Illustration & Visual Narrative - Task 2: Composition

23/10/2025 - 07/11/2025 (Week 5 - Week 7)

Cherilynn Farrencia Faustine/0384745

ILLUSTRATION & VISUAL NARRATIVE/ Creative Media/ Taylor's University 

Task 2: Exercise – Composition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lectures & Tutorials

2. Instructions

3. Task 2: Exercise — Composition

4. Feedback

5. Reflection

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LECTURES & TUTORIALS

WEEK 5: 

2. Lecture 1 

Mr. Hafiz briefed us about the task: we have to make at least 2 composition for our own character with the Ink Frame Book reference that he gave in the google classroom. We have to come with a backstory for our character too to emphasize the composition. He also told us to pay attention to the perspective and composition technique (rule of thirds, golden ratio, radial). Mr. Hafiz showed us a lot of examples of the final work.

WEEK 7: 

2. Tutorial 1

In class tutorial, Mr. Hafiz showed us how to color with gradient or with a solid color in adobe illustrator. He asked the class to practice coloring using pen tool with a pear picture as a reference. We are told to imitate it along with the clear shadows for 15 minutes. This is my work:

Figure 1.1, My work for tutorial class

Beside it, Mr. Hafiz the give another reference and ask us to practice it also. He reached us how to apply texture to the photo with the clipping mask.

Figure 1.2, My work for tutorial class

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INSTRUCTIONS

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AL2aCMdPjzhhJOOjBh8kreUG4l-xiPpH/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

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TASK 2: EXERCISE — COMPOSITION

In this task, we are briefed to make at least 2 composition for one character. Here I choose to make the composition for one of the character that I've made last week (Pibby the crab). 

1. CHARACTER STORY 

Carried by the waves, a small egg drifted far from its colony, until it rest in a crab island. The egg cracked open, and eventually, an emperor chick penguin hatched. The crab colony decided to take care of her, and calls her "Pibby". She grows up believing that she's one of them. She often hide under shells, dig in the sands, and walk sideways like crab normally does. The crabs taught her how to live with the sea. Pibby loves water, she spent hours splashing and swimming around. Fishing become her favorite thing to do. She also loves to eat, of course! who doesn't? She usually hunt for sardines and shrimp. She become a smart, bubbly, and adventurous penguin. 

Figure 2.1, Pibby the Crab

2. PROCESS

After making the backstory, I decided to make two composition for the first time, and finally choosing the Right#1 to digitize it because it fits better for the character and have a better composition. Since she loves hunting for fish, I make the first composition to look like  she's looking for fish in the sea from underwater angle. 

Figure 2.2, First Attempt Sketches (Left#1, Right#1)

The reason why I didn't choose the left one is because it lacks of composition technique and also are not interesting. So, I go ahead with the right one which reflects better on the composition technique. While making it, I already planned to use the radial technique since making the composition a bit rounded would be interesting. It creates the direction in the composition, especially for the fish (swimming to the right but in circular motion). In addition, Mr. Hafiz recommended me to pick the right one, so I did. 

Figure 2.3, Task 2 Requirement Board #1

Figure 2.4, Task 2 Development Board #1

Figure 2.5, Composition Technique

Figure 2.5, My Ink Frame Reference

Beside the composition technique,  I also used the Ink Framed reference. Since the composition is radial, I was thinking that this reference (Figure 2.5) would fit my composition. It's the lighting that would highlight only the crab, and a lot of shadows around the character. it creates dimension that fits my composition. When digitizing, I started with pen tool to trace the sketches that I already made before in my iPad. Then, I planned to make a gradient for my composition. So, I determined the base color of it (solid color). 

Figure 2.6, Solid Color

After deciding the base color, I started with gradients in each path and following the light and shadow direction so that it created the dimension. Also for the sunlight, I use the overlay blending mode and set the opacity low to make it shine. For finalizing, I use grain and added bubbles to make it more fun. 

2.7, Final Color #1

For the second one, I sketched two landscaped composition. For this time, I want it to catch a fish since she loves hunting for fish. For these two, I finally choose the right one because it looks proportional and the perspective way better than the left one. 

Figure 2.8, Second Attempt Sketches (Left#2, Right#2)

            

Figure 2.9, Task 2 Requirement Board

Figure 2.10, Task 2 Development Board

For the Ink frame reference, I first flipped it because I want the bigger proportions in the bottom. The composition technique I use here is the rules of third, which I fitted my character into the two grids in the left and middle, then aligned the rock behind. Also, I worked on the perspective details to determined which is the foreground (red), middle (green), and background (yellow) (top right picture). 

Figure 2.11, Sketches Guidelines #2

After consulting with Mr. Hafiz, he also approved this composition, but he said to add a more fish because the background look a bit empty. So, in my digitized version, I added some fish and also bubbles to my composition. I started with solid color, then I decide the lighting direction to create the gradient. For this composition, I was the fish to look panic because it being chased by my character, meanwhile the character feeling excited for its meal. 

Figure 2.11, Solid Color #2

Figure 2.12, Final Color #2

3. FINAL RESULT (PNG & PDF)

Figure 3.1, Final Result #1

Figure 3.2, Final Result #2

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FEEDBACK

WEEK 6

Mr. Hafiz said that it would be interesting if I add something in the foreground, also reminding me about my composition being in portrait (we have to use the ink frame reference which was in landscape), that will make it harder for me to apply that to my portrait composition. 

WEEK 7

My third attempt (first attempt in landscape) lacked a few techniques, the ink frame reference had to fit the screen, also that composition did not really fit the composition technique either. The foreground still looks flat (it did not look ike foreground I'll have to work on the perspective). The background are also too empty. 

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REFLECTION

Experience: 

This task makes me understand more about composition technique and the implementation (not just the theory). The Ink Frame book also gives knowledge about composition, how each frames of the story board should be executed. Overall, I am a little frustrated when doing this task but also having fun to explore the colors and shape (since it's my first time using AI to make a whole composition). Also, I started to get used to use the pen tool.

Observations

Similar from the previous task, I still struggling to maintain the perspective. I also realized that the closer the object, the lighter the color gets (I never realize it until I study about this now).

Findings

From this task, I learned that I still need to work on my perspective more. Also, I learned about shadows and clipping mask from Mr. Hafiz's tutorial in class (that helped a lot).