Visual Scenery Conecpt

These are some additional more detailed scene experiments - I am really excited about integrating these patterns into my design I think they help to incorporate additional texture to otherwise fairly flat vector shapes. I think including drop shadows definitely the route to take since it helps to further define my shapes whilst also establishing a sense of depth.   

I am really happy with what is going to be my opening scene (the image below) I like the softer colours which will help add extra emphasis to my more vibrant elements like my bird. I also like the idea of having some loose elements that aren't confined to the generic comic strip boxes. My design is going to be a collage of sorts that all link together through my hand-drawn style.

Concept Visuals

I wanted to test out how my visuals worked with paper collage backgrounds in order to determine what kind of colours I would need to consider within my entire design. I had a rough idea that I would utilise a lot of blues which is why I have tended to avoid that colour within my characters clothes and my bird. Adding a drop shadow really highlighted the paper cut element to my design and helped to emphasise my shapes as well as keeping my hand drawn elements separate from the backgrounds.  Since my backgrounds are so detailed they risked clashing with my hand drawn elements but after testing I am happy that the use of shadow and soft colours keep everything nicely defined. Wallpaper wise I stuck to damask victorian styled wallpaper (because I was so inspired by Tuesday Mourning's girl image) and felt like they worked well visually, although I never intended to draw my own patterns since using high quality photographs gives the visuals different textures which also aids in keeping everything clear and well defined. I am really very happy with the overall look and feel of what I have produced so far, my bird in particular is one of my favourite elements and I plan on having him feature heavily within my 10 year journey.

I don't plan on using these papers for backgrounds - I intend to use them as actual shapes that work within my design - like the waves below - which I think will stop all the patterns from clashing too much.

Digital Sketches Refined

I had another go at drawing myself digitally (I referred back to my paper sketches in order to create something that looks more like me and Tuesday Mournings image). I kept my shading very soft- mostly using very slight opacities in order to smooth all my colours together. I placed my eyes a bit closer together than in previous attempts and highlighted the wide nose arch through the use of carefully curved lines.  I did integrate some swirled patterns in the highlights and cheeks (just because I like these types of details and they are something that I put into a lot of my own work). I then placed myself against this dark violet background - mostly because I intend to use darker patterned papers to create the background of my world (which is very reminiscent of the Charlie and Lola cartoons). It also gives it a darker more gothic styling which I like anyway.

I made sure to draw all my limbs on various different layers so I could put them together - but I am probably going to have to draw different mouths - and eyebrows (in order to convey different emotions.) I am also much happier with my hair  which I have made up out of various shades of colour rather than lines which also makes it a lot softer.

Overall I am really happy with this version of myself - although I may experiment with some black and white variations as well - which I think would contrast well against the paper backgrounds.

Attempt One Digital Sketches- Exploring Ideas

I generated these digital renders below - but I am not happy with them - they are just not quite right. In the first I think its because my eyes are off (my right one is a little higher and too far off to the left) I also think that the tones are a little too pale which has meant that there is little skin colour to blend.

I wanted to test out a black and white version of myself - because I like the idea of looking like a paper cutout - but I think the lack of colour makes it too flat (although it could just be the angle that I have drawn it at). The hair is also too lined and I think its all a little bit too dark and angular for it to really match the Tuesday Mourning style that I was aiming for. 

Sketches

I was very much inspired by this image in particular by Tuesday Mourning (I haven't been able to find out her actual name) - I love the wide arch to the nose, the slightly too far apart eyes and how there is a melancholy gothic sadness to the overall styling which has been integrated through the victorian esc patterned wallpaper. The shading of the face is very soft - its been very carefully blended so the shades have been smoothly applied - this is carefully contrasted through the delicate lines of shading around the eyes. 

Source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/567101778053141818/ 

I opted to make a few paper sketches before beginning in order to really cement the style in my mind. Keeping everything slightly disproportionate helped- so my arms are a little longer - the feet a little larger- helped me to clarify the key elements. The hair was the hardest part because my own artistic instinct wanted me to generate something that utilised a lot of line- something I will probably rectify when I take these sketches into the digital medium.

Style Inspiration - Mood Board

I created this mood board out of all the images that I have found particularly inspiring from my research.  I have been very much inspired the artist "Tuesday Mourning" whose images occupy a lot of this board. I have found that she bases a lot of her art on the Charlie and Lola cartoon - which is why she combines her hand-drawn elements with wallpaper- something that I am keen to adopt in my own project. I think paper cut puppets have a great deal of potential (for my animation) because it means that the movements don't have to be perfect they can be quirky and artistic. I also love the puppet characters because stylistically they look very vintage- something I am always keen to intergrate into my design.