Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2010
Hermes Character Design
Today was a succesful day, at least so far. I'd given the Hermes charakter design several tries before, but I still wasn't satisfied with the results yet. I decided to go back to the very beginning of his character development, and started brainstorming again.
I swiftly wrote a list of 100 features I associate with him, ancient Greek's Great Messenger. During this process I wouldn't edit myself, and it's very important to do it as quickly as possible. This one is about creativity and I don't want my left brain to question my ideas at this point.
The next step is to find connections between the different catchwords. I ordered them by categories like with regards to content, materials and textures or character's appearance. I then employed these keywords in my research on visual references.
Here's a brief description of what he's going to be alike in my film:
"My" Hermes is a boyish man and the incarnated message or news. He's young and in good shape. He looks somehow birdlike, and his clothing is light and has a lot of feathers attached. He' bright and honest, passive and neutral like Switzerland in WWII. Deep down he's sensitive and lonely.
So I collected pictures of
- Hermes sculptures from several centuries
- ballet dancers
- differnet types of helmets and caps
- travelling cloaks
- angels
- birds, especially raven, and their wings
- silk and
- old newspapers.
From these collection I took single elements and assembled them in a drawing. After a visit to the Photoshop department, I now have a nice concept drawing of the Hermes character (I placed him into a picture of Vienna's Central Cemetery):
Well, this sketch is a lie.
The final puppet will be animated in the Land of the Dead, so he'll eventually be only a shadow of his former self. I'm going to work on his silhouette next.
Kommentare
Nils schrieb am Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2010 um 21:02 Uhr:
Very good approach to conceptual work - and I agree: This will make a really nice silhouette!
Shelley Noble schrieb am Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2010 um 21:26 Uhr:
Neat approach, Jessica. I admire how you begin with intentional visual and symbolic references.
I'm seeing a lotta Lotte in this pupp!
Jessica Koppe schrieb am Dienstag, 26. Januar 2010 um 20:06 Uhr:
Thanks, folks, these are indeed kind words which just make me feel great and encourage me a lot!
Especially your comment, Shelley, feels like the highest accolade to me... Lotta lovely Lotte... Mhhhmm...
Yaz schrieb am Freitag, 29. Januar 2010 um 15:19 Uhr:
Jessica, great approach here to Hermes's character design. Sketch is looking very good. So would his hair be in a raven shape? I like how you attached the head and wing to Hermes's head.
justin rasch schrieb am Samstag, 30. Januar 2010 um 01:50 Uhr:
cool beans!
thanks for sharing...
jriggity
Jessica Koppe schrieb am Samstag, 30. Januar 2010 um 08:32 Uhr:
Hi Yaz, thank you! It's not really hair you see here, it's menant to be a helmet in form of a raven since he must protect himself from people who don't like the message and be a threat the messenger... But perhaps it's a part of himself since hes a god. Who knows? ;)
Justin, thank you for stepping by!
Jessica Koppe schrieb am Samstag, 30. Januar 2010 um 08:35 Uhr:
Oh, I forgot to wirte about the construction of the puppet. Yaz, the puppet will be flat since it's one of the silhouette characters. I'm going to show the finished Hades puppet tomorrow (I guess), so you'll get an impression of them.
Yaz schrieb am Samstag, 30. Januar 2010 um 08:59 Uhr:
Jessica, thanks for the explanation. Flat.. so, a paper puppet? I will check back tomorrow to see the Hades puppet post.
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rich johnson schrieb am Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2010 um 18:34 Uhr:
love how you did his head. it's going to look great as a silouhette