Set The Scene When Telling A Story

Posted by Jo Murphy Dec 25, 2007

This is part of a five-day comic strip workshop called “The Funniest New Years Resolution Ever.”

Context

This is Day Two of the project. On Day One The Basics of Perspective co inquirers investigated perspective and found how easy it is to create a simple object such as a Coke Can. Now we explore how to "Set The Scene When Telling A Story."

This exercise further develops the process so that participants use these skills in context. They are going to make a whole tabletop.

This is so that they can come to

• create a cartoon world
• use perspective creatively
• place a cartoon character/s within an environment

Process

• ask the drawers to create a tabletop by drawing an oval or rectangle receding in space
• on the top of the table draw a tablescape
• place knives, forks, spoons, cups, table clothes, napkins,presents, cakes on it (any thing that would be on the top of a table)
• draw from real life or use pictures scavanged or downloaded from the internet

As participants draw, encourage them to think of a cartoon character that will spring to life on this tabletop world such as:

• a mouse
• cockroach
• fly
• midget
• ant

Content

Demonstrate for participants the subtle techniques of drawing

• Whisper lines
• Rescuing outlines
• Crosshatching (Depth) tone, shade, rendering
• Seven Elements of Design
• Positive Negative Space

As the participants develop confidence, keep the line work very feint so that it can be erased easily.

• Keep the project and the joke ideas simple
• Continually refer to the Drawing 101 if you are stumped.
• Keep the drawing proscess easy and manageable.
• Use patterns to create interest.
• When you have finished drawing the table top “people it” with characters such as mice.
• Colour the entire drawing
• Rescue Outlines again! Go back and make sure your lines are crisp and clear.