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Video form.

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Exploring the power of LIGHTING

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Finishing my Diorama.

In terms of LIGHTING I decided to leave the first level quite dark focusing more on the characters below. I’ve also realized just how adjustable setting is with the simple adjustment of lighting.

For the forest I found old fairy lights and by playing with Interwinding different colored tissue among them it made quite a nice pinkish glow. It created quite a warm and magical mood as if they are camping by a fire.

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Research Laika Studios

It was Interesting to see just how scale can differ from project to project and even scene to scene. It’s quite incredible how much detail goes into it.

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Finishing up my characters

After a lot of failed attempts of creating 3D heads I decided to opt for drawing them 2D. But I decided to double layer them with dark card because since I plan on using lights, I would t want théier faces to become see through.

For their spears I used a wooden (grill stick?) stones from outside and wire as well as some cord.

Deciding to save on time I went hunting for small leafed plants that could serve as my canopy. I hadn’t planned to go for real plants but I think it works alongside the other organic colors. And also breaks up the browns and whites with a splash of vibrancy.

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Research - Dioramas

Looking at Marcel Dzama. His work is quite illustrative and carries a resemblance to a doll like quality, or like a pop up book. What intrigues me is his repetitive use of plain and white minimalistic white backgrounds, allowing presence and attitude fall on the characters.

I like the freshness of it although it is somewhat sterile. I think it is something I might consider contributing a neutral/whitish background through my pale ghostly birch trees but incorporate an organic wildness to emphasize the nature of the wood.

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Making progress on the forest for my diorama.

Using cardboard and paint. Using a combination of clean and rough edges by tearing or cutting with a scalpel.

I also started experimenting with animating a little bit. Especially with simply animating small movements, and creating atmosphere using lighting. I made this on my phone using the app ‘pocket procreate’

Song credit : ‘jasmine’ by Kíla

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Beginning the 3D making process

From Yvonnes workshop I’ve started the 3D making process for my diorama starting off with the characters. I felt that the characters being the main protagonists I’d start by working out how And with what I would make them. And then shape the world around them.

I was looking for some organic and natural looking fabric. Keeping in mind my characters are set in the Middle Ages and after some research they would most likely have been categorized in the poor middle age fashion. I found some hessian and a dyed textile fabric I had hoarded years ago which is finally being put to use. I used straws and wire to make the I terms frame and by having multiple straw joints it allows some movement in the arms.

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More concept art and further exploring the narrative of the story.

Leaving the family feuds behind. They venture off in search of a creature I have not yet decided what it will be. I also wanted to explore the mysteriousness of the environment and the alienation of the castle.

I started off creating a nature background but then felt tempted two have my characters pass through on their mission. Making a small animation. I also gave the mountains personalities to childishly emphasize the presence and personification of nature.

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A little bit of animating.

Using pocket procreate on my phone

Including all my characters designed so far. I wanted to explore bringing them to life.

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Illustrating another scene. Where the two cousins encounter the ‘whys ones’ in the forgotten wood. For the first time.

I thought it would be fun to record a part of the process.

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Primary research. Continuing my obsession with birch trees

Mas my story takes place primarily in a forgotten forest I wanted to use the opportunity to incorporate birch trees and the nostalgia of them from where I grew up. There is something ghostly about them and I thought they’d fit in well.

Some primary research. Took the photos on my phone in my local park.

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Exploring Character design + character turnaround & researching early middle age rural fashion.

Looking at color ideas, and pattern design. I wanted to keep it simple, keeping the color palette quite organic. I also wanted the color of the hair to be vibrant and distinctive. Easily recognizable.

I started with sketching on paper and then photographed the sketches and drew over them on my phone.

I thought it would be fun to animate my turnaround and also add a background to try and establish a sense of place and presence.

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Research. Middle Ages. Tapestries. Folklore

I’ve been researching the Middle Ages, in order to understand the world in which my characters are set. I’ve found that the Middle Ages has quite a broad timeline arguably starting as early as the 5th century and ending just before the renaissance. I’ve also looked a lot at myth/folklore and tapestries. All of which help establish a sort of base for the world I’m building.

Although religious, something that intrigues me about the iconography and religious paintings of this time is the elongated faces, the exaggerated facial features and the distant gaze.

After looking at the various ‘hunt for the unicorn’ I explored the work of tapestries a bit more and even found inspiration in the Bayeux tapestry. A 2D aesthetic form of storytelling through textiles. I enjoy the simplicity of it but also taking inspiration of pattern and color and even shape.

My story adaptation plays a lot on fantasy/and perhaps magical creatures. It looks at two hunters heading off into a wood untouched my humans in search for a creature. I feel it could ambiguously tell a tale of conservation and environmentalism. At the end of their quest they have fallen in love with the forest and all whom live in it that they do not understand their reasoning for heading out in the first place. Through the forests perspective they see the impact of human interference and bitterness and although I feel it is a very over recycled trope I thought it was fitting for the story. And ‘The hunt for the Unicorn’ has very much influenced this reflection. The tapestry and the continuous example of good vs evil.

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The ‘why’s ones’

Little forest spirits/guardians

Further exploring the design and appearance and meaning behind these creatures which linger in the woods where my two sister characters find themselves.

I illustrated a little poem I loosely put together explaining these creatures. One thing I loved about worldly sort of creatures is that they’re often subject to legends and you can often find rhyming stories about them sort of like a way of remembering it. I wanted to try something similar with my own invented creatures the ‘Why’s ones’

I then created a small gif by scrolling through a couple of digital drawings I made showing the ‘why’s ones’ watching as red hair like flames runs by.

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Other characters/creature development

In the story of Ronja there are these small gnome like creatures that in their shyness and absurd ness only every ask ‘why?’ ....’but why?’ And to be honest I think they are the most amusing characters in the story.

The below still taken from the movie adaptation ‘Ronja Rövardotter’

For my adaptation I want to fill in this character space with a new sort of creature, a bit more spiritual representation of nature. Taking inspiration from the way ‘spirits of the forest’ where portrayed in the studio Ghibli film ‘princess mononoke’

My own character development and visual exploration. I want to create a sort of neutral character which offers both a sense of comedy and depth. Representing a more environmental and organic fragility.

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Continuing with exploring environments and characters. This time form a different perspective.

I made these digitally. Using an app on my phone.

Exploring simple shapes.

Extracting childhood memories of red poppies, blue cornflowers, and daisies which always provided exciting splashes of color to a summer field and where a dominant feature of summer when I was little.

When my sister and I where little we would spend our holidays running in the tall grass, the flowers, play among the trees. I wanted to translate this excitement, this mission of adventure in my story adaptation.

Despite my two characters being quite severe, and cold in expression with a mission of finding a creature hidden in the forest I also wanted to show the childishness of them.