# data[].attributes.body
Before the project began, my class went to see the Tim Burton Exhibition in London. A variety of his work was displayed, including costumes from his films, stop motion dolls from films like Corpse bride and instillations. Personally, i was inspired by his development that led to some of my favourite characters in his films. I thought his processes were interesting and i was amazed at how different the characters looked before being finalised. The film ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was one of my favourite films of his and i was shocked to see one of Alice’s dresses on display. After the exhibition i was reminded about how important development is in any project; that was something i wanted to keep in mind for the project.

# data[].attributes.body
Before i started sketching ideas for my final piece, i thought about composition and how i could pose my character. I also thought about options for my typography layout as well. I liked the statue idea though i wanted to try other ideas as well as this one

# data[].attributes.body
This art work is of the character Emily from the film “corpse bride“. When I look at this piece, I feel slightly unsettled as she has an “uncanny“ feeling about her. I believe this is created through Burtons use of lines which are thin and broken. Her hair seems to be made from hatching that thin out towards the end of my hair. I think his use of “scraggly“ thin lines conveys a sense of unease for the viewer as the lines are broken. These lines also create the texture of her hair making it appear damaged and frayed as implied by the mark making. His use pf saturated colours for her skin and lips was an interesting choice. Her skin, despite being dead, is quite saturated and blue whilst her lips are bright red. Maybe this represents how she still posses human qualities despite her situation.

In my opinion, the way Tim Burton Conveys his characters in his work and in films are quite unique and inspiring to me

# data[].attributes.body
In the beginning of the FMP, I kept an open mind for potential themes. From the brief we were given, I chose "Creatures and Hybrids", "Growth and Decay" and "Words and Messages" as well as an additional concept "Self Expression". Whilst creating the mind map, I first thought about where creatures and hybrids came from in the past, for instance, mythology and folklore. I then thought about my favourite creatures designed for video games such as resident evil: renowned for their frightening appearance which I've liked since playing the games. Moving on from video games, I thought about creatures that were made by people on the internet and in films. Despite the concept having a clear theme, there were many different directions thought I could take it to, like character design or concept art.

# data[].attributes.body
After my first initial idea, I began a mind map for words and messages. At first, I thought about how words are spoken and how impactful they can be as well as the potential messages behind them, especially in media like music where lyrics can be interpreted personally as well as resonate with large groups of people. I really liked the idea of illustrating lyrics as i could make the concept more personal with specific parts of songs i enjoy that provoke emotions within the listener. I then thought about different ways words are presented, specifically through communication like electronics and social media as they have a big impact on society. For instance, quite a lot of people are informed of the worlds developments and news through social media like TikTok and Twitter.

# data[].attributes.body
The concept of "self expression" took my interest as i was thinking of how others choose to express themselves, for example, through the way they dress or through their interests. I've always been curious about how other people think and what hobbies and life they might have despite them being strangers. Its a constant reminder to myself that everyone is unique in their identity and how they choose to express themselves. I also thought about the ways in which I express myself, especially through hobbies like art and playing guitar. This theme had potential to explore different aspects of society as well as myself, or, would make its way into another theme.

# data[].attributes.body
Growth and Decay was the last concept I picked from the brief. I initially thought of lifecycles surrounding nature as I've always intrigued by the idea that every living organism grows, lives its life span and then dies, returning back to earth. I then thought about places, for instance, building that have been abandoned and left to rot with nature growing from it. Additionally, growth and decay could represent the state of mind as well as the appearance of a person like aging or diseases such as dementia (the concept could also refer to mental illness and wellbeing). Like the others, this theme had potential but I wasn't too sure what I wanted to focus on

# data[].attributes.body
After creating my mind maps for potential concepts, I created mood boards using pictures from the internet. It included a mix of "scary" and "cute" creatures as both had potential to be a focus if I chose to this concept for my project. As i enjoy creating characters in personal time, creatures or hybrids, i would find this concept really enjoyable. I liked the way that each individual artist had used the formal elements to create their character. For example, to make a cuter creature, brighter and more saturated colours are used as well as rounded and softer shapes to create that "soft look". Whereas creatures from horror games have a less saturated colour palette combined with a distorted form and sharper/rougher

# data[].attributes.body
With this mood board, I focused more on words and lyrics. Some of the images are lyrics from music artists I enjoy as well as lyrics that I resonate with. I also included the poem "Ozymandias" by Percy B Shelly as it details how a ruler was selfish, commanding his people to make a statue for himself to show his power but in the end, it was destroyed by the desert. At that time, i thought it was relevant to the current state of governments around the world despite the fact that time and nature will continue to thrive long after we are gone. I felt like that poem and other poetry would be an interesting concept to focus on if i chose it.

# data[].attributes.body
For this mood board, I made sure to include the aspects I have most interesting within self expression like, people, fashion and media (I also included the expression of emotions as well as gestures as a form of self expression as well). I expressed before hand that i was interested in society and how people choose to express themselves differently as a potential concept id be interested.

# data[].attributes.body
The last mood board was for growth and decay. I focused more on life cycles and the idea of human body's returning to nature/having nature take over them. I also included images of fruits and flowers decaying as part of my mind map included mold. This concept also had potential as its quite vague, meaning I could experiment with the different ideas i had thought of.

# data[].attributes.body
Before i continued developing my theme, me and my peers were tasked with reviewing each others work. We were put into groups to discuss each others initial ideas after being handed a sheet of questions we had to fill out (constructive criticism). Because I wasn't too sure what I wanted my focus to be, my peers identified: my strongest theme, how I could investigate the theme (and other theme links) and what I could research next.

My peers believed "words and messages" and "hybrids and creatures to be my best themes". This activity was helpful as it informed me of my next steps which were to make a mind map (as suggested by another peer) to whittle down my ideas to one.

# data[].attributes.body
Before i continued my initial ressearch, i created a "diagram" to help me focus on what concept interested me most. I wrote down all my concepts (one in each corner) before creating links inbetween them. Using my mindmaps as inspiration, i established common themes amongst my ideas in hopes of finding what im truly interested in.

During the process i realised that "Growth and Decay"could incoporate the other 3 themes in subtle ways, giving me more option for what i may want to do.

I chose Growth an Decay to be my concept to focus on through the project

# data[].attributes.headline
Artist Research ( “Bits” also known as “@bitsbyt3s” on social media) 

# data[].attributes.subject
Artist Research ( “Bits” also known as “@bitsbyt3s” on social media) 

# data[].attributes.body
Illustrator "Bits", or "@bitsbyt3s" on social media creates illustrations of their OC's as well as having opened commissions for those to pay for their work. I didn't know much about them as they prefer to keep their life private on the internet.

# data[].attributes.body
In this piece i have illustrated myself in the style of “Bits” with growth and decay symbolism in the background. For this illustration, i used Adobe Illustrator. Firstly, i made the canvas black before creating a rough sketch (in white) of the subject. I then filled in the different body parts in a base their base colour, making sure to use a similar coulour scheme to one of “Bits” works. Afterward, i added the hatching and background symbols in the shape of skulls and flowers for growth and decay.

Through creating this response, i learnt a new technique that i was fond of which was the hatching as a way of adding vague detail. I also enjoyed the contrast of the black background and the bold subject, it turns the attention of the viewer straight to the subject/s.

This piece could be improved by correcting the anatomy of ears one is higher and smaller than the other. Additionally, the arm is too straight, and to me, appears to come from no where. However, i think i made good use of space as well as achieving the style of the artist without sacrificing my own. Whilst making this artwork i wanted to communicate my theme through a simplistic and obvious way. Although, the flowers and skulls could be mistaken as a symbol of life and death rather than growth and decay. If i were to create this response again, i would change their symbols to represent both growth and decay in a more obvious way by fusing the two together

# data[].attributes.body
For my second response, i chose a different colour scheme (blue and yellow) but kept black as the background. To be more accurate to the artists style, i added stars to the background as they have in their work. Again, i used Adobe Illustrator to create this piece.

Instead of having symbolism of my theme in the background, i drew half “my” face “decaying” whilst the other side remained normal (having potential for growth). However i think this idea is poorly executed as the decaying side isn’t as effective as it could be. For example, there is not shading of the skull nor a realistic portrayal of it.

However, i thought i had executed the artists style quite well again.

Through making thisn artwork i knew in the future of my project id want to communicate my theme better. To do this, i would explore artists that would explore this theme.

# data[].attributes.body
Hitomi Murakami is a Japanese artist born in Osaka in 1990. Her artworks are typically made from ceramic dolls representing decaying/deforming figures of women in a vegetative state.

# data[].attributes.body
In my artist response, i used Procreate on my Ipad to create the illustration. I first started sketching out the two bodies, one man and one woman, giving them different hand placements and “wounds”. I then began adding a base colour to the sketch before shading the bodies and faces as well as smooth details. Lastly i coloured the flowers and plants the same way as the bodies. Through working this way, I learnt how to further develop my skills in Procreate, an illustration program I hadnt used before. I also learn how to download free brushes which helped make the hair and foliage on each subject. I chose Hitomi Murakami as an artist because her work explores growth and decay in a more literal way. I also thought she conveyed these themes in a really interesting way. I believe I had communicated the artist ideas well with the decaying subjects that have life growing from them. The contrasting colour palettes were also something i liked, they both had the same hues but in different scales. However, I thought there was too much negative space in the background. If I were to change it I would add something simple to the background or enlarge the subjects to get rid of the next space. My next steps were to continue finding artist further understanding a different aspect of the theme.

# data[].attributes.body
Anya Gallacio is a Scottish artist aged 62. Her installations often include organic matter which results in the natural processes of decay and transformation. This means that Gallacio is unable to predict the results or her instillations.

# data[].attributes.body
During our intitial research, the classhad the oportunity to use DSLR Cameras as part of our exploration and research. Because i had never used a camera before, i thought it would be an interesting experience as well as learning curve for me. My friend and I were taught the basics of the camera like ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. In the beggining, me and my friend didnt know how to focus the camera when we took the first 19 images. However, we eventually found out how and i took pictures of Daffodils and another species of flower. For my friends project, we took portraits of my sister and her friend as well as eachother.

I enjoyed working with the cameras even though i was uncertain if i would use them in the future. However, i did consider collecting primary research with these cameras as they produce better quality images than my phone

# data[].attributes.body
I first started sketching quick ideas using the images i got of buildings on Procreate. I wasnt too sure if i wanted to put my character inside or outside as it would be easier to show how big he would be outside (i could use his surroundings to communicate this idea). I wanted to keep this in mind as i continued generating ideas

# data[].attributes.body
To further my initial reserach into growth and decay, i looked at Kathleen Ryan. She is known for creating mouldy fruit sculptures made meticulously with gemstones she was born in Los Angeles California in 1984 and is a New York based sculptor.

# data[].attributes.headline
Full Poem Ozymandias by Percy B Shelley.

# data[].attributes.subject
Full Poem Ozymandias by Percy B Shelley.

# data[].attributes.body
The reason i wanted to use this poem going forward was because it had themes of Growth and Decay. For instance, how Ramesses III power decayed overtime as nature took over. The underlying messages were also something i was interested in communicating, as an example, power doesnt last forever- only nature and time will continue on after we die. Additionally that death is inevitable and power is always temporary.

I was unsure if i were to keep the original setting of the poem which was Ancient Egypt or whether to translate the poem into a more modern version. Because i feel strongly about the misuse of power, especially in todays society (where particular governments are becoming more power hungry despite the fact that power doesnt last forever with one individual), i thought that would also be an interesting concept to experiment with.

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimentation with DSLR Cameras (Primary Research Photoshoot)

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimentation with DSLR Cameras (Primary Research Photoshoot)

# data[].attributes.body
Because i enjoyed using the DSLR cameras before hand, me and two friends walked around our college campus to take pictures for our projects. The images i took are the ones featuring nature as well as rusting metal and buildings that have plants and moss growing from them.

As i needed Primary Research for my project, i took these photos as a starting point. I knew id want images of broken buildings and different species of plants further into my project.

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimentation with DSLR Cameras (Second Contact Sheet)

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimentation with DSLR Cameras (Second Contact Sheet)

# data[].attributes.body
During these photoshoots, we also experimented with light and how the sun would affect the outcome of images. We also played around with exposure in some images and i liked how they turned out.

# data[].attributes.body
After researching different pathways of growth and decay through artists, i was still conflicted about what i should focus more on. Instead, i split the growth and decay into separate parts and split it further into physical, spiritual, material and mental. I grew fond of the physical and material aspects, for instance, life cycles and the growth and decay of power. To take inspiration for this idea, i looked back at the first mind maps of this project and saw the poem “Ozymandias”. This Poem was written by Percy B Shelly and the story was based off a selfish ruler in ancient edypt, Ramesses II. He was obsessed with power and the idea of being remembered, but time and nature slowly destroyed what he had created after his death.

# data[].attributes.body
As i had enjoyed using mark making in my pervious projects, i wanted to experiment with ink in different ways. I used a calligraphy pen to start with; id never used one before and i was interested to see how it worked. By dipping the pen in ink, i tried out different mark making techniques before replicating one of my primary photos.

(Top right drawing)

Firstly, i drew in the rough shapes of the mushrooms in the tree trunk as well as the darker areas of the stump. Afterwards, i began hatching to create tone and distinction between the fungi and wood. Through this process, i learnt how to use a calligraphy pen (which i found to be smooth and easy to use) as well a show to apply my knowledge of mark making to ink.

I quite liked how the experimentation was going so i thought to develop it further by using different techniques as well as colours.

# data[].attributes.body
For the cherry blossom, i used one of my photos as a reference before i started to sketch loosley with the caligraphy pen. Using yhe same method as before, i blocked in the shadows using hatching techniques. With this drawing however, I used different techniques like blowing ink over the drawing with a plastic straw as well as dipping my finger tips in ink to create loose red petals and using an ink dipped paintbrush. I loved the effect that these techniques created which i would continue experimenting with later.

# data[].attributes.body
To understand the poem Ozymandias further, i created a mood board based off the era it was set. (Ancient Egypt).

This would help me develop my ideas and under surrounding the poem.

# data[].attributes.body
Using the Ozymandias mood board as inspiration, i continued to experiment further, this time, with different coloured inks. Again, i played around with different hatching techniques in purple and green before swatching all 4 colours. I loved the vibrancy of coloured inks; that would be something i hoped to continue achieving with different mediums in the future.

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimentation with Ink (a closer look)

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimentation with Ink (a closer look)

# data[].attributes.body
For the red ink ruins, I used the same process as before. However, i watered down ink to block out the main shadows in the drawing after the ink beneath had dried. Again, i loved the vibrancy the red ink displays. Throughout this piece, i thought about how i could incorporate ruins and destroyed buildings into project. However that would be something i had to research. I also liked how as the ink dried on my brush, it created a similar grainy texture sand that i had hoped to achieve. If i were to make this piece again, i would fix the perspective as some of the rubble looks “off”.

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimentation with Ink (a closer look)

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimentation with Ink (a closer look)

# data[].attributes.body
For this ink work, i recreated a part of the poem, (Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. . . . Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command”). The process was the same for the last ink drawing, only this time i used a vivid blue ink instead of red. I believed i had communicated this part of the poem well as it had both the pair of legs and half sunken face that was described. I also thought i had made a good use of space as well as using a variation of thick and thin line work. My next steps going forward were to research more about power in the modern day as well as looking into other mediums.

# data[].attributes.body
Again, i used images i had collected to create another potential environment on Procreate. I liked this composition, however, i wasnt too sure on where i could place my character as i wanted him to be the centre of the illustration. Putting him in the centre of this idea would block the houses and buildings in the background which would ruin the illusion of how big he is. I decided to move from this idea and continue sketching other possible ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
After choosing to incorporate the poem “Ozymandias” into my project, i thought about what message id want to communicate going forward. I also thought about power and how it can affect society and an individual. For example, how governments abuse power and status as well as how an individual gains power over another. These were concepts i wanted to research before experimenting with ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
To further my understanding on power, i created questions for myself to research in order to fully understand the concept of it. I thought it would be important research if i were to create a character based off this concept. The concept of power relates to my theme of growth and decay because power itself can be gained and lost (it can grow and decline). Power can also distort a persons environment as well as cloud their judgement and morals for the sake of power. Later on i would begin to think about what this character would look like and how it would affect the environment around them (whether it would decay and other similar ideas)

# data[].attributes.body
As i were to create a monster based off power, i made a mood-board which consisted off rough colour schemes (red, black and purple as they symbolise power, royalty and authority). I also looked into games that had monsters and creatures such as “The Last Of Us” (an apocalyptic zombie game), and Resident Evil (a similar concept to The Last Of Us). Other pictured on the mood board were images i had found on the internet that had the horror element that i wanted to communicate. I think what made these creatures scary was their deformed and rigid shape. Their dull colour also contributes to this feeling which was something i wanted to convey when creating my character. From this, i would begin my initial development of my character.

# data[].attributes.body
To start off my designing my character, i played around with different shapes for the head and body of the creature.

I then took aspects of what i liked from the previous sketch and experimented with it further. I repeated this process until the page was full. Whilst sketching i thought about how i could communicate where different places of power are abused. For example, one of the sketched creatures is wearing a tie to symbolise Corporate/Government power. I wanted to keep experimenting with these different ideas before solidifying my character

# data[].attributes.body
Taking what i liked from the previous sketches, i began to be more thoughtful about what i wanted to communicate through the creature. I also began to play around with the thought of a more robotic creature as i wanted a strong contrast between natural and unnatural power. By creating the creature to be robotic and mechanical, i could create contrast in its environment by making it organic and natural. This would display the difference between natural and unnatural power in a way i envisioned it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
(I had to speed up the video because the original was too big for Padlet)

# data[].attributes.body
Because i couldnt access blender or any known 3D modelling software, i found one on the app store for free and downloaded it onto my Ipad. Its very similar to Blender, however, it was a lot more simpler and was missing many features (it still contained the main ones like sculpt mode, modelling, texture.)

In the app, it included a library with basic 3D shapes and other subjects like animals, people and objects. I screen recorded the whole process of me playing around with tools and different modes to get an idea on how to use the app.

# data[].attributes.body
After getting a feel for the app, i discovered a texture feature that allowed me to apply their preset textures to objects. They had some concrete textures as well as natural ones which i thought would be useful if i wanted to create a 3D version of the creatures environment.

# data[].attributes.body
As i got more used to the app i made a snowman as they have simple shapes. I used the sphere in the basic shapes section to make up its body, eyes, buttons and mouth. With a cylinder, i made his top hat and a cone for his nose. Afterward, i used the material tool to colour its respective parts. For my first attempt at 3D modelling i was quite impressed with the sknowman as i thought the program would be quite difficult

# data[].attributes.body
I chose to create a 3D representation of the creature (using the sketches i had as inspiration) because it was an accessible way for me to envision the creature, especially how i could improve the character whilst sketching in the future. I liked the use of sharper and more distorted shapes that i used for the creatures form as i believe they make it appear more scary and unnaturally human (uncanny). I could definitely develop this idea into sketches later as it heavily relates to my idea that the negative use of power or “power trips” can distort a person’s perception as well as judgement as ive mentioned. I also liked the facial expression that the character portrays; it looks angry and malicious which was what i was hoping for.

Through working with this 3D Modelling Program, i had learnt the basics which could be used when experimenting with a more complicated program such as Blender. I also thought this was a fun way to envision this creature more clearly. My next steps were to continue developing my character into a final design as well as to find an artist that illustrates robots.

# data[].attributes.body
I started off with a base that was in the object library before adding two cubes to form a rough wing shape.

# data[].attributes.body
I then used the sculpt tool to carve a rough shape of wings. However, i had difficulty creating the details of the wings as i struggled to use the sculpt tool

# data[].attributes.body
After creating the “wing ears”, i began sculpting the face. By pulling down the jaw and eyebrows, i created the beginning of an angry expression

# data[].attributes.body
Finally, i added sharp and pointy teeth by adding cylinders from the object library before distorting them. I moved the teeth into position then copy pasted them to other other side of the jaw. I made sure to keep them uneven and different lengths to achieve a scarier look

# data[].attributes.headline
Metals and textures Primary Research Photos

# data[].attributes.subject
Metals and textures Primary Research Photos

# data[].attributes.body
Because i wanted my character to resemble a mechanical and robotic look, i used my phone to take pictures of metal objects and textures around my college. I found a range of different metals which i planned on utilising either through collage or observational studies to further my understanding of what metal looks like realistically as well as how different metals reflect light

# data[].attributes.headline
Metals and textures Primary Research (Extras)

# data[].attributes.subject
Metals and textures Primary Research (Extras)

# data[].attributes.body
As another possible way of showing his scale, i sketched a quick idea that had him in the background with small buildings in the middle ground and foreground. I liked this idea as he looks like a giant compared to the buildings below so illustrated it in Procreate

# data[].attributes.body
Ian Mcque is a conceptual artist that was born in Edinburgh Scotland. Mcque has spent over 20 years in the video game industry as lead concept artist and assistant art. He is known for being the lead concept artist and assistant director of rockstar North from 1995 to 2014 which made games such as GTA.

# data[].attributes.body
Before i created responses to Ian Mcques illustrations, i took pictures of smaller metal objects to aid my development. . Using my phone, i took pictures of any interesting shaped objects i had found from either outside or in my bedroom. This included, scrap wire and metal, jewellery, trinket boxes, my lamp (as it had a mechanical look to it) and car keys. I used my sketchbook as a white background to take clear images as well as objects in different perspectives.

# data[].attributes.headline
More metal objects photos (Primary Research)

# data[].attributes.subject
More metal objects photos (Primary Research)

# data[].attributes.body
This was my first response to Ian Mcques robots. In this illustration, I used my primary research and my imagination as inspiration for developing the character. As I wanted my character to have a more robotic and rigid form, using Ian McHugh techniques help me develop my knowledge on mechanical figures. I first sketched rough shapes and shadows of the robot before using a 0.5 and 0.1 fine liner for the line art. Like Ian Mcque, I used hatching techniques to show darker areas of the robot. I was pleased with my use of line and ability to apply Mcques techniques to my own work; the sharp and bold lines gives a mechanical impression. The worn effect that the hatching creates something I also liked. However, I wanted to develop more on creating realistic textures for my character. I also wanted to develop my character by using more of my primary research as inspiration rather than my imagination. After my response, I felt more confident in my line work as well as my ability to create a convincing robotic character. To make further progress, I would have to continue developing the character how i envisioned.

# data[].attributes.body
After my first response, I created a second that was mainly made from the objects in my primary research. This response helped develop my character further as I took aspects that I liked from the previous response. For example it’s spine. As well as its facial structure and masculine body build to create the second response. This illustration was made with the same process as before, however with the line art, I paid more attention to small details and shadows in the robot. I also used vertical hatching to imply the shadows on the character aswell as the tomes of different mechanical parts. I thought the best feature of this illustration was the different aspects of power that are subtle within the robot.

I wanted to communicate some of the possible places and people that abuse power fused into one being. For example, the number 10 on its armour represented 10 Downing Street where the Prime Minister lives. Another example is the crown that not only represents Ozymandias but previous monarchies past and present. It’s intentionally misshapen to symbolise the cracks and questionable ruling of past royalty. I wanted to include religious imagery also, so the “wings“ on his head symbolise at (also distorted). However, that could be developed more as they don’t necessarily look like wings. I also much prefer the line work and hatching used in this illustration as it looks more intentional than the previous. Next, I would continue to develop the character and develop the traits it holds.

# data[].attributes.body
As I didn’t like the look of my characters limbs, I decided to develop them a little more. I wanted the legs to more animalistic to create an uncanny feeling as this character is an entirely human. With the arms, I wanted them to look more mechanical, so I brought down the joints in a human arm before slowly replacing it with mechanical features. The characters hands resemble the inhumane look; they also appeared to be a weapon, something similar to a scythe. Scythes are used to harvest which I thought could be an interesting way of communicating how power (if used immorally) can strip away the humanity of an individual as well as the victim.

However, i still didnt like the legs which would be something id have to develop more

# data[].attributes.body
As my character is made of metal, I studied some metal objects from my primary research photos to further my understanding of how different metals looked and how light reflects from their surfaces. With each drawing, I used HB and 2B pencil to create the dark, light and midtones of the metals, however, this could be developed by creating more contrast between the light and dark areas of the objects. I quite liked my use of hatching on the sketches as they show the direction of the surfaces as well as a texture (some big more worn/scratched). I’m from the destroying, I had a better understanding of metallic textures as well as their form which I planned to apply throughout the rest of the project.

# data[].attributes.body
Because Procreate was the most accessible digital app for illustrations, i swatched brushes i hadnt used before. I was particularly drawn to the texture brushes as there were some that resembled metal or brick. For instance, “Melaleuca” and “grunge” have a These textures would be good for creating a rusted and worn look my character. I also liked the brushes “Old Beach” which hand a grainy texture yet was easy to blend. I planned to keep experimenting with Procreate with its other features that give the canvas effects as well as changes the hues.

# data[].attributes.headline
Experimentation with effects in Procreate

# data[].attributes.subject
Experimentation with effects in Procreate

# data[].attributes.body
Whilst i experimented with effects on Procreate, one stood out in particular which was “Gradient”. The tool creates gradients with the brushstrokes in the layer, but it also has the capability of changing grayscale to a colourful gradient. I wanted to experiment with this feature by developing my own second response from Ian Mcque.

# data[].attributes.headline
2nd Ian Mcque response developed in Procreate

# data[].attributes.subject
2nd Ian Mcque response developed in Procreate

# data[].attributes.body
To develop my character more, i chose to reuse my second response to Ian McHugh. I used the paintbrush flat brush for the line art as it was easier to add line variation. As i was used to using the brush in my personal work, the line one didn’t take long. To further experiment with the gradient feature, I fully rendered the head with the “old beach” brush and used greyscale colour palette so that tweaking the colour would be easier. I wanted a variation of different tones so that the gradient would be smoother as well as have strong contrast between different features of the face.

# data[].attributes.body
For the base of the head I used the “old beach” brush and fully coloured it with a mid grey tone. This would make an easy starting point for me as starting off with highlights or shadows would’ve been confusing. When I began rendering, there was a lot of trial and error so I decided to block in shadows, highlights and mid tones before fully rendering the details. Whilst rendering I found that the old beach brush was limited in the texture it could provide. To solve this problem, I knew to download more texture brushes that resembled metals as the ones installed into Procreate were limited. I also thought about making my own textured brushes, however I would have to learn how, as it wasn’t something I’ve done before.

# data[].attributes.body
For further experimentation with gradients, I copied and pasted the head before applying gradient that I had made as well as the gradient given to me. I mainly focused on the colour scheme of black red and purple because those colours symbolised power and royalty; i even created two rusty gradients as a potential varying idea for my character. However, I think the gradients were too saturated and intense considering that most monsters have a duller and more muted colour palettes. I would have to continue developing a colour scheme that suited the character.

# data[].attributes.headline
Downloading Textured brushes for Procreate

# data[].attributes.subject
Downloading Textured brushes for Procreate

# data[].attributes.body
Since I had already downloaded brushes before on Procreate, it wasn’t difficult to download brushes that were free on the website such as Gumroad.com.

However, it was difficult to find metallic brushes for free as most of them you have to pay for. The brushes that i was able to download were better than i expected as they had a range of different brushes in each pack. The three also vary each other in metallic materials, for example, the first has a foil type texture whereas the third is clearly for more shiny metals. Even with these brushes, i felt like i could expand my options more as i wondered if i could make my own brushes.

# data[].attributes.body
This was an illustrated sketch of the idea before on Procreate. After i finished the illustration, i wasn’t too fond of it as i thought it was quite basic, however, i liked the composition. As i wanted to create 2 final pieces that showed the growth and decay of my character, i wasn’t too sure how i could communicate his and the surrounding environments decay so i moved on from this idea and continued sketching others.

# data[].attributes.body
As an experiment, I created a collage of my robot out of the metal and brick pictures I had taken previously. I first created a rough sketch to follow before tearing up the images and glueing them down accordingly. I focused on creating a more geometric form to simplify and breakdown the shapes he was made from. I think I achieve this quite well as the harsh shapes give him a rigid look i hoped to achieve. I think using images of texture for this character was successful and I liked the clear distinction it created for the parts that hes made from. I could develop this more by experimenting/finding textures to use which would accentuate his features more.

# data[].attributes.body
Since I was planning on making my own brushes, I would need my own images and textures to be able to import them onto Procreate with a graphite pencil. I looked around my house for any interesting textures that could work as brushes are quite liked the texture that my ceiling and wall created as they would give my character a more rustic and worn look that I wanted to achieve. I also liked the textures of the ladder as they could be used to create more interesting features on the robot.

# data[].attributes.body
I also liked the texture that the grate created as I thought it could be used to make certain parts of my character stand out as it’s an interesting pattern. However, the rest of them werent as interesting.

# data[].attributes.body
To develop my characters ears into angel wings, I sketched a variety of different ideas to find one that fit. This would be used to symbolise religious power. I wanted to achieve a rougher shape as i did with the crown as it was important to specifically resemble the negative power that religion can have. The idea thats circled would be the one i would move forward with in my characters design. Now that i had a better understanding of how i would create the winged ears, i was ready to focus on other aspects of my character to ensure that these features are clear.

# data[].attributes.headline
Procreate brushes made from graphite rubbings

# data[].attributes.subject
Procreate brushes made from graphite rubbings

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/QPCfd_J0CdM?si=AAj5WKZJN6Qa5vF8

(The youtube video i used as guidance)

As i had never created my own textured brush in Procreate. I found a youtube video and followed the steps; using the graphite rubbings before hand. I took pictures of them before importing them into Procreate. It was a simple process and i like the grainy texture that these new brushes give off. These would help create the specific texture i wanted to achieve as i couldn’t find free brushes like these.

# data[].attributes.body
To continue developing my use of mark making, i experimented with different technique as well as applying them to observational drawings. I could tell i had improved as my lines appeared more intentional within the subjects. By using fine liners with varying thickness, i was able to create contrasting tones to create depth. In my final piece, i wanted to use hatching to show the direction of surfaces as well as to display texture.

# data[].attributes.body
With my final piece in mind, i thought about making 2 different environments for my character to showcase the growth of his power as well as his decay of it. I wanted an environment he would “thrive” in; something industrial and chaotic to suit his character. For his contrasting environment, i thought the opposite of mechanical would be organic and natural life. So i did some basic research on flowers that symbolise growth and rebirth. These flowers were to be prominent within my ideas to communicate the idea that an individuals power is never permanent and will eventually succumb to nature (death). Like the idea “memento mori”, i wanted my character to display this in the second illustration

# data[].attributes.body
To include some of the lines in the poem Ozymandias, i went onto a font website called Dafont and picked out fonts i thought would work. I then downloaded them and put them on Adobe Illustrator. I quite liked the “Dogica”, “Living Stone” and “Minecraft” fonts as they were simple and easy to read yet had an interesting pixel and cursive to them. I thought this would further the “artificial” idea but i would have to continue developing this idea with these fonts.

# data[].attributes.body
As i wanted to keep experimenting with his scale, i thought about a city setting as i could make the environment more mechanical and chaotic. I thought the concept of him destroying a city would be suited for his character as he is the embodiment of destructive power.

# data[].attributes.body
As i would be focusing on environments now, i was inspired by one of my favourite animated series “Arcane” (The show is based of the game “League of Legends). The style is mostly painterly and sketchy mixed together which was something i wanted to achieve in my work.

# data[].attributes.headline
Subtle ways to include different places of power

# data[].attributes.subject
Subtle ways to include different places of power

# data[].attributes.body
To finalise the different aspects i wanted to include, i quickly sketched them and wrote my thoughts and the meaning behind these small references in the characters design. I thought it was important to explain my reasonings behind these small details in my character as they symbolise his meaning as a character

# data[].attributes.body
As i hadn’t solidified a colour scheme, i created a fully rendered illustration of my character before playing around with gradients once more. I wanted to keep the colour palette simple and less saturated as most “scary” creatures featured had. I ended up picking three; one which had a rusted look, one which looked like metal and another that had a more saturated red.

# data[].attributes.body
After figuring out his colour scheme, i made two other illustrations of his side profile and an alternative head which i had preferred and developed earlier on. I liked the alternative head more because there was more contrast in tones and there was clear development with his winged ears and head from before. I also thought that this version of his head made him look more mechanical and scary.

Now that his character had been fully completed, I could move onto environment’s for my final pieces.

# data[].attributes.body
To practice arcane’s style, I made observational drawings of flowers using pictures i had taken. I used the “Flat Brush” as an attempt to achieve the style. I thought my use of bold brushstrokes closely resembled their style as well as my use of bold colour. In my final piece i wanted to combine my style with theirs to portray a more interesting environment in the work.

# data[].attributes.body
Before i began sketching initial ideas for my final piece, i used a Nikon camera to take photos of industrial buildings as well as flowers and foliage. This would help me develop my ideas and give me an idea of what certain structures and shapes could look like in my final piece.

# data[].attributes.body
Using the idea before, i used procreate to illustrate a city in flames. Though, i struggled to think of a place to put my character as the flames would obstruct the view of him and i wanted his character to be clear in my final piece. Taking this idea i decided to make another illustration where he could be seen

# data[].attributes.body
As previously mentioned, this idea was inspired by the one before. But again, i wasn’t too fond of how it looked and i wanted to be confident in my ability to create my final pieces. I also thought the composition was a bit weak and I believed it was the building shape, and how i chose to illustrate the work that through me off.

# data[].attributes.body
I chose to continue sketching ideas and this one i was quite fond of. He is sat down on a throne of sorts in an enclosed space. By using the show “Arcane” as inspiration as well as my primary research, i liked this idea of him as he also looked like a statue like there was in the poem Ozymandias.

# data[].attributes.body
On Procreate, I illustrated the idea before and i much preferred this than the other ideas i had come up with. However, i would need to develop this more, especially in order to create his scale that i wanted to achieve in my final piece

# data[].attributes.body
As further development of my idea, i created the illustration again, tweaking a few things like the foreground, middle ground and background to create depth in the illustration. I used more geometric shapes to create the background and foreground as the character himself is made from those same shapes. This made sure the environment would be more cohesive with the character. I also liked the lighting as the further away the ground was from the viewer, the lighter it got (which would be something i had to keep in mind if i wanted to create depth in my final piece).

# data[].attributes.body
As i had chosen three fonts before hand, i used an initial idea thumbnail to see how they might look on a piece. I wasn't fond of the "Minecraft" one as the font itself looked too tall and bold for my liking. I was going for something simple and noticeable so that it wouldnt distract from the artwork itsef.

# data[].attributes.body
The "Dogica" font was my favourite as i liked its simplicity as well as how the letters spaced themselves out (which made the letters look less cramped). I also liked how it had the same pixel effect as the Minecraft font but was slightly smaller.

# data[].attributes.body
The 'Living stone' font was my least favourite as it didnt feel appropriate with the environment my character was in. It had a more mediaeval feeling compared to the two other fonts i used. Again, i was looking for fonts that were simple and interesting so i decided not use this one.