My last project for my Style and Vision class is a two-page spread based on a song. I choose the same song that I used in the last project as a time saver. This choice also benefits me so that I can show more consistency in my art portfolio.
First Set of Ideas
The song sounded like Von was singing at someone boring who needed to lighten up, like an office worker.
I started with a thumbnail of the second character looking startled and confused as panels surround and point to him with imagery from lines in a segment of the song.
Found the Quote to Use
I went with this other idea of Von shaking the second character as he directs his singing to him. Then for the line, “Thinking that the devil’s gonna getcha,” I imagined a huge horned silhouette of ink wash creeping up on the character.
Reworking the Page Layout
Full Page Sketch
Character Sketches
I wanted the second character’s body shape to easily contrast from Von’s. I drew round, lanky, and square. I combined the best aspects of round and lanky to create this adorable, skittish baby-faced character.
Pencil Sketch
I made the whole spread on a large Stonehenge paper, keeping the two pages together for when I ink wash it. Because it’s too large to scan easily, I used a phone photo of the sketch to test out the speech bubbles and font. Luckily, my handwriting font fits the mood this time!
Ink Line Art
I watched Von’s music videos for references of his hands, posture, and face. I then inked the line art and set it aside for a day or two before I did the ink wash.
Ink Wash Progress
Ink Wash
Scanned
I cut the edges of the spread and scanned it in two parts that I put together in Photoshop.
Digitaly Enhanced
After adjusting the levels, I decreased the light values of Von and the second character to make them look further back behind.
Lettering
For the speech bubbles, I had to make them encapsulate the singing better. I tried going for white text on black but that made the shapes get lost in the darkness of the ink. I solved this issue by applying a white streak.