Visual Style Guide

In conclusion to this project I have found that all colours can evoke a particular mood if the right light set-up is applied. Most colours that are used in film and games are in fact de-saturated either light or dark. This is just a guide to help others experiment with colour because the fact is that there is many different combinations out there.

Visual Style Guide.

Concept 1: The Cave Final Piece

This image is to be the money shot. This should sell the concept of the story. What I found was it was restricting to paint on top of the image so instead I put the concept on one screen with Photoshop in front of me and then I drew from eye. 

Development.

Final piece. To draw the attention to the creature I added a contrast of warm and cold colours to make it seem less monochromatic.

Final Concept 2: The Forest

Final concept piece, the amount of characters changed to one because there is more drama with just 1, plus it creates the sense of the unknown. The source light in the development image should to be really confusing as it is night time yet there is a light shining behind him?

Also the character was so bright that he popped out of the picture. So in order to eliminate these problems de-saturated colours were used on the main character and the moons raise was stressed more to capture the night scene.

Development work.

Final Concept piece.

Concept 3: Trapped

This is the final concept piece, using strong contrast of light and shadow to add panic to this scene. Even the shadows of the rocks look as though they are restricting the characters shadow from moving. The light has a strong focus on him which is glaring through him we can see the silhouette of the creature in the bottom right. By not revealing its identify the fear of the unknown is being used.

Concept 3: Trapped Colour Script Exploration

This is colour script exploration from Matrix System and fitting it with the 'artistic intent' document these are the range of colours that I think are relevant. The main focus was trying to get the spot light lit in the right way to suit the drama of the scene. The second colour script seems the most appropriate as the other colours work well together. 

Concept 2: 'Forest' Colour exploration

This is colour groups from the matrix system again following the criteria the colours have been arranged in different ways, tones to find the best result. Since these are similar by creating the final art piece colour and arrangement will be further developed. 

Concept 1: The Cave Colour Script Exploration

Taking from the Matrix System similar colours of blue and turquoise were explored with some added warm colours for the light source. Since the tones have been established very quickly we get an idea of how the finished result will look. The colour relationships will be further investigated in the concepts.

Development of Concept 3: Trapped

This is the most dramatic part in the story, the explorer has been chased into a nearby forest, with the creature searching for him it finally corners him and he has no where to run. What's important in this shot is contrast of light and dark, I think this will create the most tension. The scene will express some form of panic,dramatic, intensity.  

The image above makes use of silhouette's, the explorer is puny compared to the giant robot since it stand in a calm stance we're not sure what's going to happen. The rocks at an angle focusing on the explorer although the creature stands out the most.   

The silhouette of the creature in this image creates a dramatic atmosphere because we can't make out how it looks, the explorer lays on his back at the beg of mercy. I don't think there's enough information in the image to sell the piece as a dramatic image.

With the explorer at the edge of the cliff this makes for an intense atmosphere because he can either jump or wait and see what happens to him. The creature is is almost bent down to the explorer's level creating sense of scale. 

Use of silhouette in the creature again creates mystery we're not sure exactly what it is and this heightens tension. Explorer is at the edge of a cliff and has the same option. Sharp rocks point in his direction. 

The dark bushes frame the scene and we get the sense he is outside the forest in his stance we can tell he is in panic as the creatures makes his way towards him. Sharp shadows add to the intensity because it contrasts with the smooth outlines of the forest.

Again we have another cliff hanger, the creature blocks the path so there is nowhere for the explorer to run, we see the silhouette of him and so he reads clearly. The broken path adds fragility adding to the tension of the scene. However since the creature is so far the sense of drama is lost.

The tilted angle in this image adds to the drama, the character is up against a rock with nowhere to go, with a focused light on him there will strong contrast of light and dark, The creature remains uncertain as we don't know exactly what to make of it, with the woods disappearing into the shadows there is a sense of abandonment. This is the image I will work on.

Development of Concept 2: Forest

This is the final concept idea for Concept 2: This was in conjunction with tree ideas with the development of the first sketch. The main light source is on the characters drawing your eyes into them. The creature is on the hunt for them in the distance. 

To create depth silhouette of the foreground tree is used point its branches to the explorers.

This is colour script ideas for the shot warm colours surround the characters while the cool colours push everything else back. 

Developing Concept 1: Cave Scene

These are sketches that I came up with showing the explorer enter the cave to find something unusual in there too with his curious mind he looks further. I am trying to create the sense of uncertainty but creating fear at the same time. 

 Looking at the basic line drawing I want the environment to hint that the focus is the creature in the centre so I aim the rocks towards the background/

I lay in tones to get a sense of depth making use of silhouettes and contrast of light. I like setup in the design but the creature is too obvious with its sharp edges I want it to be more subtle to express uncertainty. 

I do a new line drawing creating depth with the main subject matter at the back silhouetting however since it it looks like a fierce creature I want to avoid this. 

Creating the sense of unknown works in this picture because the dark shadows in the background create a lot of unsettling space because we're not sure what's going on there. The point light in background focuses our eye there while the foreground rocks help guide our eyes to the main subject.

The torch focuses on the creature creating strong light and dark contrast. Again we see the rocks silhouetted in the foreground aiming towards the subject matter creating a sense of fear with the edge association.

This sketched worked the best. The main subject is obscured frozen in ice so we don't know what's inside creating a sense of mystery. the characters establish scale. The shadows in background creating uncertainty with unknown space and the foreground rocks are used more subtly to guide the viewer to main subject matter.

This is photo references for ice cave even though i am sticking to colour groups identified in matrix system there needs to be a sense of realism as well. This will help me achieve that, The cave will be frozen towards the unknown creature on the ground and on the walls