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Design Principles Final Project: Visual Analysis

31/10/2021 - 28/11/2021 (W10 - W14)
Evaleez Voo Lian Yun/ 0350275
Design Principles/ Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Final Project: Visual Analysis

Index

Lectures

Lecture 8: Visual Analysis

Visual Literacy

  • Set of abilities that enable an invidividual to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media. 
  • Equip a learner to understand and analyze the contextual, cultural, ethical, aesthetic, intellectual, and technical components involved in the production and use of visual materials. 
  • A visually literate individual is both a critical consumer of visual media and a competent contributor to a body of shared knowledge and culture.

Visual Analysis

  • A method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles.
  • A description and explanation of visual structure for its own sake.
  • Can recognise the choices that a designer made in creating the design
  • To better understand how the formal properties of a design communicate ideas, content, or meaning. 
  • Critical part of visual literacy

How Does Visual Analysis Work?

  • Phase 1: Observation
    • Closely looking at and identifying the visual elements of a design
    • Try to describe them carefully and accurately 
    • Not ready beforehand about the design at all
  • Phase 2: Analysis
    • Think about your observations and try to make statements about the work
    • Think about how specific visual elements that you've identified combine together to create a whole, and what effect the whole has on the viewer. 
    • How you eye is led through the design and why?
  • Phase 3: Interpretation
    • Your observations, description and analysis of the work are fused with the faces about the design work (and sometimes the designer)
    • What is the meaning of the design? What was the purpose for it to be created?
    • Can relate to a certain art style

Instructions

MIB:

 

Part 1: Visual Analysis

  • Select a design of your choice
  • Conduct a visual analysis of the design in about 500 words

Part 2: Design

  • Produce a work of design, by the design you have analysed or as a reaction to it. 
  • Write a 150- 200 word rational for your design.

Part 1: Visual Analysis

Fig 1.0 "花怜锦鲤点梗 西幻pa天使恶魔" by STARember (@STARember on Weibo) (4/11/21)

Note: All links will be added in "References".

1. Observation

"花怜锦鲤点梗 西幻pa天使恶魔" is a digital illustration by STARember, an artist from China. It is in landscape format and focuses on two spiritual beings, being an angel and a demon, with ther bodies palced on the top left corner. Besides that, there's also structural elements like the throne on the left and organic ones like tree branches which have parts of them blurred. The demon in the artwork has a colour pallette that is mainly centred on black and red, with its counterpart having a lighter colour scheme, which consists of golden yellows and white. The artwork is solely illustration, which an exception of the artist's name at the bottom. 

2. Analysis

Fig 1.1 Asymmetrical Balance & Rule of Thirds (4/11/21)

The illistration is composed of an asymmetrical balance, guided by the rule of thirds, i.e both of the character's heads are placed at the intersection point on the top left corner, with the right side having more white space (lighter) than the left (heavier). When a subject is placed closer to one of the edges, it forces the viewer's eyes to follow it and allows the viewer to linger in your artwork longer, and intices a form of interaction between them and the composition.

Fig 1.2 Asymmetrical Balance & Rule of Thirds (4/11/21)

Besides the use of Rule of Thirds, there are also several leading lines within the artwork. For example, the wings of the angel leads your eyes directly to the main subject. The direction of the branches, and how the throne is drawn with vertical textures and curves that point towards the two, gives a sense of framing, leading the viwers' eyes towards the main subject. 

Fig 1.3 Depth (4/11/21)

Another way the artist has lead our eyes towards the main subject is the use of depth in the artwork, such as foreground and background. The colours around the two subjects are dim and blurry, while the main subjects, have bright, clear colours. The use of proper lighting, for example, the outer part of the angel wings are darker, which indicate it being part of a shadow and the light being strongest in between the two also gives a sense of depth to the composition. The red moon located near to them also gives emphasis to the main subjects, as it is contrasting in hue and value. 

3. Interpretation

"花怜锦鲤点梗 西幻pa天使恶魔" is a illustration based off the popular Chinese novel, Heaven Official's Blessing (天官赐福), in which STARember, is the official artist for its comic adaptation. 

Fig 1.4 Heaven Official's Blessing Comic Screenshots (5/11/21)

The main leads of this novel are Xie Lian, the one in white, and Hua Cheng, the one in red. Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was the noble and gracious Crown Prince of Xianle, the glorious Darling of the Heavens. Yet who knew the once Martial God, who was worshipped by millions, had fallen so abruptly, hitting as rock bottom as it got. Eight hundred years after that, Xie Lian ascended again. This time, he had neither devotees nor merits. One day, on the way home from collecting scraps he picked up a young man. This young man was actually that Ghost King of countless faces much talked of in the three realms—Hua Cheng.
 
It's a story of suffering, longing, resilience and love between the two, from their younger years till death again and again. Even though the artwork is not tied to the main plot of the story (it's an AU fanart the artist made for fans), the contrast between the two characters are evident, and their love for each other is showcased amazingly in the artwork. 

Fig 1.5 Interpretation of Subject Relationship (5/11/21)

Based on Chritianity, angels are raised to protect, and points us to God. In contrast, devils are known to lead us astray. So, why then will an angel seek the devil? Just from the expressions themselves, you can tell that both of them are smirking, which gives a sense of forbidden love - something Romeo and Juliet would be proud of. As you look closer, you see the shackles tied around his ankles, which again, forces you to think and make sense of the artwork, because although he is tied to him, he doesn't seem conflicted at all! Even more it seems like the he's the one in control based on their sitting positions!

Adding on to that, STARember also displayed their affection for one another by placing the angel's hand on the devil's chest, layered by the devils hand on top, meaning to say that the pure, innocent angel is the one taking the first move towards the devil. In which case, the devil gladly receives.

Emotion wise, this is a very sensual artwork, that had cleverly used colour theory, rule of thirds and depth to accurately frame the two subjects. It makes who wonder, just who exactly is the devil in this situation? Design wise, I have no complaints. I have always loved STARember and I dare say if art was a body of water, she would be the sea. It has its shallow ends, but as you swim closer to the horizon, you'll notice that there's something deeper within, hidden in plain sight. Without knowing, you've already been engulfed within the waves of elegance and creativity, forcing you to have a conversation with the artwork. 

Part 2: Design

Idea Exploration and Description

In response to STARember's illustration, I wanted to create something that uses the same design prinicples, especially in tersm of how the artist brings focus onto the main subjects. Whilst searching for inspiration online, I stumbled on a poem by David M. Romano, titled, "When Tommorow Starts without me. 


Here is a narrated verson by Tom O'Bedlam:


When I heard this poem, I immediately cried. As someone who has gone through a stage of pure sadness, waking up everyday and thinking, "What is the point of living?". The thought of leaving this world in the arms of an angel, and swiftly saying goodbye to everything sunk deep into my heart. I then decided to center my theme around pain and letting go. In hopes that by expressing my emotions through art, my heart will ache a little less. 

Fig 1.6 Sketch (9/11/21)

I first started with Photoshop, with plans on using a specific dry brush material as the main tool to create my artwork. After referencing some eagle wings, I rounghly sketched out what I wanted for the design. 

Fig 1.7 Re-sketching (9/11/21)

After reorgaznizing parts of the composition, I sstarted to create a cleaning lineart. This was when the organic shapes and of the composition started to get visuallized. 

Fig 1.8 Re-sketching (12/11/21)

During the feedback session with the lecturer, he stated that I should redraw the wings because it looks a bit static. Besides that, he also stated that the composition and background might take away the main focus of the two subject. With the feedback in mind, I resketched the design to let the subjects occupy more space. I also moved my project to CSP because I realized I need more time to learn dry brushes, so I just followed my usual artstyle.While I was sketcing, my YouTube preferences suddenly shuffled onto the song "Till Death Frees Me", by Zevia:


"The day I die will be the greatest night where I'm free"

This lyric inspired me to change the woman (me) from being carried by an angel to falling and saved by an angel. 

Fig 1.9 Testing out colours (15/11/21)

After sketchiing out the bit of line art, I decide to test out some colours. From the start, I wanted to use a regal yet gloomy colour onto my design. 

Fig 2.0 Editing Canvas Size (18/11/21)

After a lot of days of thought, I decided to increase the canvas size and use a landscape orientation instead. 

Fig 2.1 Final Subject Lineart (19/11/21)

The feeling of vulnerability, not being able to change anything around you and being trapped inside your own mind was something I wanted to showcase. So, I decided to draw them naked, except for a piece of clothing that's connecting them (further rationale will be stated in final outcome). I also removed the wings because it was too distracting.

Fig 2.2 Retesting Colours (21/11/21)

It took some time to choose colours, but in the end I managed to choose one that gives focus and depth onto the artwork. Guess which? Surprise! It was none of the three, but instead a combination of all!

Fig 2.3 Flat Colours + Rendered Moon (22/11/21)

Surprise! It was none of the three, but instead a combination of all of them! Besides that, I also rendered the moon and added some snowy branches. 

Fig 2.4 Rendering the woman (24/11/21)

I took some references from 3D models and started the shading/ highlighting process for the woman.

Fig 2.5 Rendering the man + wrap (25/11/21)

Similar to the rendering process of the woman, I also used 3D models as reference to shade the male body. 

Fig 2.6 Further Adjustments (26/11/21)

I edited the colour balance of the man's hair and added some snow in the backdrop to give it a sense of space and depth. 

Fig 2.7 Adding Snow + Minor Adjusments (27/11/21)

Since the setting is based on a winter night, I added some speckles of falling snow onto the design, which also helps with aiding the focus towards the subject. 

Week 14 Process

Fig 2.8 Outcome, Week 14 (28/11/21)

I was quite satisfied with the outcome I had on Week 14. Sinnce one of my goals was to use design elements to lead the eye towards the subject, I decided to ask my friends where their eye naturally focused on and they all said the thigh. Hence, I fixed the lighting and opacity some some elements in the artwork. 

Fig 2.9 Animations (29/11/21)

After finalizing my design, I decided to animate it with sound. 

Feedback

Week 10

  • The chosen artwork for analysis is good
  • It shows leading lines, depth and emphasis very poetically, without having to force it unto people
  • Try to use that as inspiration and creatic something poetic.

Week 11

  • The sketch is nice, but be wary on how the eye will focus on the subject
  • The backdrop may take too much attention. 

Final Outcome

Fig 2.9 Final Outcome (29/11/21)

PDF:


Video Animation:

 

Till Death Frees Me

During the end months of 2020, I felt as though I my life was falling apart. I was very emotionally unstable to the point where I'm either breaking down every night, or straight up lashing out at people under the same roof as me. I was studying something I had no passion for, I had broken up with a long term relationship and physically my body was harming itself. Past traumas resurfaced and new traumas occured. Migraines were a constant thing and painkillers had become my 'daily supplements'. At that point in time I really found no reason to live anymore.  I was too scared to end it all, for fear that it may hurt my family, especially my mother. 

Of course, I reached out for help. I talked to people and they listened, and tried their best to give me strength. I switched universities, even though I was already halfway through. I decided to pursue what I want, money wasn't that important anymore. So, what if I earn less than what I could have? It would mean nothing in the end anyways. 

That's was why David Romano's poem and Zevia's song struck so hard. To be completely honest, I cried doing this. Was it tears of joy? Release? Sadness? 

In this composition, I am the woman. I am falling. Her colour proportions include a greater amount of 'light' in her skin tone, while her har is jet black. This was chosen to represent how people would mostly think of me as a 'bright' person', but in actually my head is constantly wrapped around a darkness that can't escape. It may flow here and there, giving light a chance to pass through, but at the end of the day it's still something my head holds onto. I am naked, because I am vulnerable. I want to fall and yet my hand reaches out the the slightest ray of hope I can find, in hopes that somehow it would help. 

The man represents the people around me, the environment, the things I can't control. He has light coloured hair to show the threads of hope that this world can give me, and there I was, reaching out to it. His expression is serene, accepting me into his arms, much like the people who listened to me when I asked for help. In the video he says, "I remember you loved me, maybe I remembered it wrong." In response my expression is a conflicted one. As a child you would always love life, but as you grow older you start to think. Why am I here?

Overall, I used the principles and theories learnt throughout this course and from my visual analysis to creat this artwork. I placed a moon on the back of the subject to attract the attention of the viewers onto them because it contrasts with the dark background. Besides that, I used the branches, snow and the piece of cloth to lead the viewers onto my subject. The colours used are somber and the two people have contrasting appearances that balance each other. 

Reflection

I am grateful to be able to showcase my favourite artist's work through this project. If you've read through the rationale you can tell that this project was not easy. It was more emotional than most and I'm glad I managed to harness those emotions into my work. 

With this project, I was able to understand visual analysis more. Most times I would look at artworks and think, "Oh this is nice, I like it," but never really gave it enough thought on why it looks so good, why is my focus centered on the subject and not the rest, etc. Morever, I realized my artstyle has been getting more constant nowdays, and I realized I'm drawn to more earthy tones than vibrant colours. 

Will I do this again? Yes. There are some other artists that I like as well, for example WLOP, CongMing and much more. Plus, break is coming so might as well make use of the extra time to better my skills (ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥.

References

STARember Weibo Profile: 

Visual Analysis, "花怜锦鲤点梗 西幻pa天使恶魔":

Heaven Official's Blessing on BiliBili Comics:

Snow credits to FootageCrate: https://vfx.productioncrate.com

Audio Credits to Douyin user, 树一 (@shuyi1529449): https://v.douyin.com/RpAJqWa/
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