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Illustration and Visual Narrative - Task 1: Character Design

24/9/2025 - 15/10/2025 (Week 1 - Week 4)

Cher Pei Ying (0389055)

Illustration and Visual Narrative

Task 1: Character Design

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    1.1 Research
    1.2 Sketch
    1.3 Silhouette
    1.4 Line Art
    1.5 Color
    1.6 Final Outcome

1. INSTRUCTIONS

This task is to decide on a theme and design 3 characters. Some key things that should be considered while designing is the dominant shape and pose of the character. 

My theme will be based on nature, the characters each being flora, wood and water. They are three key elements and plays the a role of maintaining the peace and prosperity in the forest.

1.1 Research

I wanted to design a flower fairy that symbolizes beauty, fragility, and growth and represents emotion, creativity, and healing. Her personality is warm, expressive and nurturing, she acts as the heart of the trio who brings them together. For her design, I went with triangle as her dominant shape. I had the idea of using lily of the valley as the hair of the fairy, and her wings as leaves. I looked through Pinterest for reference and these are some of them:

Figure 1.1.1 Reference from Pinterest

For the wood element, I wanted to design a wooden golem with the dominant shape of squares and rectangulars. He symbolizes strength, endurance, wisdom and acts as the foundation of nature. He has a calm, reliable and a serious personality and is the protector of the forest, therefore I wanted him to have a shield and axe. Some references from Pinterest:
Figure 1.1.2 Reference from Pinterest

For water, circle is the dominant shape. She is calm yet powerful, representing adaptability and emotion and has a bubbly, flexible and observant personality. I referenced Ursula in the movie The Little Mermaid, but only referencing to her body shape, not her color palate and personality. Water is flexible and can flow all over the place, so her limbs is not typically symmetrical.
Figure 1.1.3 Reference from Pinterest

1.2 Sketch
Figure 1.2.1 Sketches of Flora
Figure 1.2.2 Dominant shape of Flora

I tried out two poses to see which one is more ideal, and after receiving feedback, I went with the first pose. The second design with a shorter dress shows the character's dominant shape and legs more, so I went with that design.
   Figure 1.2.3 Sketch of Wood                                    Figure 1.2.4 Dominant shape of Wood
Wood is posed like he is ready for battle, holding his axe and shield. I was thinking between giving him a axe or sword but ended up choosing a big axe to show his bold and strong personality.

         Figure 1.2.5 Sketch of  Water           Figure 1.2.6 Dominant shape of Water

I positioned water like she is sitting on a rock beside the river, and had her slightly laying to the back. Her hair is shaped like a water droplet, so as her feet.

1.3 Silhouette

After completing the sketches, I had to create silhouettes in Adobe Illustrator with the pen tool to check if the character has a ideal pose and shape.

Figure 1.3.1 Process of creating silhouette in Adobe Illustrator

These are the 3 silhouettes completed:
Figure 1.3.2 Silhouettes of Flora, Wood and Water

After receiving feedback, some changes had to be made to achieve a better result.
Wood could have his arm raised up so that the weapon can be seen in the silhouette and to also give more character to it. As for water, the pose isn't clear in the silhouette, therefore the angle of her position should be changed. I re-sketched these two characters poses on paper and did their silhouettes again:

        
                                               Figure 1.3.3 New sketch of Wood          Figure 1.3.4 New silhouette of Wood
           
       Figure 1.3.5 New sketch of Water            Figure 1.3.6 New silhouette of Water

1.4 Line Art
Figure 1.4.1 Line art of Flora

I changed flora's skirt to make it have layers and looked more like petals, it also gives the character a more gentle vibe. Her wings are has fairy wing patterns at the bottom and on the top are leaves.
Figure 1.4.2 Line art of Wood

A lot more details were added in wood line art to show the texture of wood on his body.
Figure 1.4.3 Line art of Water

Water's line art is more simple as the water textures will be done using colors.

1.5 Color


Figure 1.5.1 Colored Flora

Flora's color is pink and red, I tried to use the same colors to achieve a good contrast while not making it too colorful and complicated.


Figure 1.5.2 Colored Wood

Wood's main color is brown, with moss green and grey as complimentary colors.


Figure 1.5.3 Colored Water

Water is full with blue reflections and highlights to show the characteristics of real water.

1.6 Final Outcome

Figure 1.6.1 Final Outcome of Flora



Figure 1.6.2 Final Outcome of Wood



Figure 1.6.3 Final Outcome of Water


1.7 Reference Board
Figure 1.7.1 Reference Board of Flora

Figure 1.7.2 Reference Board of  Wood

Figure 1.7.3 Reference Board of  Water

2. REFERENCES

Experience

This is my first time trying to draw and color in Adobe Illustrator. It was confusing at first as I was very unfamiliar with everything, I had to google a lot and search on the internet to learn about the features and tools provided. I feel like familiarizing myself with the shortcut keys made me work more efficiently and helps me move from tool to tool faster. I need more practice on using the pen tool too as efficiency can be increased if I use it more smoothly.

Observations

I should remember to work with different layers in Adobe Illustrator as it helps a lot when something needs to be edited or deleted. Other than that, sometimes I can create copies of my work just in case an error occurs and my work gets deleted, at least I still have a backup. 

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