certain things stand out in concert with our story. We used (1) Contrast: Frame 1, 2, 7, 11; (2) Isolation: Frame 6; (3) Placement: Frame 5, 12; (4) Convergence: Frame 8.
Rhythm: Repetition is fun, especially if you put your heart into the details. We applied (1) Flowing: Frame 5; (2) Alternating: Frame 10 (alternating height of trees); (3) Progressive: Frame 6 (the progressive length and width of lines at the bottom of the planet).

In the end, I want to quote Captain America to express my feeling after the exercise: I can do this all day (≧∀≦)ゞ

Group Exercise: Textures — Experimenting with found objects

At the very first moment of knowing this exercise, my imagination started flowing to what the artworks would we create using self-made brushes. Encompassing all the chaotic and rhythm, they would be just like a brand new universe – Bingo! That is exactly our theme I drew from the slots!

I partnered with Li Xingtong who even contributed her dinner – bread and lettuce to the exercise. Above are the survived 17 pieces. I am especially proud of the 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 21. I did have a lot of fun naming them all.

I have a short clip of making a print.

Every blush has its characteristic.

As you can see, the results of our experiments originated from chaos…

… to order!

A really creative class!

Exercise 1: Simplification of Forms and Textures

Part 1: Identification of Lines in Environment

This exercise pushed me to observe the essential and to express the impression, be it a shape, texture, or form.

It sharpened my sensors and inspired my creation with lines, dots and tones.

Part 2: Simplicfication of forms

I tried to look at the images from a further distance, or at a more abstract level.

Part 3: Simplification of textures

The Assignment

In-Class Notes

Wk2 As1 – UX with Public Transportation

Part 1: In your group, organize your documentation and notes from the observation and analysis of the MRT and create a slide-show presentation that you’ll share in class. Observe, take field notes, identify where things go wrong and what idiosyncrasies you notice through your observations. What are some unusual things that you notice? Make sketches, notes and document with photos to carefully analyze the user experience during this field trip. Make observations on how other people move through public space.

What solution would you propose to the “things that go wrong”? Remember, to think about scale in that your proposal might be simple or more complex. Consider what the challenges might be to implement your proposal.