Assignment One: You Are a Character!

Brief

This first assignment is to introduce yourself to your tutor and give them the opportunity to get to know more about you and your artwork. You are going to make a self-portrait, telling your tutor about yourself, your visual interests, the drawing styles you enjoy working in, and maybe some ideas of what you would like to develop in the course.

Many cartoonists and comics artists draw self-portraits of themselves at their drawing table or desk. Artists often draw themselves in the same style as their published work, and often surrounded by their own characters or creations. In combining their style with a portrait of themselves, their drawing turns them into a comic character themselves.

To see some examples take some time to search online using terms like: ● ‘Marvel comic artist self-portrait’ ● ‘DC comics artist self-portrait’ ● ‘Cartoonist self-portrait’ ● ‘Underground comics artist self-portrait’

Research

Researching an artist each to really explore different possibilities of how to approach this exercise, I started with an Marvel Comic Artist. Herbert Waldo Trimpe, also known as Herbert Waldo Trimpe was an American comic artist who worked for Marvel 1. Herb first got into creating comics by being an background inker with his "SVA Teacher" before going to serve in Vietnam from 1962-1966. When he found a job at Marvel he co-created the comics that he's known for today, The Incredible Hulk. 2

Marvelmania Herb Trimpe self Portrait, Pen and Ink, U/A. 3

From my observations of Herb's work, he likes to use proper portions of a body and uses blocking to shade his work and maintains the same width line for the outlines (unless it's a shaded area). You can slightly see his sketch underneath his image done with a blue pencil, which will help me when approaching my work. He included many characters that he has created all in the same style and surrounding his self-portrait.

The next artist I researched was Neal Adams, Neal Adams was also an American artist who was known for his superhero comics. Adams was really talented as a student that he was enrolled in an art school to pursue his talents, after excelling in art school he eventually got a job at DC comics; although he found it difficult to work at first since senior artists had a first priority when working, seeing Adams as a fresh blood who couldn't do as good as his seniors- his first work being a panel of the comic: The Adventures of the Fly #4. 4

It took a lot of work but his strongest work he created was "the home of Superman and Batman", where he was work highlighted his strengths in appealing and dramatics camera angles and powerful storytelling. 5

Neal Adams Self Portrait, Pen and Ink. 6

Looking at this illustration of a solo self-portrait of Neal Adams, even though its a sketch you can see he puts a lot of emotion in his drawing, really capturing the expression with the cheeks and the eyes; every line made by Adams is intended and effective.

Domee Shi is my next artist that I'm exploring, she is an Chinese-Canadian artist who loves art, keeping an art blog for herself and loved drawing anime in her school years. Domee Shi loving art, got an internship at PIxar. From there she worked as a Storyboard artist, writer and even a director for the movie Turning Red. 7 Turning Red and Bao would be her most recognised, popular work. 8

Domeeshi, Instagram 'Stay safe out there! 🎄' December 2021. 8

This illustration looks to be done on digital medium, she incorporated her movie short character, bao and turning red's Mei. Her style is very cartoon-like but she really captures the sense of fun and excitement of christmas and celebration.

Gilbert Shelton (an underground comic artist) is known for his work of Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and the Fat Freddy's Cat series 9. The first comic that Gilbert worked on was a college humor magazine called Wonder Warthog where he was determined to make a humours comic, attempting to sneak in crude elements such as hiding the word 'F***' in creative ways. 10 Shelton is well known for his exaggerated character elements and unusual art style, his style attract other comics artists and musicians to collaborate with him. 11

Gilbert Shelton Morse's Funnies Version 3 Self Portrait Illustration Original Art (Albert Morse, c. 1973) 12

From what I can see he uses his own style to create his self-portrait, he exaggerates his nose and hair will still maintaining human anatomy. The self-portrait is simple and fun, it truly captures his character on the page.

I really like the fun style of Domee Shi and they way she draws herself in a "cartoon' form, her main focus is capturing the mood and I really want to strive for that. Also, I like Herb Trimpe work in how he includes his characters around him as if it's his own little world that these characters are a part of.

100-word personal statement

My name is Abbie and this portrait shows me with images of my interests. One of my interests is basically watching tv and movies, I have a lot of favourites but I love Stranger Things, Korean TV Dramas, and Everything Everywhere All At Once. I also have a love for playing video games, decision making games and horror are the one of me, and two games I love is The Last of Us, Uncharted and Until Dawn, it practically took up my teen years; as I grow up I learn to love Korean music and enjoy walking around art museums. Lastly, I LOVE Studio Ghibli!

Description of characters

Starting off with Stranger Things there are many unique characters that I could include is Steve Harrington, Sheif Hopper and Mad Max. I wanted to capture the iconic characters of 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', that's Evelyn, Joy and Waymond (and included the googly eye). I want to included Ellie from the Last of us (and include the infected) and the Wendigo from Until Dawn. I would also like to include some elements of my interests but I would have to explore how to approach the design.

Images of things I like

Mood Board

13 https://www.pinterest.co.uk/AbsyFlabsy/vis-comm-assignment-1/

Mindmap

Thumbnails

Sketch

Colour Visual

Process

I had initially attempted to do this in watercolour and gouache but ultimately I tried to do colour digitally since I struggle sometimes with painting.

Final Work

Evaluation

The final product isn't what I expected but I don't mind the outcome. I wanted to include character physically in the drawing like Herb Trimpe but have the colour like Domee Shi, I feel like if I had more characters involved that it would appear more like Herb Trimpe; though I should've tried to be like Neal Adams and capture true likeness of my face.

I was surprised how it turned out, I wanted to try out perspective and quite and big scene-- not just a small head shot of me with some characters. I wanted to capture that fun I had on holiday riding bikes with three of my favourite characters (Ellie (The Last of Us), Steve and Max(Stranger Things)). It's a shame that I couldn't think of how to add more characters but I didn't want it to look too busy; I wanted to include Korean Dramas since that could've added narrative to the self-portrait. Though, I also added my dog, Chip which was fun! I included a whale which is significant to the music and band I like, and a small creature from Little Nightmares.

I like the attempt of perspective and the colour; it's something I'm most proud of. Again, I didn't like the lack of characters that I couldn't included and I also think I could've explored more compositions so I could've included more characters. Perspective could've been better and I should have done the trunks of the trees so it didn't just look like a bush.

To improve next time I should practice poses more, perspectives and painting.

1 U/A, Marvel Fandom 'Herb Trimpe', U/A. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Herb_Trimpe Accessed 27 June 2022

2 U/A You don't read Comics 'The Incredible Herb Trimpe: Remembering a Marvel Legend', U/A. https://www.youdontreadcomics.com/articles/2021/6/12/the-incredible-herb-trimpe-remembering-a-marvel-legend Accessed 27 June 2022.

3 Albert Moy, ComicArtFans 'Marvelmania Herb Trimpe self Portrait', Nov. 1 2021. https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1767213 Accessed 27 June 2022.

4 Alex Grand & Michael Dean, The Comic Journal 'Neal Adams, 1941-2022', May 4. 2022. https://www.tcj.com/neal-adams-1941-2022/ Accessed 28 June 2022. 5 J Meadows, The JC (The Jewish Chronicle) 'Farewell to comic book genius Neal Adams, who fearlessly battled for justice', May 6. 2022. https://www.thejc.com/news/world/farewell-to-comic-book-genius-neal-adams-who-fearlessly-battled-for-justice-1ceXGOib7yx3gacsnUvoG0 Accessed 28 June 2022.

6 M Nesbitt, ComicArtFans 'Neal Adams Self-Portrait', added Sept. 29 2017. https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1424911 Accessed 28 June 2022.

7 N Taylor, That Shelf 'Pixar Story Artist Domee Shi', Jun 15. 2015. https://thatshelf.com/pixar-story-artist-domee-shi-interview/ Accessed 28 June 2022.

8 S. Edwards, enRoute 'Pixar’s Domee Shi Puts a Magical Spin on Toronto in Turning Red' Mar 9, 2022. https://enroute.aircanada.com/en/interviews/domee-shi/ Accessed 28 June 2022.

9 U/A,Comic Art Factory 'Gilbert Shelton', U/A. https://www.comicartfactory.com/en/artists/gilbert-shelton-en/ Accessed 28 June 2022.

10 F. White, Potent Vocal Media 'Underground Comix Artist Gilbert Shelton'. 2017. https://vocal.media/potent/underground-comix-artist-gilbert-shelton Accessed 28 June 2022.

11 U/A, Lambiek, Gilbert Shelton, Jun 6 2022. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/shelton.htm Accessed 28 June 2022.

12 Heritage Auctions, Comics, U/A. https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/illustrations/gilbert-shelton-morse-s-funnies-version-3-self-portrait-illustration-original-art-albert-morse-c/a/7033-93867.s Accessed 28 June 2022.

13 Pinterest Board: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/AbsyFlabsy/vis-comm-assignment-1/