Using all the references and resources I've gathered over this project, I began to make my final piece. It was interesting to see how a small idea I had at the start of the project grew into this major piece. I chose to work on large paper again as I felt that an illustration sequence would work well on a large scale.
This is the original sketch I made of the seven rooms featured in the story in graphite which I then inked using a fine brush and Indian Ink. As I found with my other pieces, Indian Ink is very good quality and dark black which is perfect for inking lineart. It is also non-water soluble, so when I paint over it or use glue it won't run or leak if it's dry.
I used bright watercolours to wash over the rooms to set the theme of each colour.
I printed out the short story, highlighting and enlarging certain words and sentences to draw the eye in and add emphasis. I created seven piles for each of the rooms and sorted the story into where I felt they were relevant in the illustrations. I also printed all my photos ready to be collaged and added them to the piles.
I began the collage with the photos to add definition and detail in places such as window frames, carpets and doorways. I then added the story cut outs over the top. In places it is difficult to read; this was not my aim but I like the effect as it causes the reader to look at the piece more closely in order to decipher the text. I applied a colour wash over the text to help it blend into the rooms. I realised that the windows weren't very noticeable so I mixed paint with clear varnish and applied it to the windows so the colours stood out and had a shiny, glassy finish to them. In some places the collage looks a little bit awkward and messy which helps add to the confusing scenery described in the book, so I had to let go of my desire to make it look neat or "pretty".
I painted the main characters on acetate using acrylic paint. I enjoyed creating the Red Death character as it was fun to be loose and less literal with my mark making in order to create an eerie, ethereal presence. To help with anatomy I used the photos I had taken of my friends to paint Prince Prospero. I kept his colour scheme bright like in my plan so he would stand out against the background and other masqueraders, which I think is also symbolic of his bold personality.
I sketched the masqueraders directly onto the piece with willow charcoal, brushed the sketches back and then defined them using compressed charcoal. I used this as it would easily cover the glue and collage as well as creating the conceptual "shadowy" look I discussed with my tutors with reference to Kentridge's silhouette images. The way in which their features are quite pointed and surreal reminds me of Aitor Throup's drawings as they were a large influence in my work. I feel this style of drawing people suits the illustration I'm making. I also decided to create masks for the characters that are the same colour as the room they're in, as Poe describes the windows as altering the appearance of the characters. I used several different designs of mask to show individual personalities and bring variation into the characters.
I wanted to glue the acetate on using varnish, however the acetate was too heavy so I had to use PVA glue. So far, they have dried okay as I was worried that it may have gone cloudy in places but this was not the case.
These are the completed individual panels of my illustration sequence. I wrote in sound effects in some places to help show what is happening in the story such as the orchestra's music and the "clanging" of the clock at midnight.
This is the piece as a whole.
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