Illustration & Visual Narrative - Task 2: Digital Triptych

22/09/2022 - 07/10/2022 (Week 4 - Week 6)

Ahmad Firas Bin Ahmad Fisal (0345121)

Illustration & Visual Narrative | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media |

Taylor's University | Mr. Hafiz Zamri

Task 2: Digital Triptych 


INSTRUCTIONS




Task 2: Digital Triptych

We were briefed by our lecturers on task 2, Digital Triptych and were required to create a 3-panel artwork in conjunction with the HONOR Talents Global Design Awards Competiton with given themes of choice; Cultural Celebration or Renewal of Life. Each panel has to be 1200 x 1200 px and we could only use Adobe Illustrator for the entire project. 

To brainstorm:

1. Think of a story where we can visualise the narrative as a triptych display.
2. Create an intriguing story that can be visualised in a series of three, for example, depictions of the Past, the Present, and the Future.
3. Think of designs that capture the unique, fleeting and meaningful moment in the narrative.
4. Create sophisticated scenes for the subjects that interact both visually and psychologically with meaningful figures and ground relationships.

--

The theme that I've decided to go for is Cultural Celebration. An idea came to mind to incorporate my own culture which is the Raya celebration into those panels to create a narrated illustration. Before I started sketching out my own ideas, I took my own time to have visual research first on triptychs created by other artists to see how they develop the whole artwork and also how I could use them as my reference.


I came across this award-winning artist, Leanne Hatch while I was doing my research and I was phased by her narrative art skill. The action depicted speaks louder than actual words and that is how viewers of Leanne's art could understand the entire panels just by looking at them proving that there's a sufficient flow to the polyptych artwork.

Figure 1.1 - Triptych Visual Reference by Leanne Hatch


So, to kickstart my own triptych panels, I first sourced pictures and illustrations out there that I could use as my reference to the celebration of Raya. Instead of telling a story of the whole celebration of Eid, I've decided to specifically narrate the Morning of Eid in my panels because I feel like those are more spiritually sacred to the whole celebration and often overlooked by the feasting that we would have later in the day.


Figure 1.2 - Reference #1

Figure 1.3 - Reference #2

Figure 1.4 - Reference #3



These reference pictures enabled me to start my sketch more confidently, so I used Procreate to sketch out my ideas. the figure below shows the first rough sketch that I was able to achieve in a single sitting.
I wanted to narrate the story of the Morning of Eid by making a flow from the moment the figure is walking towards the Mosque in the morning, performing his Eid Prayer, followed by a panel that shows us two figures performing their Salam Raya, a cherished tradition here in Malaysia. Raya is also a time of universal forgiveness, it is customary for us who celebrate Eid to seek forgiveness and also to give forgiveness to other people. This is where the bond becomes stronger than ever because these rituals make us become more vulnerable and that in itself is a showcase of strength.

Figure 1.5 - Sketch #1


I've decided to clean up the sketch by inking it so I could see those 3 panels more clearly to check for the movement and flow of the intended narrative and also to check the composition of the designs of each panel and also to the triptych panels.

Figure 1.6 - Inking #1


Before I utilise the Pen Tool to start with my creations, I make use of the Brush Tool first to create my colour palette to insure that I comply with the Harmony & Unity design principle learned in the Design Principles module. Harmony makes any artwork more appealing so that is why I've decided to create my colour palette beforehand.

Colour Palette #1 - Main colours are to be used across the panels to ensure harmonious narration.
Colour Palette #2 - Secondary colours are to be used across the panels to support Palette #1.
Colour Palette #3 - Colours for nature and also Hari Raya decorations.
Colour Palette #4 - Gradient colour for the sky across the panels.

Figure 1.7.1 - Colour Palette #1


Figure 1.7.2 - Colour Palette #2


Figure 1.7.3 - Colour Palette #3

Figure 1.7.4 - Colour Palette #4

Digital progress for each panel is documented below:

-- Panel 1

Figure 1.8.1 - Mosque and Background Trees


Figure 1.8.2 - Figure and Pathway


Figure 1.8.3 - Foreground Trees


Figure 1.8.4 - Panel 1



-- Panel 2

-

Figure 1.9.1 - Mosque Interior


Figure 1.9.2 - Figure Praying


Figure 1.9.3 - Panel 2


-- Panel 3

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Figure 2.0.1 - Window Panes and Raya Decoration


Figure 2.0.2 - Figures Hugging


Figure 2.0.3 - Panel 3


FINAL WORK (JPEG)

We are also required to embed our artworks/panels with the provided format by the Honor Talents committee, it is part of the submission for us to envision our panels in these wallpapers/stickers format.

Figure 3.0.1 - Template #1 for Final Submission

Figure 3.0.2 - Template #2 for Final Submission

Figure 3.0.3 - Template #3 for Final Submission

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