Character Maps

The Artist

The Little Boy

The Mother

More Environment Concepts!

This is the roof top of the building that the story takes place. The shed is where a large amount of time is spent in by the little boy. It is a make shift art space where the little boy creates fun doodles and playful but detailed pictures. After a period of time the artist joins the little boy in creating art in this space. 

This concept is for the fire escape on the backside of the building. The little boy likes to sit here and watch the artist work in his studio. 

Refined Little Boy and Mother Sketch

I’ve included a profile shot that way I can start considering the 3D qualities of these characters and start making them a little more believable! 

Building Sketches

So I’ve been trying to figure out what this building is going to look like (the one the Artist works in and the Little boy and Mother live.) And what the shed might look like as well. This is what I’ve come up with.

Building Concept #1

Building Concept #2

Building Concept #3

Building Concept #4

Here is what the shed looks like..

Lots of character studies!!

I’ve been working on a lot of kraft paper and I’m really enjoying the mid-toned paper. It doesn’t feel as intimidating as a blank piece of white paper starring you square in the face! I’ve started working on expressions in the characters and some are successful and others need a little more work. One thing that I continue to remind myself when I’m working on expressions is this: K.I.S.S (which stands for Keep It Simple Stupid.) It’s pretty effective when you write it on every page before you start drawing. I know it has helped me a lot.

The order of the sketches are pretty self-explanatory but here you go.
Artist (images 1-3) Little boy (images 4 & 5) Little boy’s Mother (images 6 & 7)

That is all for tonight!

Describing the environment features

The apartment building where majority of my story takes place is a multi-purpose building. There are one and two bedroom apartments on the top four floors of the building and medium size studios that are  for artists and business owners on the first three floors. The artist’s studio is on the third floor on the back side of the building that has the fire escape just outside his back windows. The little boy and mother live on the sixth floor on the back side of the building as well. I will be highlighting three of the main environments and the traits and characteristics of them.

Artist’s studio - Minimal and bland (this is strictly the artists working space, he doesn’t live here but will stay the night if he feels like it.)

• No plants

• Metal trash can

• Paint tarps draped all over

• Painting easel

• Dozens of canvas’ (painted and unpainted)

• Table with all the paint supplies on it

Little boy & mother’s apartment - Feels like home (Despite their financial situation, the mother does her best to keep everything in their apartment looking nice. Some items are beginning to show signs of wear.)

Living room

• Old warn down sofa

• Mass-produced clock on wall

• Large radio/speakers/record player (entertainment center)

• Rug

• Pool-shaped coffee table

• Random plants

Kitchen/Dining room

• Small table with two chairs

• Light blue-green range

• Pans hanging on hooks behind range

• Sink

• Refrigerator 

• Toaster

• Fruit on counter top in a bowl with fruit design on it

• Telephone

• Lots of cabinets

The Shed on the rooftop - Utility shed converted into an artist studio by the little boy (This shed has become a make shit studio for the little boy to work in and he puts up all of his doodles on the walls.)

• Made out of random scraps of wood and dry wall

• Roof is constructed out of random sheets of metal, mostly corrugated aluminum

• Has three windows

• Awkward/Misfit looking 

• Weathered

• Pigeon’s love to sit on roof of shed

• One wall has an air vent built in

• Small vegetable planter next to door

• Little boy’s drawing table constructed out of  plastic milk crates and a checker board mounted on top of them (How he learns to draw straight lines by using the black and white squares.)

• Light secured to sheds roof using a coat hanger and twist ties

That’s all I’ve got for right now! Be back later. 

Describing my character features

Wow… Just call me a slacker! It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post. So after the last couple of classes I’ve been working on a lot of character studies and different environments. But first I really needed to understand the physical traits and personality characteristics of the environments and the characters themselves. In this post I will list off the features of the three main characters that I am focusing on in my story.

Artist Traits & Characteristics

Age: 67 years-old

Personality Characteristics: Rigid, well spoken, egotistic, pompous, opinionated, rude, hypocritical, narcissistic, dry sense of humor, explosive, easily irritable, passionate (in artistic expression and devotion to his talents)

Physical Traits: Large nose, saggy eyes, bald, hardly smiles but laughs at his own comments and his self-absorbed brilliance, wrinkly hands are callused from years and years of use, somewhat lanky but average height, 'Steve Jobs' look (black turtle neck and Levi 501 jeans), high polished black wing tip shoes

Little Boy Traits & Characteristics

Age: 6 years-old

Personality Characteristics: Unconditionally loving, obnoxiously adorable, extremely outgoing, curious,playful, forgiving, big dreamer, obedient (but continually pushes the boundaries of what his mom considers obedience), honest

Physical Traits: Large head, wavy/somewhat unkept side-parted hair, button nose, small pear shape body, Converse hightop Chuck Taylor's (well worn), Levi 501 jeans (cuffed)

Little Boys Mom Traits & Characteristics

Age: 32 years-old

Personality Characteristics: Independent, protective, best intentions(not always received well or understood), sweet voice (but can be extremely stern when angry), thoughtful, hard-working

Physical Traits: Big hair, kind eyes, round face, brunette, big accessories(earrings, necklaces, etc.), hour glass figure, short height, well groomed(despite financial situation)

I’ll be posting studies hopefully by tomorrow sometime.

Artist Head Concepts

Alright! I’ve started the beginning stages of developing the main characters in my story. I must say I’m really excited to work on the boy and his mom. This class and all the work I end up finishing for it is going to be great to show in my portfolio. 

Apartment Concept for Mother and Child

So this is the concept I created after doing some referencing of 1950s decor and the illustration style of that time. This one took about an hour.

I also tried another idea to make the composition a little more dynamic. 

And now here it is in black and white. 

Revisiting the "Roof Top"

This is the revised roof top concept art that I created in about one hour. I felt that the composition was lacking contrast so I tried a few different options by adjusting color levels and brightness and contrast levels. The other ideas you’ll see below. 

First round of adjustments. I feel like this is working much better.

Second round of adjustments. A little on the cool side. I feel as though it doesn’t have as much warmth as the first adjustment. 

The last adjustment is just to check value structure and see if the composition reads well when color is completely removed.

Inspiration Station!

So I’ve been spending a bit of my time in my schools library, which I visited at least two if not three times a week. And I thought I would share some of the books that I’ve been turning to for a source of inspiration, reference, and reading research. I love our library, they are constantly updating with new books and since the communication design program is still on the smaller side there are tons of options to check out because I don’t know of many students other students who are using the incredible resource we have in front of us.

So here are a few snap shots I took and the links for more information about the books!

http://www.amazon.com/Charley-Harper-Illustrated-Life/dp/0978607651

This book is HUGE! I haven’t had to much time to look through this entire book but man oh man Charley Harpers style just inspires me so much. Basic shapes and thoughtful color selection is met with a crescendo of texture through out all of his work in this book. I absolutely love it!

Put this one on the wish list to own someday because I’m not going to enjoy returning it to the library. 

This next book here is a fun little treat from Richard Horn, published in 1985 by Beech Tree Books. It is titled “Fifties Style: Then and Now."

The setting for my story is in the 1950s and if I’m going to be drawing furniture or any other type of house hold appliances I’m going to need to make sure my drawings are accurate to the era! 

Here’s a link if you want to know more about the book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688021913?tag=openlibr-20

The last book I am using for referencing and inspiration is by Thomas Hine, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1986.

Gotta love me some post-WWII mass consumerism!!

Here’s a link if you want to know more about the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Populuxe-50s-America-Thomas-Hine/dp/B000JQZP1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276033793&sr=1-1

Hope you enjoy my rants and raves. 

Facial Expression Reference is KEY!

When working with expressions in character development, whether for animation or illustration, I’ve realized the believability of that characters existence rides on gesture and facial expression. I believe the latter can evoke just as much emotion if not more than gesture if done correctly. I could be wrong but check out the video below and maybe you’ll understand why I think that.

I was perusing my rss feed and found this on a Top 10 Spelling Bee Freakout’s article at time.com…

I love this kids punctuated facial expression while trying to figure out this word ‘banns'. It’s rather comical and cute all at the same time. I’ll definitely be using this for reference when I start doing some character concepts.

The Painters Shed.

So this concept is based on the little boys make-shift artist studio in the shed on the rooftop of the building that many of the main characters live in. 

Another Concept!

One more concept to add to the group. I played around with composition for a lot longer than I wanted to but feel good about this color study.

Concept Art - Possible Scenery

I will be uploading concept art all weekend! Comment if you’d like. This is an alley way that the boy walks with his mom from time to time to get to their apartment.

This one took about 3 hours – it’s a lot longer than I wanted to spend on it but hopefully I can knock it down to 1 hour. Lets see how it goes!  And I messed around with the color a little and removed the color to see if it was working effectively for lighting.

Okay…Making progress, this one took me only 2 hours this time – This concept would be the inside of the studio where the Artist lives and works. I’ve included a color and black and white version.

Magazine Findings Sketch #4

Sketch #4 • 1 hour 10 minutes

This sketch is pretty self explanatory. Two fish in a fish bowl. I feel like I’m starting to have a better understand for concept now. Hopefully I’m doing this project right!

Magazine Findings Sketch #3

Sketch #3 • 45 minutes

Magazine Findings Sketch #2

Sketch #2 • 1 Hour

This concept feels like the camera just zoomed in really close to the city that was off in the distance in Sketch #1. Any one else get that feeling?

Magazine Findings Sketch #1

Sketch #1 • 45 Minutes

This idea is solely based on piecing stuff together to make a composition. Using only the transparency to adjust the opacity of the layer to get it working the way I want. My next go around might include some drawing over the top of it. I feel like this sketch was a stream of conscious idea more than anything. Just trying to loosen up and not over work or analyze my concepts. On to #2!

Found in a magazine.

So this weeks assignment finds me in magazines. I must collect a wide range of imagery that sparks any kind of interest to me. Here is what I’ve found so far. Enjoy! 

Now all I have to do is take these found pieces and create 4 compositions out of what I’ve found. I’ll post them as I finish them!