DP | TASK 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
Fig 1. FUNimation Entertainment. (2008). Screenshot of Black
Butler S1 OP. Retrieved February 3, 2025,.
Table of Contents ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
✦ I. Notes
I. Notes
Visual Analysis ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
✦ A critical part of visual literacy
Phase 1: Observation
✦ Closely looking at and identifying visual elements of a design, Describing in our own words without reading beforehand.
✦ Looking, thinking, and finding good language.
Phase 2: Analysis
✦ requires thinking about our observations.
✦ combine visual elements to create design principles that complete that work of design/art.
Phase 3: Interpretation
✦ observation, description, and analysis of the work are fused with facts about the design work (designer sometimes).
✦ meaning of design and purpose.
II. Visual Analysis
Write a 300-350 word visual analysis (Phase 1, 2, and 3) of the our chosen artwork from Task 1.
CHOSEN ARTWORK ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Fig 2. N/A (Official Illustration for Rich Black:
A Black Label Exhibition, Kuroshitsuji's 15th
anniversary), illustrated by Yana Toboso(2021)
- Digital
Illustration
Title: N/A (Official Illustration for Rich Black:
A Black Label Exhibition, Kuroshitsuji's 15th anniversary)
Artist: Yana Toboso (https://yanatoboso.com/)
Year: 2021
Medium: Digital Illustration
Size: unknown
Softcopy Source: Phantomhive Household
Softcopy Source: Phantomhive Household
Observation
In fig 2. I can see 2 person in the art, a young noble sitting on
a chess piece and a butler kneeling below with a pocket watch in
his hand. They are in dark neo-Victorian attire with details.
There are dark clouds in the light grey sky with ravens flying.
Paired with a chess board as the horizon line. There are many
objects like cutlery and chess pieces in the artwork.
Analysis
Design Principles in the artwork
✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Fig 3. Analysis of Fig 2. N/A (Official Illustration for Rich
Black: A Black Label Exhibition, Kuroshitsuji's
15th anniversary), illustrated by Yana Toboso(2021)
- Digital
Illustration
✮♱ ༻¨*:·
According to Fig. 3, I can observe
Gestalt Theory. I see the principle of
similarity and proximity because the
characters are placed together. The use of the same
colours/objects shows
continuation too.
The red lines in Fig. 3, outlines the characters,
highlighting the emphasis.
There is also contrast of colours
between characters and background. The slanted horizon line of chess board creates dynamism, toppling balance.
Repetition is seen in Fig. 3, with blue lines.
The repeated chess
board pattern and recurring objects like knives, chess pieces,
and birds. The green line of Fig. 3 also shows the
movement that can direct viewers' eyes through
flying birds. Lastly, the Analogous colours (
similar tone )and alignment of characters to
the horizon line.
Interpretation
In Fig 2. With the child positioned high on a chess
piece on a slanted ground, it contrasts the kneeling
man. This can mean that the child is the one playing
the chess pieces, which is his servant, the butler (
man in tailcoat holding a pocket watch). The setting (
fancy cutlery, chess boards and attire fitting of
nobility proves it ) shows that this is in a Victorian
era.
I believe the birds in Fig 2. are ravens as it means
bad luck or England's Tower of London ravens. The
desaturated colours give a solemn atmosphere, with
subtle contrasts that add depth. The child is aloof
while the butler is smiling. One of them is probably
taking the situation seriously while the other is
enjoying the game of chess.
The many pins on the child’s attire can be
referencing the scout badges, I interpret it as pins
symbolizing memorable moments or achievements in the
story by Yana Toboso, leading up till the 15th year
anniversary as this was an artwork done for her 15th
anniversary exhibition.
In summary, I believe this piece showcases the young
noble and butler, their relationship with each other,
and their journey over the 15 years of Toboso writting
and illustrating them.
SKETCHES ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Using your design principles knowledge, sketch 3 ideas on how the selected design can be improved. Describe each idea and support it with a rationale of 30-50 words. You may include some visual references (cite the sources) that inspire your own ideas.
Visual References for Inspirations
Fig 4. Phantom of the Opera illustrated by
shanoiasuna (2024) - Digital Illustration
of Satsuki in Rain. Screenshot taken by
Loh Kai Xuan. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
Fig 6. Secret Garden illustratedby Loh
Kai Xuan(2024) - Digital Illustration
Fig 7. Suzume Book Cover
by Makoto Shinkai (2022)
Before starting each sketch, I decided to do thumbnail sketches to get a rough idea of what I want. It is a helpful process where you make quick, small rough drawings to explore ideas and composition (Fine Arts Gurukul, 2018).
Sketch 1
Inspired by the chosen artwork in Fig. 2 I wanted to make a character emphasized artwork of Fig 6. principle of proximity and continuation. Using the slanted perspective in Fig. 2.to create dynamism. Just like my interpretation of Fig. 2, I wanted to used actions and expressions to show relationship and story.
Fig 8. Sketch 1, thumbnail (February,2025)
Fig 9. Sketch 1, Progress (February,2025)
Fig 10. Sketch 1, Rough Colours (February,2025)
Sketch 2
Similar to Fig. 10, I want to make something similar but added flowing petals referencing the movement principle in my chosen artwork Fig. 2. I used Fig 4. and Fig. 6 as inspiration for the environment.
Fig 11. Sketch 2, Thumbnail (February,2025)
Fig 12. Sketch 2, Progress (February,2025)
Fig 13. Sketch 2, Rough Colours (March,2025)
Sketch 3
Unlike Fig. 10 and Fig. 13, This one had a more linear shot but still slanted. Using a horizon line, characters, background and foreground are aligned, giving harmony. Unlike Fig. 2 I chose to blur the foreground, giving emphasis to the characters. Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 was used as environment inspiration.
Fig 14. Sketch 3, Thumbnail (February,2025)
Fig 15. Sketch 3, Progress (February,2025)
Fig 16. Sketch 3, Rough Colours (February,2025)
IV. Feedback
Week 4 ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
General Feedback: Make progress on task 2, remember
to do in text citation.
Specific Feedback: Arrange my analysis properly. Start on sketches, the more the
better.
Week 5 ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
General Feedback: Add more progress pictures and sketches to show that it is authentic. Make sure references are added for every picture.
Specific Feedback: Put the Visual references individually with citation below each image. Move thumbnail sketches to each section it belongs too (e.g. Thumbnail 1 with Sketch 1).
V. Reflection
This tasks allowed me to learn more deeper about visual analysis. It learnt how to observe, analyze and interpret designs/artwork. Helping us discern design principles and elements from it. This made it easier to extract the principles and use them to improve our own artwork. So I believe this was a very helpful tasks. I had fun using the principles and elements I got from my chosen artwork to create something new.
References:
Fine Arts Gurukul. (2018, March 28). The Importance Of Thumbnail Sketching. https://sampratishta.org/thumbnail-sketching/#:~:text=Thumbnail%20sketching%20can%20be%20simply,he%20visualizes%20the%20final%20painting.
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