Illustrations & Visual Narrative / Task 1: Exercises & Vormator Challenges

1/9/2022 - 1/12/2022 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Sheryl Pang Pui San / 0349746
Illustration & Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (HONS) in Creative Media
Task 1: Exercises & Vormator Challenge

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INSTRUCTIONS

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EXERCISES

WEEK 1
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INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR 

In our first live class, we were introduced the basics of adobe illustrator.
We were taught to use the tools of illustrator like the rectangle tool, selection tool and direct selection tool.
After that, we were taught to make the shape of a lemon using the rectangle tool and direct selection tool to adjust the shape of the corners of the rectangle.

Figure 1.1 Outcome of Week 1 Adobe Illustrator Exercise

Figure 1.2 Screenshot of Adobe Illustrator Exercise with the layers

WEEK 2
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PEN TOOL & CURVATURE TOOL

We were asked to play the bezier game to practise to use the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

The bezier game is a tutorial / game for learning how the pen tool works.

Figure 2.1 The Bezier Game

After that we were asked to trace the following shapes to use them in our first task of vormator challenge.

Figure 2.2 Tracing the elements shapes using pen tool & curvature tool

WEEK 3
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PATHFINDER TOOL

During this week's class we learned about the pathfinder tool and how to better create our character using the pathfinder tool.

Figure 2.3 Learning Pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator

WEEK 2 - 3
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TASK 1: VORMATOR CHALLENGE

"Vormator is the ultimate challenge of your creativity: the aim of project is to give each student the chance to show their ability to create a stunning piece with limited means."

We were given the exact same set of shapes and we need to create our own unique character using the shapes element given. We are allowed to rotate, flip and duplicate the elements. Scaling is also allowed but only proportionally. The used of colours is unrestricted. Filters or effects like drop shadows is also allowed. 

By using the 8 elements shape above in Figure 2.2, we are to create a character from only using the shapes. 

Figure 3.1 Final Character Outcome with pathfinder and shape used

Figure 3.2 Character outline after and before using the pathfinder tool to combine the shapes

Figure 3.3 Comparison between the outline, the character and the silhouette of the character

WEEK 4
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SHAPE BUILDER & ICON

During today's class, we learned about the shape builder tool and knife tool. 

We did the exercise about converting text into shape, making type expression by creating outlines and using the shape builder tool, knife tool and direct selection tool. 

We also learned to create icons using shape builder tool and the pathfinder tool and add colours using the gradient tool.

Figure 4.1 Outcome for Shape Builder & Icon exercise

WEEK 6 - 7
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CHIAROSCURO EXERCISE

We learned how to use the pen tool, knife tool, pencil tool and eraser tool in this week class.
This week exercise is to do the chiaroscuro exercise on the pear, skull and a person. 

Figure 5.1 Chiaroscuro Exercise Outcome - Pear & Skull

Another exercise of Chiaroscuro is to traced the people from the picture to form the vector chiaroscuro in Adobe Illustrator.

Figure 5.2 Original picture to trace for the chiaroscuro exercise

Figure 5.3 Chiaroscuro people outcome

Figure 5.4 Screenshot of Adobe Illustrator with outcome

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ADDING TEXTURE

During week 7 tutorial activity, we were asked to add texture to the chiaroscuro by using the clipping mask tool.

To do that, we have to make compound path of the separate pieces of the chiaroscuro by going to object > compound path > make and then select the texture and chiaroscuro pieces, the shape of the chiaroscuro on top of the texture and right click > make clipping mask

Figure 5.5 Texture image used

Figure 5.6 Outcome of applying texture to Chiaroscuro exercise

WEEK 11
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TRANSITIONS

During this week tutorial activity, we were asked to choose one of the comic page provided and describe the transition of the comic.

Figure 6.1 Comic panel by Jimmy Corrigan

Figure 6.2 My understanding when looking at the comic transition