Brief
Read the following extract and then answer the questions on the next page:
The room was void and unquickened; it was like a room in a shop window but larger and emptier; and the middle-aged man who sat at the desk had never thought to impress himself upon what he entered every day. Comfort there was none nor discomfort; only did the occupant deign to qualify the pure neutrality of his surroundings, it would surely be austerity that would emerge. The spring sunshine turned bleak and functional as it passed the plate glass of the tall-uncurtained windows.
The windows were large; the big desk lay islanded in a creeping parallelogram of light; across this and before the eyes of the man sitting motionless passed slantwise and slowly a massive shaft of shadow.
Perhaps twenty times it passed to and fro, as if outside some great joy wheel oscillating idly in a derelict amusement park. And the man rose, clasped hands behind him and walked to a window – high up in New Scotland Yard. He looked out and war-time London lay beneath… on his brow was a fixed contraction; this he had carried from desk to window, and now there was neither hardening nor relaxation as he looked out… during 15 years he had controlled the file of police papers which dealt with the abduction and subsequent history of feeble minded girls. Here lay his anger as he looked out over London… year by year the anger had burst deeper until it was now the innermost principle of the man.
Michael Innes Adapted from The Daffodil Affair
Make notes on these questions
• If this were to be made into a film what would the main character be like? • What clothes would the character be wearing?
• What furniture is in the main area in which the action takes place?
Collect visual reference for the items on your list
Find a reference book or website for this era.
Use the internet and do an image search. Be selective – don’t go for the first image you encounter. Try to remember your own vision of the story and reflect this in your choices. Stick these images onto a large sheet of paper or in a visual notebook.
The next process is about textural and colouristic visual brainstorming and idea generation
Chose a word, which you feel captures the mood you would like to convey.
Collect and create textures and colours you associate with this word to make a moodboard. Start with a broad vision to describe the overall colour or tone of the image, not specific elements of it. Be minimal and selective and gradually add textures and colours that complement this general impression.
Create a simple portrait (figure, or head and shoulders) of the character, using the reference you have gathered.
Use sketchbooks to help you to select and edit from your reference materials and to explore where to position your figure within the frame or format of the picture. Make the shape based on any book you have to hand.
Use the colours, textures and qualities you assembled for your moodboard to render the portrait. You may literally collage these textures into a drawing, or convey the tonal qualities of the moodboard through the way that you use materials and mark making.
Notice the extent to which you have evolved the reference and used it to inform your illustration. If at any point you felt that you had insufficient visual information what steps did you take to address this? Make notes of this evolution in your learning log.
Key words:
- Read the extract
- Make notes on these questions
- Collect visual reference
- Visual brainstorming and idea generation
- Create a simple portrait from reference
- Use the colours, textures and qualities you assembled to render the portrait
Reading the text
I read the text and underlined some key words, the word that I chose for my mood board was “anger”.
Character research
I collected some photos of a detective in wold war II period. Also, I did some research about the interiors during that era as well.
Visual references
Thumbnails
Design process
I used Procreate to make my design. I tried to use the information I gathered through my research. I used the colour palette and textures that I collected.
I didn’t want to show the whole face of the detective to make it more mysterious, so I used a tinted glasses for him. I tried to show the movement and hustle and bustle of London behind the window by using some black figures and used the blur effect to show some movement.
Final design
Self – reflection
I enjoyed working on this exercise in both research and design phases. By gathering the information and preparing my colour palette and textures, I knew what Kind of effect I’m looking for.
I am pleased with the end result. However, I really wished that I had more time to make my design with pastel on the paper as well. I hope I can come back to this exercise later again.
Resources
Google images. At: https://images.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl. (Accessed: 22/08/2023)
Maryam: OCA Graphic Design 