Conclusion of 'Soundscape 17'

Here's a long overdue update from summer project 'Soundscape 17'. The winners were announced just over a week ago - and I'm thrilled to bits to have found out my project was the winning entry. The grand prize was a shiny new Wacom Intuos 4 tablet, which I safely managed to get safely through the snow. I really like the new customisable function keys on the tablet particularly the touch ring, and the new pen simply feels great.

Congratulations also go to my fellow classmates Jolanta, taking 3rd place, and Jordan, taking 2nd place - both winning Amazon vouchers of £25 and £50 respectively. Be sure to check out a summary of their projects here and here!

You can find a general summary of my experience with the Summer Project here, otherwise feel free to use the 1 Becomes 2 label to explore the journey of the project. I've posted a pdf version of the 'Art of' book below for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Soundscape 17 by Leo

The Art of 'Soundscape 17'

My art book for the summer project '1 Becomes 2' arrived earlier this week from Blurb.com. I'm very pleased with the quality where the book turned out pretty much exactly how I designed it. Its a lovely feeling to hold work you've created entirely digitally on the screen of a monitor, into a physical copy such as a book.

Some images and even a video(!) for your viewing pleasure.







There's three levels of shipping from Economic (~£5), Priority (~£10) and Express (~£20). I ordered mine on priority shipping on a Sunday evening and received it the following week on Monday. In total, my book (which is a Standard Landscape Softcover type with 48 pages), came to £25. However, I found a promotional discount code on google and manage to get £5 off - so in all it came to £20.

For more info, hit Blurb.com where there's a simple introductory video on the process of designing your book. In short however, you create a blurb account, download and install their software 'Blurb Booksmart', design your book in Booksmart and hit Order Book when your ready to publish.

Its fairly straightforward, but it does take time when designing your book so keep that in mind if your working to a deadline.

Second Year Beginnings

Its been a while again since my last post, but yes its the start of the second year here at CG Arts & Animation officially since Monday 20th. I must say, things are shaping up to be as busy and as exciting as ever, with two simultaneous projects working along side each other, along with a third theory project for good measure. That's three layers of projects to contend with!

More on that later, for now I just want to wrap things up left off from the Summer Project. I was able to produce a few more concept pieces before finally designing and ordering the 'Art of' book for the project, which should hopefully arrive sometime next week.

I redesigned the Tech Guy character (renamed him as Wise One), as he felt a little too capable and detached from the others as a whole. The new design captures the slightly mad and inquisitive nature of the character, with oversized flip-flops and an amassed a collection of trinkets.



The last piece I did began to capture the ritual element of the soundscape. I wanted to give a mystical quality to the scene, so I experimented with elements such as a limited colour palette with tonal values rising from the tree to create a dramatic glowing effect, casting the gathering figures in darkness.





To be honest, I did not get to do as much as I originally intended for the project, although I am satisfied to an extent with what I produced, I wanted to explore so much more. Perhaps I may return to the project at some point, although now its time to move on and get cracking with the second year.

Wish me luck!

'Chief' Character Concept #2

I felt a redesign for the Chief character was in order as in hindsight; I'm not quite satisfied with the previous design perhaps feeling too comical. The new design hopefully rectifies this being less restrictive with the use of real world objects for more freedom to create a more interesting design.






He now adorns a battle body plate with shoulder guards refitted from scrap materials, as well as wielding a former garden tool re-purposed as an intimidating weapon. I kept the use of a cape aesthetic (perhaps once originally a curtain material) to maintain his higher sense of stature and social status, along with the boots despite being well worn and full of holes, as the surviving humans exist in a world where footwear has become a precious commodity.

'The Matriarch' Character Concept

For the female of the group, I imagined a matriarchal type woman who would lead in the spiritual ritual as shown by the soundscape.






As such, she adorns a mystical hood while wielding some foreboding ritual items. She also collects materials of the world which has formed the many ribbons and layers of her dress.

Tree Concept

Experimenting with a portrait composition this time, capturing the wreckage of a plane wing entangled in the midst of a great hulking tree. With its dominating presence and size, this could be the main place of worship as driven by the original soundscape.

Bridge Concept

The remnants of a bridge spanning across a lake. Was experimenting with a cooler palette with the piece, while giving a sort of mystical quality with fireflies dancing throughout the night. Once more, it suggests the deteriorating presence mankind has left in the land with nature reclaiming all in its wake.





This piece turned out quite differently than I originally intended with a dusty desert of a dried up lake below. I wasn't quite satisfied with the general composition and the direction the piece was taking at this early stage, so I repainted the piece with the results above.

Boat Concept

Concept piece depicting the ruins of a large freighter type boat. The fact that a boat would lie in such a strange location further suggests the extreme changes the world has undertaken, as well as the conditions the band of humans must co-exist in.








Started with some rough thumbnails with this one, before quickly resolving colour and adding some finer details.

'Tech Guy' Character Concept

A character concept of a sort of tech guy amongst the band of humans, one who is recognised to understand more of the old objects and artefacts they come across.




His clothes are well-worn and overused, with shoes in disrepair and overalls only kept together with an array patches taken from various clothing. Some objects include a collection of goggles he uses to analyse objects, a hammer tied to a cable which can be swung at great force, and an assortment of other objects he keeps in his pouch.

Shelter Concept

A concept piece depicting one of the possible shelters of the band of humans, developed from some of my earlier thumbnails.





I initially started with a rounder caravan similar to that of a 1950s aesthetic, but later decided to mix it up with a more square metallic version to create a further contrast to the surrounding nature.

'Chief' Character Concept

Here, I've taken some of my previous character thumbnails to develop further. I imagine the band of humans would naturally adopt a leader, perhaps something similar to that of a Chief type figure.




As the small band of humans discover objects of their forgotten past with a certain naivety, they begin to use what we consider everyday objects for a variety of different purposes. Here, I've made the Chief character use a lampshade as a hat, keys and coins as jewellery with watches worn on the legs, an umbrella as an ornate staff and a rug wrapped around as a cape. He also keeps a weapon and a cracked mirror which is considered precious to be able see ones' own reflection.

My main difficulty is in finding the right balance with the use of objects to make the character seem capable, and not completely ridiculous. They simply do not know what the objects are or what they were originally intended for, and thus use them differently. As such, its also fun yet challenging in finding these new perspectives of everyday objects.

Let me know what you think. Feedback most appreciated.