My concept for this final major project, was to create a graphic novel/comic book based on a current crisis; this lead me to doing research on some of our famous comic book characters to create a driven plot as well as solidify characters and their backstories.
This project has made me learn a new art style, and have to learn about anatomy as previously I've steered away from drawing a full body.I've also become more advanced with creating drawings on photoshop, as this project demanded me to create digitally. Obviously I have also learnt to make a graphic novel story, and how to keep a reader engaged and not loose them in the page. I used photoshop as well as a sketch book which was used for my line work. Illustration as well as digital illustration, which links into my artistic specialist practise as I aspire to generate my own art on top of my own job. Using the creative process, I mind mapped a range of ideas then further developed the idea of my choice which was obviously graphic novels. Once I developed my idea, I thought about presentation for the exhibition. What worked well was, the use of past images incorporated into the design its self, this helped drastically due to me being short for time due to starting a job. As stated one of the greatest barriers was time, also not having photoshop at home made it increasingly difficult to complete my work as well as fluctuating shifts made it nearly impossible to attend college. Overcoming this barrier was very difficult, it would have been more difficult without Emma's assistance and understanding I've learnt to think more about my time frame and to gauge whether my goal is achievable. What could've been improved was obviously the content, as I had the goal of creating a comic book but also the quality of my drawings could have been better as well as some of the previous research done for this project. I could continue developing this project by, completing a finished and refined graphic novel obviously there would be a limit to the amount of comics I could produce due to cost. The main ethical issue that I have attempted to raise awareness to, is the current energy crisis and also use of more sustainable energy sources. Also thinking about the materials that I will utilize, thinking is it recyclable and so forth. I have worked as sustainable as possible, most of my work being digitally made reduced the usage of paper any paper used was or will be recycled. Displaying of my work to display my specialist outcome was simple but difficult, the idea sprung to mind to have different quotes around my display of the front cover of my comic book that highlight current issues with global warming and sustainable energy. Although the project concept was successful and the display for the exhibition was praised by my peers, I feel a final finished product would have appeased me more I know for next time to plan with time scale in mind. But within consideration I really enjoyed this project, and hope to be able to complete it sometime in the near future.
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Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art & Design –Graphics, Media & Photography) Name: Reiss Blackman Title of work: Captain Lightning Reiss has spent the last year developing his creative skills in a breadth of creative practice. He has worked beyond his comfort zone, using both photography and film to create work that discusses the environment and society. For his FMP, he wanted to return to illustration, which he used to create a comic based in the future about the global energycrisis creating a superhero to fight against the villain Tinkerer, who uses the worlds electricity to power his giant robot. Although not quite finished this cover highlights the issues we face and how we can all be climate activists. Peer Feedback
I love that you use social issues in your artwork and use them constructively. I'm sorry you didn't get to finish it completely, no doubt it would be awesome, hope you get to tell the story in the future. What I saw was well done though! Looks great! Love the rough shading, adds to the streampunk/cyberpunk theme you’ve almost got going on. Looks like something that would fit right in at comic con. I don’t know if I would suggest anything else, after all I understand you were pushed for time. But regardless, it looks amazing! Knowing how hard it has been for you to complete this project, I think it has turned out great. The narrative is there for all to see, and the characters are beautifully drawn. The only critique I can have is the same as the others who have commented, it would have been nice to see the finished novel. https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-a-zine/ Zines tend to be a bricolage of various images, texts, and messages. Here is a list of just a few of the things you can do with the zine format:
Making a hero and a villains suit is very difficult, as its a glimpse into there personality and even there powers and motive. Traditionally superheroes are usually fashioned with a tight spandex suit, with additions of a cape and occasionally a mask for identity conciliation reasons. What I first needed to establish was my heroes powers within association to the story line, the most obvious power that stood out to me was electric manipulation. HistoryScreen printing first derived in China allegedly in 221 AD as a way of transferring designs onto fabric. Later the Japanese began using the simple stencilling technique to create imagery. What I found really interesting during this research, was that at the time stencils were cut out of paper and the mesh was woven from human hair which I found very fascinating yet disturbing. They also used a stiff brushes as a means to transfer the ink; it wasn't until 20th century when they stopped using brushes and used squeegees as a better way of transference. Screen printing was further used during the 1960s Pop Art movement by artists such as Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Robert Rauschenberg which established it as a technique to use in contemporary art today. ExperimentationThis lesson was very interesting, as I got to experiment with a new technique I've never used before which made this even more fun. Screen Printing holds similarities to a technique previously used which was lino printing, however screen printing presses ink through a stencilled mesh (which in this case was my drawing of my villain and hero) which then transfers your design onto a material of your choosing. An interest that I had during this session, was experimenting with different materials, to get an effect as well as exploring different colours of ink. These could be used for t-shirts ReferencesI had some success with this technique and it looked a bit like some of the inspiration I initially found.
however, it would take too long to great a whole story using this technique, so I will carry on drawing So today we had a workshop to introduce us to the laser cutter and to be shown what we could potentially do with the laser cutter to help us when deciding what to do with our final major project.
One of the areas, I could use this is by having an image cut into the wood and do some block printing or have a stand made for my comic book
What I've learnt from this weeks research, is how colour can be implemented into a character design to insinuate a characters personality, role etc. I will need to think about this when thinking of my characters, and be able to explain why I've used certain colours or clothing.
How to write a comic book scenehttps://www.scottishbooktrust.com/uploads/store/mediaupload/1261/file/How%20to%20write%20a%20comic%20book%20scene.pdf A key thing to a graphic novel is, a driven storyline this is the main thin that engages a reader to carry on. As well as this I needed to think about characters, character back story, setting and other considerations to the novel. First I will need to think of a relevant story line, I would like my story to relate to a modern day crisis or event so readers can connect to the story.
Two driven plots I've came up with is, the coronavirus and the energy crisis in which we are still suffering with. I feel both of these plots would be amazing and relevant, but also flexible for manipulation to make it a good superhero graphic novel retaining the readers interest. Thinking about the Covid-19 Plot, obviously its a virus and I needed to think of a source of how it is spread so I could develop my Villain. I thought the best idea was for the Villain to have some sort of chemical, in which he is mass spreading in which his motive would be overpopulation. Thinking of a hero for this plot was very hard, and also how the Villain would spread his chemicals so I decided to develop my other idea and compare both plots to make a descion. The energy crisis plot, shedding light on the crisis of gas and electrical bills sky rocketing gave me a very interesting concept for a Villain. I came up with the idea of the Tinkerer, a Villain who uses the worlds electricity to power his giant robot. The hero Captain Lightning, sets out to stop him and destroy his robot and restore power to the world. In the end I've decided, to choose the energy crisis storyline as I can picture what the hero and villain would look like and its graspable as a superhero story then the other option. |