Evaluation

After the weeks I have worked on this project I feel I have succesfully achieved the outcome specified by the brief. I have created a functioning animated story complete with sound.

I had originally intended to narrate my story but I had trouble finding a functioning microphone of suitable quality.
So I settled instead for just having music playing in the background.
I had used a piece from the Shiki OST called Mosaic, but found that it was not long enough to cover my entire power point so I edited it in audacity.

Audacity is one of the few programs I used and learned about for this project.
I had to learn about audacity myself having hardly any previous experience with it.

I also used a program called PaintToolSAI which makes a change from my usual art program of choice (Photoshop) I was already fairly well equipped to use SAI and found that I could get the artwork I required for this project done quite quickly. This is probably the part I enjoyed most about the project. I tried to evidence the progression of each of my drawings by taking screen shots and uploading them to my blog.



The only other part of the project that coused a slight problem was getting to Radcliffe Tower. The main source of inspiration and set base of my story. But this was resolved when our class went during college time to take pictures of not only the tower but also the archeological dig.The fact that the dig was going on however did limit the extent to which we could view the tower.




Because my project was based mainly on the story telling there weren't many specific artists I could look into, so I chose to simply look into a popular illustrator called Brian Sanders. His slightly dark looking drawings where slight inspiration when it came to the colour scheme of my drawings.


After not working with powerpoint for so many years it was refreshing to come back and see it had improved. This meant my story could be customized far easier and looked better.




All in all I believe I have completed the brief. Telling an interesting story though digital mediums and adding sound and illustrations to.

Photoshop Experiments

I prefer using SAI for artistic drawings. the tools are easier and more diverse.

 Photoshop is a better editing software. But I sketched up a side view of the tower using this reference image I took when visiting the remains.

The colouring style is slightly different to my previous drawings as photoshop does not have the same variety of textures and brushes.

Setting up on power point

A very simple means of presenting my work is through power point. With the ability to showcase all of my images and the written story whilst also being able to add in a soundtrack makes this ideal to meet the brief requirements. I will have to add the soundtrack later as it has to be downloaded but I intend to use a Shiki OST song Mosaic. I also plan to narrate my story over the top of the music. But cannot do this until I can find a mic of suitable quality, Or else you may not be able to hear what I am saying.

Illustrator Brian Sanders

Brian Sanders originally working in an advertising agency, brought into the intelligence section of the royal marines for his skills in drawing, then finally going freelance. Brian sanders has seen a lot of the differing parts of the illustration world.

Commissioned by magazines like woman's mirror and lilliput magazine Sanders slightly warped style of drawing certainly draws the eye.
Although most characters and objects are in proportion, there is something slightly strange about the perspective and technique that sets his work apart.

Although my characters will be slightly more cartoon-like and stylized the dark atmosphere of the first picture is something I would like to use or try and replicate in my main image. By using quite dark and warm colours like black,brown and red, I should be able to achieve the right kind of atmosphere for my story.

Moodboard- Art and Fashion 15th Century

As my story will be set in the 15th century, The characters will have to wear 15th century clothes. So I decided to look into these as well as some popular art/trends of the time, that may also influence and inspire the flow of my storyline.

Roses

After looking at some primary reference images, I drew up some roses that will feature in my presentation.

Mainly as border decoration. But also the main feature of the front page. I worked on creating these designs in a program called PaintToolSAI. As I have used with all my other pictures.

Tower Story - Art Work

I used this reference picture:

As basis to create my main piece of artwork for the tower story. That I have now named "War Of The Roses - The Last Letter". Although the pose doesn't look exactly the same as the above image, it was still useful for reference.

I sketched up the original pose from the reference but changed a few things to fit in with the storyline slightly more. The scan is a little messy. I then sketched up a similar pose digitally. and then made a line art and coloured it. 

Second Reference Images

When looking back at the reference images I had gathered previously I realised the angles at which I had taken them where not correct or appropriate for the kind of illustraition I wanted to do. So I had the same models pose for them again so I could get some new and better reference pictures. For my final drawing I have chosen to use the last image on the contact sheet.

Writing a story

As a part of my project I have to tell a story. For this I need a storyline.

I looked online at various websites and personal accounts on how to write a good/passable story. My piece of fiction would be based at Radcliffe Tower as it was during the war of the roses.

Whilst the war of the roses was on, the manor part of the tower and the tower itself where both standing. I wanted to use small facts like this to make my story seem more believable. But I also wanted to create completely fictitious characters. So that I could tailor the plot to include exactly what I wanted.

Reference images

In order to create realistic and well structured characters, I had to gather reference images. 

T-pose reference images

The T-pose references should have been taken at a slightly lower angle. So that The camera was more inline with the stomach or lower chest, to avoid perspective distortion of proportions.

Other pose reference images contact sheet.

Radcliffe Tower

I had the opportunity to visit the site of the Radcliffe tower dig site. Whilst there weren't any archeologists. A large fence has now been secured around the entire site to protect and preserve it.

15th Century Armour

 15th Century basic armour for battle:

Project Proposal

For my project based around the 15th Century I have decided to look into a specific event within it. The War Of The Roses. A long lasting fight between the house of Lancaster (Represented by the Red Rose) and York.(Represented by the White Rose)

 I intend to create a range of characters based loosely around the war of the roses. Looking into what battle armour and weapons they would have used in that time. For the characters I will be designing clothes with illustrations, creating a brief plot or profile for the character and drawing it up in some presentational form.

 I won't be using any characters that really existed. But I will be looking into the main people from the war and could perhaps base a character from them extremely loosely. For example I could make a character similar to Henry VI. Having his title but not his name or appearance. Or I could make completely fictitious characters that wouldn't play such vital roles in the war.

15th Century Timeline

1400

The first piano was created. It was a harpsichord known as the Spinet.

1411
Trigger invented.

1420

Oil painting invented.

1421

Hoisting gear invented in florence.

1450

Spectacles with lenses for near sighted people created by Nicholas of Cusa.

1455
Johannes Gutenberg invents printing press.

1465

Drypoint engravings created in Germany.

1475

Muzzle-loaded rifles invented in Italy and Germany.

1486

Fist known copyright granted in Venice.

1885

First parachute designed by Leonardo DeVinci 

1487

Bell chimes invented

1492

Leonardo DeVinci first theorises about flying machines

Martin Behaim invents first map globe.

1494

Whiskey invented in Scotland

Radcliffe Tower

In 1403 James De Radcliffe had the Radcliffe tower made, as part of a rebuild of his manor house.
Not much is known of the manor house before construction of the tower. Archaeologists suggest it may have originally been a great hall. Made from timber.
Only after the building of the great tower did Radcliffe manor actually have any record of it's appearance. But to have this tower built De Radcliffe had to get permission from the king to fortify his property.

On the 15th of August 1403 "A licence to crenellate"from King Henry IV gave permission for De Radcliffe to build a new great hall, two towers and an outer wall to enclose these within. There has been much debate amongst archaeologists working on the site as to wether one or two towers was built. but as of now there has only been evidence of there being one.


Although the tower is now the only remaining element of De Radcliffe's creation there was a great hall built at the same time to the west of the tower that is no longer standing.