Research from my sketchbook

So to help understand what I did for research I thought it be easier to right it down in my sketchbook and show from my earlier work on my fantasy characters.

 

 

 

Creating my own fantasy myths part 2

So as this page shows the last five of my ten mythological characters for the project I'm doing. For those who have not seen the first ones, here is a link to Part 1. Apologies for the delay of this blog to present the rest of my characters. but all of them are complete and ready for presentation and hope you enjoy them.


Sorrin:










The Sorrin are an avian race that normally be seen at night on the full moon while in the guise of humans at day, they are commonly seen wearing masks to frighten intruders away from their territory and evil spirits to protect villages if given some offering as a gesture of their work. Much like how the werewolves change at night and the person has no memory of their actions. Look at a few mythical creatures of birds and avian hybrids to have some form of research before creating the Sorrin completely.

Examples from other cultures:

• Thunderbirds: from the Native American folklore that represents power and strength.
• Harpies: Human-Bird hybrids who steal food and eat people who harmed their families.
• Valkyries: female warriors who chose those who may die in battle and who may live.
• Lei Gong: A chinese creature that punishes evil spirits and mortals of heinous crimes
• Tengu: A japanese folklore and Buddhism of human-Bird being as originally disruptive demons and then later to being protective of mountains and forests.

Tahkuna:
Wanting to make a character that is a mix of the angel of death and the grim reaper, looking at a few more ideas from other myths related to life and death I found one that could make it like a judge. Like the Greek myth of the three fates and the Egyption god Osiris, the god of the afterlife. So as you can see in the sketch he would have two objects floating side by side with the angel to represent both life and death.

Not going for a typical reaper with a scythe and thought a sword would do and the wings on the sketch would have a bright glow, almost as if they were pure energy then typical feathers.











Herrianne:
To have an angelic being I looked at a few source of information of biblical legends of angels with multiple wings by rank. But wanting to draw this character away from the common stereotype we see a lot so I went for a kind of being with no arms and legs and simply floats. Wanting to have a female appearance as it seems to fight for a divine godly being to look peaceful and pleasant. Like Tahkuna she would have a multiple wings but won't glow as she would be like some sort of monolith statue

Serephim and Chrubim that have about six wings. And others in the Bible, Revelations being referred as The Four Living Creatures.









Na'Koral:

As the guardian of the forest Na'Koral would use his magic granted by ancient spirits to protect the enchanted land from outsiders who would try to exploit it for their greed and protect the wildlife. Uncertain how long he has been there, some say he was once a mortal until the Nature spirits changed him as his arm was proof of the alterations but he did not seem to regret it.


It was really trick to come up with a character who spent his whole life in the forest, I was originally going for a character who was more animal than human with him crouching on three while holding a pole or staff as a primary weapon but scrapped the idea and decided to go for a full heighten person. His pose may seem odd in the sketch but its cuz of his need for balance on the branch when casting a spell and wanting to be as realistic about his figure and how it interacts with the landscape.


Designed a few masks based on different cultures such as Native americans, Vikings and African traditional masks used for rituals and spiritual ceremonies. Give the character a sense of mystery, if he was ever human or something. His arm was to be made of wood by the years of using magic and make it a little less human as it can.

Oriah

Creatures from the deep that come from the oceans and have been known to observe humans and their boats, some say they wear masks to hide their faces that could enchant mortals or simply for tradition to hide from any potential mates, especially for male Oriah who would would wish to see the females' stunning beauty.

I was going for a big fish or sea serpent for a water deity but then thought maybe do a couple having a romantic moment, both male and female and take some inspiration of menfolks. I thought the masks would make them appear as some traditional use if they needed for protection in combat or females to hide their looks from males unless they were worthy of their love.

The females I pictured would have some colours based on fish with exotic colours, but the tail would have to be changed a little as it looks too long and big for her tail to handle. For males, I've been wanting to make a shark-type of menfolk as they are one of the top predators of the ocean and give him a slightly long name and a spear to show it.

character design: Na'koral

Wanting a character to be some sort of shaman connected to nature. It was a little difficult to work out how he would look, wanting to give off a mysterious for people to wonder if he was human or something else. Wearing a mask to conceal his identity, with a staff and an arm being turned to wood.

1. Wanting a background with Nak'oral standing on a huge tree branch with a strong pose, having his hand made out of wood by some enchantment. Working on how he would stand on a branch so it would look near alright for his balance. Came up with some ideas of how the mask would look like, so I thought adding antlers would work and make a near-human face.

2. using different shades of brown for the trees, one side for direction of the light source and add rough lines for the trees, adding more texture by lowering the percentage of the hardness for the colouring.

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5. THe background I thought would have a dark greenish colour. 

The shaman's clothing would have an earthly theme since he's spent his time in the forest and wear something natural. Including the mask and left arm. 

6. Focusing on the arm, using both light and dark brown, wanting to make the hand look all morphed by the magic. Extending the fingers and making the structure of the hand to match the human hand.

7. Adding more lighter brown to the wood and giving him a fiery red hair with orange highlights, inspired by some celtic and viking folklore. Thought of making the staff look old and decorated with stones.

8. I thought of how the green moss would, starting with a normal green just to try some ideas for the colour before working on the lighter green texture using different paint tools. 

9. Using a different paint tool for the grass, adding another layer and lighter tone of green when exposed to bright light. 

10. Was working out how the colour of the water should have, not going towards a blue water in some artworks. Going through some tutorials and using pale blue to a whitish colour for the water streams. Once done, using the smudge tool make it blend together

11. For the casting a spell to have an energy gathering in his hand, using a narrow paint tool and using about 30% of paint and drawing faint lines. Once done, using the smudge tool to make the lines more faint. Going for a spiral or sphere in the hand where the sphere would expand in his hand. Also thought of adding more faint lines that entangle around his arm so it shows that his body was releasing some energy.

12. Using a lighter tone over it and make the centre more brighter and the furthest faint.

Completely finished and now done, really do like the way he looks with such a powerful pose and ready for action to defend the forest from threats as the magic being gathered by him from nature.

Character design: Tahkuna

I wanted a being that was neither an angel or demon, but maybe close to a reaper with bright wings to judge a person's fate if they life or die. Going for a reaper-type of character but leaving out a scythe as it would not have any original feel and give it a sword instead. 

2. Going over the lines, but leaving the wings out of it for now for they won't need any to have a glow from them, making them more of a pure energy sprouting from the back. Giving the inside of the hood more dark, leaving no trace of the angel's face.

3. Making the cloak dark and greyish, leaving the rest for lighter colouring. 

4. Now for next step is the wings, starting with a pale white colour and smudge the point edges to make them more like feathers. Making the white much lighter for the edges to add more 'feathers' for the characteristic form as they fold around the reaper/angel. Making the background dark a little to get started on a background to blend well with Tahkuna. 

5. Working on the lighter on the armour, robe and sword, the sashes would work well after experimenting on the background. 

6.  Now for the background is to make the bottom pitch black the the top lighter, drawing straight down to make, using the smudge tool to drag them down, making sure the stripes are not too bright for a background. Adding the shading s in between the folds of the robe

7. Working on the wings to make them more like an actual pair of energy wings by adding the outer glow, making them faint as possible to not over do it.

8. Now of the objects that hover beside it.  Starting with a 'moon' which would represent death in a greenish blue colour scheme, giving it a jewel-like appearance. 

9. On to the life amulet would have a fiery shape close to a sun or star to represent life. Starting by going for orange and red, carefully lighting the tone near a yellowish colour to make it more like gold and blend with the red lines.

10. Once the two are finished, I now added two more layers, both for an after glow for each one but in a different colour.

As it now stands out as a proper angel of life and death. I had the inspiration from some tarot cards and church windows. Happy how it looks with the way it's wings are and for reasons for adding the two objects hovering beside it would reflect on a person' good and bad conscious like in some comedy and cartoons telling the character what they should do. Here, they would reveal the fate of the person as the angel is a judge in the illustration.

Market Research: Fantasy

Research:

Research comes in many forms. Throughout my course I have used research to create my characters, describing the background on how they originated as well as their surroundings to help target and stimulate the right audience. I have used the internet, media, magazines, art books and questionnaires as well as other artists' work to compare and stimulate my imagination. Once I have brought the knowledge I have learnt together with the skills I gained, I can then evaluate if my goal is achievable. In some cases I have had to do further research, especially where to market the product as this isn't as easy as I first imagined. I wanted to create a book but found that when it came to printing it wasn't straight foreword. The pages didn't fall into place and also the quality of the paper was an important factor.

Market Research
My research is based on how to draw the target audience for my fantasy journal. Researching the best selling features at a realistic price, as well as gaining ideas on how and where to market the product. Fantasy is one of the most popular genres for fiction for both teenagers and adults. Games such as Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer and Warmachine are just a few of the more popular games played by players of all ages. Fantasy is where you have more creative freedom and imagination for monsters, dragons, spirits gods and magic, objects also play an important role when telling a storey.


A lot of artists draw characters and creatures closely based on the myths and legends and other stories. I've researched into character development and tried to design characters with something unique that would draw a fan's interest but steer away from the the actual myths and legends. Objects that represent an important feature within the story with detail that stands out and captures the imagination.

I thought by making a journal of short stories using the illustrations I have done for the project was a good way of telling stories.  I wanted a balance of both illustrations and storey.  The book requires a title and front cover to capture the viewer and make them come back for a second glance. Characters were created for horrors, adventure, action and inspiration for a creative fictional universe. To inspire the reader to get to know their characters and want to read more, I changed some parts of the well known myths from different cultures. Rough sketches  were made for each illustration until the final concept achieved. Instead of human features i decided to keep to creatures for two and an object for the third.

Creative skills:

Transferable:

•   The recognition of how students learn independently.

•   The participation of students when marketing and selling their art may be influenced by financial pressures.  I travelled to London to display some art work including the comic I was involved in with three other students that Travelling Man are interested in promoting for us.

•   Expectations may change, specific work-related skills have to be considered but cost is reflected against your targeted audience. I set out to do a book of both illustration and stories, but I have also considered illustrations on postcards gift cards and posters.  Your customer has to be your inspiration.

•   Graduates learn from their mistakes, improving their skills and ideas.  Transferring skills to new tasks.  I have improved on my skills sketching, shading and texture.  I used digital art forms as well as paper versions. 

•   Recognition of the artists limits and scope for the commonality of art, design and craft as disciplines

Processes:
Process research involves an explicit and direct focus on processes within the target audience,  a creative journey of gathering, sorting associating collating and actual actions. Process art is an artistic movement as well as a creative sentiment meaning the end product is not the main focus.

Through my process in the project, I developed my skills in character designs by making lists of ideas, rough concept sketches, experimented in mix media (blend water color with digital paints), using more of texture by taking photo shots of stone texture and wood for background elements, developing my skills in using photoshop tools further and experimenting with colours that work well together. The quality of the products you produce reflect on the end result and how professional they appear.


Professional Engagement:
This involves a wide range of opportunities to identify one's own learning needs and analyse.  To evaluate and expand one's professional learning.

• As an artist you need to take a risk otherwise you are at a competitive disadvantage.  Plan a strategy for pricing your product and to define your place within the market.
• Be confident, show composure, a calm expression, try not to get too emotional or nervous. 
• Research is the key to knowing your product and the target audience you want to attract attention to. Keep focused on your original idea and if adjustments are required do rough concept sketch,  
• Know your own imperfections and learn how to solve them to prevent future problems.
• To keep your target audience interested portray your products in a professional manner.  Allow the public to view your products, keep them in an organised file making it easy and interesting to follow.  Make sure your ideas flow in some sort of order and the characters and background easily identified.

Required Industry Standards
The art industry sets benchmarks to monitor standards and ensure quality and safety standards.   Industrial production of artistic objects may include items of clothing, commercial fabrics for clothing and upholstery, machine-made carpets and rugs, decorative glass wear, porcelain as well as objects made of metal including jewellery. A lot of manufacturing processes are mechanised and automated.

Articles produced in the art industry differ from articles used in the home in their distinctive shape and originality.  If the object is mass produced it will be under the control of a group of people including the designer, artists, technicians and other workers. As an artist it may be useful to research the industry associated to my product such as fantasy. My design has to original and eye-catching to present to the team of workers  for them to consider the possibility of mass production on T-shirts, glass wear or even metal objects.

My first illustration is an object based around the number 4 combining the four elements; earth, wind, fire and water. The object would be a magical object, considered to be an important item to the gods.  It holds the power to control all four elements.  The design has to be original, eye-catching but also adapted to the background of the characters.

The object could take on a life of its own if produced in 3D form, the sketch would show detail that could be transferred onto other materials if sculpted. For the purpose of the project  the illustration will be digital.

My second illustration is based on the Unicorn from european myths, the Re'ems from the biblical legends and the Chinese counterpart called the Qilin. I began using a pencil to do a simple sketch of an animal  character  based on the unicorn but slightly different by drawing the anatomy of the creature's body, making the horn bigger. I studied existing animals; deers, horses, antelopes and other animals related to the type of creature I had in mind and developing into a horned animal.  Putting fur around the ankles I thought would give the animal a wild look.

My final and third illustration  is a digital painted shell creature. I wanted to make a fish-like creature with tentacles. I thought of a giant fish as big as a ship that floats but that could also be mistaken for rocks due to the formation of the shell by sailors.

I originally intended  it to be a slug or something similar to it but changed it to a more aquatic-type creature.. I considered making it into a fish after looking into mythology of giant fishes. The Namazu in Japanese folklore is a giant catfish who causes earthquakes, it is said to live in the mud under the island of Japan and guarded by the god Kashima by restraining it to a stone.

Character design: Herrianne

For my next character design for project, thought of making an angelic being but different from any  other angels. Making it almost like a stature but float in the air. Giving it a halo like I've given one to Geno-Thane has but more behind the back.

1. Done a sketch of Hierrianne to build the idea for it's appearance, using the appendages in place of wings and leaving out the arms and legs. Drawing several objects hovering around the halo to represent it's appearance and being a powerful deity. What was needed to change it's appearance were the head and lower half as the torso was bigger then the rest. So what I did was alter the sizes.

2.After scanning it in and going over it with some lining over the character. Wanting an old paper background with yellow brown colour with brown in some parts of the background. 

3. Using a darker tone of brown over the character for the shading in many places for the direction of where the light. Using a lighter brown once the shading is complete, tuning it up to a near whitish-color, more towards the hair for the highlights.

4. Darkening the areas around it to leave an outer glow surrounding it, decided to give it a godly pose by making a bright shine where the halo is, using the lens tool for the job but making sure it doesn't become too bright over it's head. I thought placing it in the centre of the halo as it feels right for being an angel and all.

As it now turns out to be a celestial being, really like how it looks and the background, even the glow makes it stand out then most of my illustrations. Reasons for not making wings was thought to make it different then a common stereotype of angel we normally see in myths and legends.