Illustration & Visual Narrative : Task 2
29/10/2025 - 09/11/2025 (Week 5 - Week 8)
Chan Xin Yean, 0377851
Illustration & Visual Narrative
Task 2 : Environmental Composition Design
LECTURE & TUTORIAL
Week 5
During week 5 lectures, Mr. Hafiz introduced the 2nd task that we were assigned. We were instructed to create a backstory for our chosen character from task 1 or a new character and then sketch compositions according to the Framed Ink file teacher provided. He also showed us previous seniors illustrations and explained about the types of compositions that we could use in our sketch.
Week 7
During our tutorial session, we did a few exercises on shading, colouring and photo editing using Adobe Illustrator. In this class, I learned quite a lot about the tools that could be used when illustrating my work.
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| Figure 1.0 Exercises during tutorial session, Week 7 (06/11/2025) |
INSTRUCTIONS
Description
Composition
In this assignment, you will create the world or environment for ONE of your character. This task focuses on learning and applying the principles of composition, allowing you to build a dynamic, well-balanced scene that reflects the mood, story, and personality of your character. The world you design may be based on your Task 1 character, or it can be a completely new setting that aligns with a different narrative direction.
Requirements
Using the guidelines from "Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers", you will explore how to arrange elements within your environment to guide the viewer's eye, create depth, and tell a compelling visual story. The composition of your world should emphasise balance, contrast, focus, and flow.
Submission
1. Sketching and Planning
2. Vector Illustration of the Environment
3. Evidence of composition principles
Learning Goals
1. Generate and communicate design concepts and solutions through manual and digital skills effectively and skilfully. (LO1)
2. Use creative thinking skills and methodologies to explore, generate and test a wide range of conceptual ideas. (LO2)
3. Use information and communication technology to source navigate, select, retrieve and manage information. (LO3)
Assessment Criteria
- Composition design (10%)
PROCESS WORK
Character
I decided to reuse my character from Task 1 for this project, as I was drawn to the mysterious vibe it had. Besides, I already had a clear idea of the character’s backstory, which made it easier to develop and expand upon for this task.
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| Figure 2.0 Character from Task 1 |
Backstory
This is Noir, a middle aged bird always seen in a top hat and red tie, wearing a pair of glasses holding a cane. Noir was an untouchable figure with unreadable eyes. He was known to glare to whomever he met eyes with and had a reputation for being composed and mysterious. Noir ran a discreet business that exchanges information disguised as a fine restaurant. To him, it was the perfect place to eavesdrop on unsuspecting customers. Besides, there were designated private rooms for special guests that came for top secret informations. He built his business on secrets, trading information, rewriting fates and erasing fates. Powerful officials, corporations and gangs owed him something and sometimes, it brought him into some trouble. Besides, the food in the restaurant was popular among citizens and his business flourished. Every year, he made sure to stop by an elderly tree on an open field to visit a grave. Rumours said the grave belonged to his former business partner while some speculated it was his lover. To this day, no one knew the true identity or cause of death behind that grave and no one dares to ask him.
Sketches
Based on the backstory of the character, there were a few ideas that came up to mind while thinking of the sketch. Before sketching, I search for composition references in the Framed Ink pdf teacher gave and chose three that was interesting for me.
For the first sketch, the character was visiting the grave of a deceased friend. With the composition focusing on the gravestone, it highlight the emotional significance of the scene. Furthermore, i wanted there to be falling leaves to portray the passing of time.
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| Figure 2.1 First sketch |
For the second sketch, the character was approached by a huge bear while walking on the street. This composition enhances the intimidation effect that I wanted, showing that the character is about to meet encounter trouble without having to sketch a fighting scene.
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| Figure 2.2 Second sketch |
For the third sketch, the character is seen to be followed by a cat in the alleyway at night. I choose this composition as it allows me to divert the viewer's attention, creating a sense of suspense where the cat could pose as a threat to the main character.
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| Figure 2.3 Third sketch |
Illustration of the Environment
After sending the sketches and backstory for feedback, teacher suggested that I chose the first or third sketch. I decided to illustrate the first sketch as it was more significant in the backstory of the character. I started with the line art of the composition in Adobe Illustrator.
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| Figure 2.4 Line art process |
During the process, i thought of having the clouds with no outline, to avoid making the clouds look too heavy for my liking. Besides that, i refined and edited the outlines to have different widths.
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| Figure 2.5 Line art of the environment. |
Next I searched for a few artwork on Pinterest to get reference for the colours.
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| Figure 2.6 Reference picture for colouring |
Then, I moved on to colouring the base colours using live paint and i added some gradient to the sky, tree and gravestone. Additionally, i added the some lines for the field as grass.
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| Figure 2.7 Base colour of the environment composition |
Then i moved on to adding highlights and shadows to the environment.
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| Figure 2.8 Adding shadows to the mountain |
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| Figure 2.9 Added gradient to the field, falling leaf and white rays |
After that, I added some extra details like the round specs as the clouds and the shadows for the grass at the grave that I missed. I also created the shadows of the trees close to the tree as it was too empty. Furthermore, I added gradient to the environment to create textures.
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| Figure 2.10 Environment with gradient and extra details added |
Then, I placed the character I did from the previous task to the artwork and added shadows for it. I added gradient to the shadow for it to be darker when its closer to the body of the character.
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| Figure 2.11 Final illustration of the environment |
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| Figure 2.12 Environment Illustration Overlay, Week 7 (07/11/2025) |
Collectible Card (Optional)
After doing the illustration, I moved on with doing a collectible card following the tutorial teacher gave.
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| Figure 2.13 Collectible card design attempt 1 |
It was looking quite plain, so I added extra elements to the card.
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| Figure 2.14 Final Collectible Card |
Final Outcome
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| Figure 3.0 Final Environment Illustration with Character, Week 7 (06/11/2025) |
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| Figure 3.1 Final Environment Illustration without Character, Week 7 (06/11/2025) |
Final Submission Board
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| Figure 3.2 Final Submission Board, Week 7 (08/11/2025) |
This environment focuses on the grave that is one of the prominent figure as long as the tree trunk. I wanted to portray that the character was visiting a passed friend under a tree that they once spent time together. The reference I used helped me direct the viewer’s attention to the larger sized objects at the foreground. Meanwhile, the background suggests that the setting of this scene is calm and peaceful. The falling leaves in this scene plays a role to lead the attention of the viewers to the grave. It also enhances the emotional tone of the scene by symbolising death. Additionally, the grass and the dandelion by the grave shows the continuity of life and suggests that the grave was there for some time. Furthermore, the character was portrayed to be in contrast to the scene as he has an overall grey tone while the background is more vibrant because the character is still griefing for his friend.
TECHNIQUES APPLIED
I referenced a the framed ink reference for my composition and the pen tool to create the lines for my background. I applied a light background mostly pastel colours to emphasise on the calmness of the scene. I also made the objects at the front ( tree trunk, grave and grass ) darker as they are in the shade. I utilised the different shape brush to create rounded lines for the dandelions by the grave. At the end, I applied the grain effect to my composition to create textures to the illustration.
FEEDBACK
Week 6: The sketches are okay. Teacher suggested to choose between the 1st or the 3rd to continue on with the composition design.
Week 7: There's no problems in the final illustration of the environment composition.
REFLECTION
For this environment illustration task, I wanted to create a scene for my character that best fits the backstory I wrote for him. I chose to focus on a setting where the character visits the grave of a deceased friend beneath a familiar tree. I hoped it could show feelings of loss and remembrance. Throughout the process, I explored how different visual elements could enhance the mood of the illustration. I did enjoyed the whole storytelling aspects of this task, as I already had an idea of my character's backstory when I was creating him. I was able to apply composition techniques and colour symbolism to express narrative depth. Besides, I learned how small environmental details can strengthen the storytelling aspect of an illustration to have a more meaningful interpretation. Overall, it was a enjoyable process and I was able to learn a few things about environmental illustration based on a character.
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