Character Development and Storytelling: Cameo and Caricature
Introduction
This project involved the creation of a cameo and caricature of ourselves through the use of adobe apps on ios which was facilitated through the use of Adobe's creative cloud.
Materials
Hardware: iPad, Laptop
Software: Adobe Draw, Adobe Photoshop
Platforms: Adobe Creative Cloud, Behance
Creative Process
The process for creating the cameo was fairly straightforward: a partner would take our picture with our iPad which would be the foundation for the illustration. Once imported into Adobe Draw, we used a multitude of tools in order to render the image. Once completed, our work was uploaded to Behance. As this was a cameo, very little creative liberty could be taken, but I did manage to add some visual interest by rendering my stubble as cross-hatching. It was in the caricature that we were truly able to express ourselves.
My process in creating my caricature was much different than the illustration that preceded it as aside from creating the contours of the head, which was done in Adobe Draw, everything was done in Photoshop. I chose Photoshop over a mobile platform as it afforded me more tools and freedom to render the image. Since I have a strong passion for performing music, I used an image I had captured at a recent show I had attended in order to draw the body, and drew the legs freehand. I decided to make a subtle omission in the form of the neck in order to lend the image a surreal quality, an element present in some of my favourite music.
Production Methods & Workflow
Reference photo was opened in adobe draw and opacity was lowered
The ellipse tool was used to create a frame after adding basic line work.
Chest and back were added.
Line work was added to define the shoulder and jaw
Fine detail and cross-hatching was added.
Finished Product.
Reference photo imported and line work added.
Shirt and guitar contour added & glasses were blocked in once open in Photoshop.
Legs drawn free-hand.
Legs blocked in.
Shadows on shirt added.
Guitar detail added.
Chest line added above guitar neck.
Final Product.
Conclusion:
This assignment was a tricky one: I really enjoyed the concept of creating two images with such disparate focuses, and the mobile process learned was ultimately a useful tool to have as artists, but it felt hampered by the technology at our disposal. Thankfully I was able to continue my work at home and I'm quite pleased with the result. If I could improve anything, it would be some of the line work in the second image. While I am extremely pleased with the result overall, I would love to be able to fix the strumming hand and maybe touch up the head a bit too. I'm excited to apply what we've learned to our next assignment!
