OPEN ONE'S EYES
Exhibition Text :
My piece "Open one's Eyes" connects within the illustration and theme of the song "Lower One's Eyes" by Nuyuri, and Palmela Colman Smith's original tarot card illustrations. "Open One's Eyes" combines two humans that hate their situations and gain a mysterious ability to traverse through time, prevailing themes within themselves.
: Artist Inspiration :
The biggest connection within my entire piece is the song "Lower One's Eyes" by Nuyuri, except this wasn't like my connection towards "BUG" like within my first project. I wanted to overtake the overall theme of the song and put what I was looking at into interpretation. Within having little lyrical connection within the actual piece, I was connecting more with the illustrations within the music video. The song itself is a commission within the group Nightcord at 25:00, a musical group coming from the mobile game "Hatsune Miku:Colorful Stage", known in Japan as "Project Sekai." I believed the illustration within the song fit exactly well within the listen within the song. I also absolutely adored the overall outfit design, each outfit is different from within each character and it goes within their own personality. The song itself, has this old-time consistent feel towards it, but it also pushes an urgent feeling. While creating the piece, the song was my overall drive between the design of the characters and a theme consisting with the month we are within. I wanted to take two similarly designed characters and put them within an entirely different situation. However. one part through the music video had tarot cards, in which brought me towards my next inspiration. |
Palmela Colman Smith was a British artist, illustrator and a writer. She was the creator of the original work of Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, in which is seen below and to the left. Tarot cards are always an interesting concept within my eyes, this was specifically because of how different each one can be, even based on idea. There can be a tarot card series made for a specific idea, game, or just any idea an artist can put into interpretation, and there are a lot already created. However, Palmela was the original artist of the 78 illustrations within the series, it was Smith's imagination of fantasy and broadened ideas that wee're brought within these cards. Each card is based on another idea that Smith had created with such an intricate design towards them. However, within how broadened the concept of tarot cards can be illustrated, there had been a variety of others that could possibly claim the idea was theirs. Another trial for Smith was that women weren't treated respectfully, and that almost made her forgotten for being the original creator, thankfully, her credit is still around to be given, but still are never really pointed out.
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To actually talk about why I used these cards as inspiration was a simple theory. I wanted something like the cards portrayed within the music video, something that stretched out this idea. I wanted to keep within the rectangular formula, but keep the design more similar towards the music video's illustrations. I also wanted to keep that vintage look, as I wanted a more orange color to be overlaid to keep a function that looks relatively old. The concept of lighting and ideas is an entirely different concept that goes within my experimentation because...it was a struggle to say. Within the characters i had created, I worked within putting two characters within a similar concept of showing a situation or ideal. Although, I still wanted the card to look different in a way, not having the title at the bottom, but more separating within both characters, in which would all be demonstrated later. |
: Planning :
I already had a broadened idea for what I wanted within this project. I wanted to explore a new character I hadn't done before. In which, as our world expands the types of people shown out are different in ways they like and ways they don't. My concept was to create these two different types of characters and view their hidden flaws and aspects. The character more onto the left is an overall denier of themselves, and wishes towards being someone that looks better. She feels her talents are wasted and wishes to be appraised towards them. The character on the right had once questioned who they are within their body. Ever since that they have pushed for a newer self, and have felt burdened with others that don't accept that turn. Both of these characters gain a mysterious power to alter through any dimension they want, almost a way to escape their problems entirely. This page is dedicated to exploring, designing, and the intricate little designs revolving around their character. (This was also originally going to be my second project, which was changed later because of time-restraints at the time.)
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This page is a change of design towards the character on the right from the previous panel page. Fitting in with my inspiration, I went for the hermit view like the music video towards that song, within that, changing details to separate from the original. Each character, I had decided, would gain this power within grasping their lanterns, and that would gain them access towards other dimensions. My vision towards the character was to have them walking throughout the dark forest, as portrayed throughout the song, but I also wanted a still-card-like look towards it. As if painting a picture of both experiences, and showing personality within that. This character has gained access to who they want to be, so they seem overjoyed within the thought of this new power. It was to escape all of those who didn't believe in them, pushed them away, or rejected who they are. This page is more dedicated towards bringing out that character, and changing a few tweaks I saw within my original design, because it seemed off to me. |
This page was actually the first one I illustrated out of the overall one that came out. Considering I made a page within the girl on the left, the original thought would be to explore the other character, but I felt as if nothing was going to change within my original mind other than having an outfit similar to the others throughout my inspiration. This page is more connected towards the tarrot cards, as I wanted to have a back-up plan in case my original thought would fail at some point. I just basically put down various ideas I was thinking to connect towards some of the tarrot cards. Featuring expressions, body language, and position, I worked with some other ideas I thought would fit the idea, but overall I didn't use any of it. Still it was a part of my planning, so it is something to be shared about before my concept was created. |
: Process :
The start of the project consisted of my usual beginning of a digital process, in which I create the sketch and do the line-art over it. I combined one of the sketches form my second planning page, and made an outline for how I wanted the overall piece to look. After all the placement was complete, I moved onto lining the piece, which was a simple portion of the process. As I was doing the line art I decided to fill the empty space with a simple design along the bottom left and top right of the piece. I then took that one layer and copied and pasted it towards the other side. Then I worked on the space-like factor, which was supposed to be the connection towards dimensional travel, so I took colors of a dark sky and combined it with lines swirling around the circle. I also wanted a grand gold color around the bars I set between the characters and background.
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Next was the initial coloring of the outfits and the characters themselves. I started off with the skin and added the highlights and shadows using close dark and lighter colors. Over the layer of the line-art, connecting towards the inspiration, I added the white highlight over the nose, and a red blush towards both characters. Regarding the outfit designs, I went for a simple color that then averaged the shading towards the fabric of the clothing. I went over certain portions with either a light grey or white that would soon be decreased to an extent to look more natural within the outfits. Regarding the designs, I just went full out with special swirls that monitored my inspiration but also added elements of my own fantasy similar to how Smith had done the tarot cards. The lantern was a simple color of yellow, which would have more forms of yellow overlaying the lantern that adds the bright function. Adding this to the character was simple because it's relatively an exact process as adding the light. Now it was the background.
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The background was something entirely different from anything I had done before. It was a combination of lighting, layering, and extreme description that shows presence when looking deeply into the piece. I kept with the yellow color throughout the background but added different forms of yellow when connecting towards the structure and form of the background. There is a pattern that aligns itself along the borders that is repeated from both sides through copy and pasting, I outlined their silhouette and then used a blur form to add shadows to the piece. Then added a forest like pattern behind them to match the music video inspiration. Lighting will be focused on when I talk about my experimenting within the piece. I overlaid on top of the piece a form of many lines forming a branch like sequence of overgrowth and would then work on the finishing touches.
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: Experimentation :
One form of experimenting had to align with the overall lighting of the piece. I wanted to keep that vintage type of look but I also wanted something dark and shadowed. I used a variety of light and dark yellows while also shading with a transparent-like black to add dark parts along the silhouette of the people. Another portion aligned with the title of the card within that middle box separating the two characters. I went with a few calligraphy brushes and my first initial title (to the left) just looked too out of place within everything else, I went with something more transparent through the end, and added detail along the bar as well, because I thought it looked nice. |
Something I causally do during my experimenting happens within my entire planning process, and it's just character creation in general. my initial approach towards these two was to have included full out character sheets within the piece, in which because of time I wasn't able to fully illustrate. Another thing is many tweaks were made within the two from complete design to entirely different outfits considering the theme and image I wanted to accomplish within my mind. Though it all was a success because these were some of my favorite characters to work with and those that I found quite relatable in some manner. Now that the piece is now finalized, my process between character design had completely expanded from the past when looking back at my works. |
: Critique :
Similarities:
Differences:
- My piece and Smith's tarot cards follow a similar format in the way we use a rectangular shape with an outline, and within that outline, there is an illustration of the situation being played out
- My piece and Nuyuri's song illustration has a variety of similar elements towards outfit, style, and overall themes connecting towards the characters shown out.
- All of our pieces keep a vintage look, or have some sort of vintage element toward them, depending on the lighting and sound of the piece.
Differences:
- My illustration has the words depicting the piece stretched throughout the lower left towards the upper right, in which cuts off and separates the idea rather than having a whole illustration
- My piece has way more going within the background and foreground compared to the music video which relatively keeps much empty dark space to emphasize out the characters.
Reflection:
In my opinion, this is probably one of my favorite projects I have worked on so far. My combination of skills, character building, intentions, and bringing my idea to life was so accomplishing. I was able to fully recreate the idea I wanted and it didn't even take that much work out of me, as in it didn't feel as difficult as it would in the past. I believe as if I had fully grown towards using and utilizing my skills through the digital medium into something that can fully classify as my art. I also enjoyed combining inspirations towards things I had grown interest in such as tarot cards, and now how that had changed into this type of creation of song. I was able to completely illustrate an idea that I actually want to keep working with in some way. If I ever had to use these characters again in the future I would never be against it as I overjoyed designing and creating them, to an extend where I want to do more, which hasn't really happened before. I also used a type of character I had never used before, and expanded beyond my skills of characterization, which felt nice to do. The project became an expanse idea of what I want to do in the future, which revolves around creating these amazing characters with special backstories and quirks.
Although I am not gonna say that the project turned out perfectly, there are still some faults in some of the mannerisms of the project. For example, I need to work on human anatomy in some aspects, which is where I need to portray studies of the human figure, something I was told by the MIAD director as well. Another thing is overdoing the project, I take this as I add so many elements that the project becomes out of whack. Something I need to figure out is properly illustrating my layers into error situations, in some areas I had lighting a bit too bright regarding significant areas from within the project, as in the outlining layer. Another thing to work on is line art, something I see casual artists do is work on differing brushes and their lines look not as straight and precise as mine usually turn out. I need to experiment with differing brushes, and work on expanding my brush spectrum into differing elements and methods that can affect my work differently. Other than those, I feel highly accomplished from how closely my project connects towards inspiration, and feel confident about the work.
Although I am not gonna say that the project turned out perfectly, there are still some faults in some of the mannerisms of the project. For example, I need to work on human anatomy in some aspects, which is where I need to portray studies of the human figure, something I was told by the MIAD director as well. Another thing is overdoing the project, I take this as I add so many elements that the project becomes out of whack. Something I need to figure out is properly illustrating my layers into error situations, in some areas I had lighting a bit too bright regarding significant areas from within the project, as in the outlining layer. Another thing to work on is line art, something I see casual artists do is work on differing brushes and their lines look not as straight and precise as mine usually turn out. I need to experiment with differing brushes, and work on expanding my brush spectrum into differing elements and methods that can affect my work differently. Other than those, I feel highly accomplished from how closely my project connects towards inspiration, and feel confident about the work.
: Connecting to the ACT :
- Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork?
When my first listen to the song came through, It wasn't actually my favorite till much later. When looking throughout the ideas and taking another listen I fell in love with the idea that was carried out through it.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My inspirations initial approach as the creator of the tarot cards aligned within her own concepts and ideas of fantasy, as the song was a commission towards a concept of the specific group, and the artists choices.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The idea of tarot cards is so expandable to me, I like how much of a variety there is behind not only meaning within differing cultures but ideas that other artists put into their production of that product.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
My research revolved around the idea and concept of tarot cards, I was also within research of my mind as I was expanding my thoughts behind the song I had found, and combining it with a concept I saw within the video.
5. What kind of inferences ( conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning ) did you make while reading your research?
I actually found it pretty interesting when looking at the original tarot card deck, that I never actually knew the illustrator behind the work. When learning about the artist it showed just how lost someone's art could be if recreated a lot of times without proper credit.
: Citations in MLA Format :
“Pamela Colman Smith.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Sept. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Colman_Smith.
Palumbo, Jacqui. “The Woman behind the World's Most Famous Tarot Deck Was Nearly Lost in History.” CNN, Cable News Network, 12 May 2022, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pamela-colman-smith-tarot-art-whitney/index.html.
“Nulut.” Vocaloid Wiki, https://vocaloid.fandom.com/wiki/Nulut.
Palumbo, Jacqui. “The Woman behind the World's Most Famous Tarot Deck Was Nearly Lost in History.” CNN, Cable News Network, 12 May 2022, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pamela-colman-smith-tarot-art-whitney/index.html.
“Nulut.” Vocaloid Wiki, https://vocaloid.fandom.com/wiki/Nulut.