Visual Storytelling - Final Requirements

Your visual storytelling project is the final project for this class.  We will have in-class work time for the next four classes.  We will have a final critique for this project the first class after Thanksgiving break.  


We will now start to draw backgrounds for your visual sequence and compile them in Indesign.  I will give you a brief tutorial in class on how to do that.  Depending on your project, you may need to create multiple Illustrator documents to adequately convey your story in 8 frames.  You may need multiple backgrounds or multiple versions of your character with different facial expressions.  I am giving you ample time to work on this project, so your final project should show four classes (and out of class time if necessary) worth of effort.  To post your Indesign pages to your blog you need to export it as a JPEG.  


FINAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASS:


You need to make sure all of the projects for the class are posted to your blog.  If you don't have them posted to your blog, then you will not get credit for them.  Additionally, you need to put all of your files for this class on a CD and write your name on the CD with a sharpie.  The files you need to include on the CD need to be the original program files that you created your projects in.  That means the Photoshop (.psd), Illustrator (.ai) and InDesign (.indd) files.  I will provide you with the CD.  There will be a box outside of Office #261 with "Intro to Digital Studio" printed on it where you can turn in your CD.  The final date to have everything handed in and posted to your blog is Friday December 9th by 5pm.  We will not be having class during exam week (Dec. 5th-9th) but the lab will be open  so you can work.

VISUAL STORYTELLING - PART 1

PART 1 - CHARACTER DESIGN


For our next project we will be translating a piece of writing into a series of visual vignettes or cartoon.


Your story will be conveyed through a series of 8 frames.


The final layout will not contain any text (except for a title.)


We will be using Illustrator and InDesign for this project.


Find a sample of writing that you are interested in converting into a cartoon or series of visual vignettes.  You can use a short story, a poem, or song lyrics.  Post the title of your writing source to your blog. 


You cannot use a graphic novel or comic book as your writing source.


We will begin by drawing the main character of your story in illustrator.


We are going to spend 2 class periods just on character design and execution.


We are NOT going to be tracing existing illustrated characters from the web in Illustrator.  For example if you chose the story Snow White or Beauty and the Beast your character should not resemble the Disney equivalent.  I want you to come up with your own character design and illustration style.


You need to post your character to your blog in a .png format.

Flat-Pack Toy - Found Photo Environments

Using Photoshop you will create 2 found photo collage environments for your flat-pack toy.

Each of your environments should be 8.5 x 11 oriented vertically or horizontally.

You should start a new document in Photoshop and set your resolution to 150.

You can then open the photo of your flat-pack toy and place that in your new document and begin to remove the background.

I have quickly photographed your flat-pack toys and provided access to them.  If you open a new finder window and then open MAC HD and then the folder called "Public Share" and then the folder called "readymech" you will find some images of your flat-pack toys.

For the next step in the project we will be creating environments for the ready mech

You will create 2 collage environments from found images:

1 environment will be the creature's/character's habitat

1 environment will be an environment in which the character feels out of place

These are collage environments and should be made out of a minimum of ten images, for example:

An exterior landscape would use a sky from one image and land from another, with a plant from another, and a tree from another.

An interior landscape would use a ceiling from one image and a floor from another, as well as furnishings from different images.

Your environments can be surreal in nature and do not have to reflect reality in any way.

You have 2 class periods to work on this assignment.


You need to post the jpeg version of your projects to your blog.  You should save your Photoshop files as well.

2D to 3D - FLAT PACK TOY PROJECT

"Jed" by Jules from readymech.com

“READY MECH” – FLAT PACK TOY PROJECT

PART 1:

Find an existing “Ready Mech”/ flat pack toy online (links can be found at the end of this post) print it to the 5550 and cut it out and put it together to gain an understanding of possible methods of construction and the way the flat design translates into a 3D object.

PART 2:

Create your own ORIGINAL flat-pack toy design.

Start a new print document in illustrator that is 11x17 (tabloid).

Although you can use an existing flat pack toy design as a launching off point you need to modify it and transform it so it becomes your own ORIGINAL and UNIQUE creation. We are not "tracing" these existing templates in Illustrator, you need to create your own template from scratch. You should first create the outline or template for your flat pack toy and print that out and construct it to make sure you are achieving the desired overall shape to your figure.

PART 3:

Hand-Sketch details onto the blank version of your character.

PART 4:

Add color and detail to the template of your character in Illustrator.

PART 5:

Name your character and include that on the plans for your flat-pack toy.  You must also include in your plans basic instructions on how to construct your flat pack toy.  For instance: “fold along dashed line and cut along solid lines.”

PART 6:

You will print the plans of your project to the 5550.  You will cut out and assemble this version as a proof.  You will then alter your plans to respond to any issues with the proof.

You will then print your plans to the matte Epson printer in the print room on thicker paper.  This will be the final version that you will cut out and construct.

PROJECT DUE:
Mon/Wed class – October 17th by 2:30
Tues/Thurs class – October  18th by 11:30


What you need to turn in:
The "blank" version of your flat pack toy with details hand sketched on the body.
The color plans of your flat pack toy printed to the 5550.
The final constructed version of your flat pack toy which will be printed on the "matte" epson inkjet printer found in the print room.
You must post the .png version of your Illustrator plans to your blog.

Ready Mech/ flat pack toy websites:

http://readymech.com/

http://www.paperfoldables.com/

http://www.nicebunny.com/downloads/nicebunny_paper_main.php#

"STREET ART" PROJECT

“STREET ART” PROJECT

Some may argue that the very act of participating in the medium of street art suggests the artist sees himself or herself as an artist/activist.  Regardless of your opinions on the subject there is no doubt that the street artists in Exit Through The Gift Shop risked bodily injury and criminal prosecution to spread their personal visual agenda. Some of the themes in their work consisted of: social commentary, political discourse, or simply flagrant egotistical self-promotion.

For your next assignments you will create two 8.5 x 11 “Street Art” works that explore some of these themes.

LET ME BE VERY CLEAR!  WE WILL NOT BE RISKING BODILY INJURY OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS ASSIGNMENT.  WE ARE ONLY INVESTIGATING THE IDEAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEDIUM OF STREET ART WE WILL NOT BE ENGAGING IN THE ACT ITSELF.

Project Parameters:

Each of your compositions will be 8.5 x 11 and oriented either horizontally or vertically.

Your projects will be black and white.

Each of your artworks must contain a minimum of 1 image and text.

You must use Photoshop to manipulate your images to convey your intended visual message.

You must save both the photoshop files (.psd) and jpeg versions of your projects.

You will post the jpeg versions of your projects to your blogs.

You will also need to print your projects to the black and white printer.

You have 2 class periods to work on these projects.

They are due (posted to your blog) by the beginning of class next week.

When conceptualizing your projects you should think about whether your intended message is successfully conveyed through your choice of imagery and text.  You should also consider the overall composition of your artworks and whether they have a dynamic visual impact.

Exit Through the Gift Shop - Blog Post

Today we are going to have a screening of Exit Through the Gift Shop.  I would like you to post a 250 word reaction to the film.  Your post should be thoughtful and well written.


Topic Suggestions:
What was the overall message of the film?
Why do you think it was titled Exit Through the Gift Shop?
Do you think a particular artist in the film was more conceptually rich than another and why?
What are your opinions of the use of appropriation in street art/ graffiti?
What are your opinions on street art/ graffiti in general?  Is it a valid form of art?
Do you think the artists in the film have "sold out"?

EXERCISE - DYNAMIC COMPOSITION USING RECTANGLES

Creating a Dynamic Composition

Compositions can be static or dynamic. In this exercise, we will recreate the dynamic movement found within a painting, using rectangles in Illustrator. Dynamic compositions are full of energy or movement. Angles are used to create motion. While a flat horizon line is at rest, a triangle is in motion. The repetition of even spacing is easy on the eye, as our minds predict the simple rhythm of an evenly spaced grid. Angles and uneven spacing between objects causes our eyes to move back and forth. This physical movement translates into the perception of movement within a composition. Use a figurative painting from the artists listed below as the guideline for your dynamic composition with rectangles.

Go to artstor.org and register if you are not already registered.  You need to be on campus to do this.  Search for a figurative painting from one of these artists:  Edvard Munch, Egon Schiele, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, or Gustav Klimt. 

The rules:

We are only using the rectangle tool to create this composition.

There will be no outlines on your rectangles.

You can only scale your rectangles and rotate them.

You should not use gradients.

Your composition needs to be 11 x 17 (tabloid), landscape or portrait.

Use layers to organize your composition.

Do NOT use the direct select tool to modify your rectangles.


You have 2 class periods to work on this assignment.

The Poet, 1911, Egon Schiele, oil on canvas

Example