Digital Illustration
Restore Tabs
1500 x 1350 px
November 2020 Digital Painting Restore tabs is an illustration based on a short story from a project having to do with how technology takes up our lives an in ways shows how dangerous depending on technology can be. Lakewood by Megan Giddings is also a factor as it's the inspiration to the short story.
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Inspiration
While working on a short story for my English class I thought of creating a visual to go along with my story. Lakewood by Megan Giddings has to do with her character, Lena facing financial problems and struggling with family matters as well. My take was to have a character, Glenn, struggle with making ends met during a pandemic. (Sound familiar?) While looking for ways to make money she stumbles upon anonymous emails and letters asking her if she would like to participate in surveys for a quick buck. It sounds a bit too good too be true but, she has nothing to lose. With every task she's presented, the more off this scheme feels.
For my piece I wanted to create an image to compliment my story, I want the elements of technology showing through since majority of my character's setting has to do with her being in her apartment with just her laptop. |
Planning Sketches
1. For my first idea I thought of depicting my character with her laptop open, showing the reflection in her screen with her glasses.
2. Next I thought of having her in a sense walking/in movement while a giant monitor follows her. 3. A side profile of Glenn surrounded by wires and tech, overlapping in the background while some aspects are attached to her. |
Process
1. Once my sketch was done I went in with the coloring process, I would fill in large shapes of color, the lightest browns towards the peaks of her face and darker reds and oranges to shade in the darkest creases of her face.
2. Since I gave her such dark hair I didn't really add highlights since I felt that matte gave more focus to her hair. 3. The final touches were her sweater and other elements added later on. Such as her background and overlays. |
Experimentation
After the portrait of my character was finished I thought of adding more tech inspired elements. For example this "error" tab. Since I made her body language show that she's looking upwards I altered the tab at an angle to make it seem that that's what she's looking up at. Part of my story is how once she starts taking surveys as a job her computer starts to work slower and have problems with actually working. So having her staring at this error tab is literally a summary to what she goes through in the story. |
Reflection
One of the things I wish I could go back on is the sizing of my canvas. I felt as if I needed more space to fully execute my vision. I have the tendency to work really small, so I'll sometimes forget to enlarge my sketches since I get really into trying to finish the piece. Overall I am really proud of the portrait, since this character was taken from my own interpretation of Glenn. Plus adding that overlay and background finalized the intention of the work.
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ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings has to do with her character, Lena facing financial problems and struggling with family matters as well. My take was to have a character, Glenn, struggle with making ends met during a pandemic.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Giddings way of using imagery thoughout the entire story is a key factor to how we can interpret the book. While making this piece, adding literal imagery of technology is a nod to that element in the original story.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
That my short story has to do with something in the now, that it talks about what we are all collectively struggling with, a pandemic.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted to create an image to compliment my story, I want the elements of technology showing through since majority of my character's setting has to do with her being in her apartment with just her laptop
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That we need to find how to help each other during these hard times so we won't have to resort to irresponsible measures.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings has to do with her character, Lena facing financial problems and struggling with family matters as well. My take was to have a character, Glenn, struggle with making ends met during a pandemic.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Giddings way of using imagery thoughout the entire story is a key factor to how we can interpret the book. While making this piece, adding literal imagery of technology is a nod to that element in the original story.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
That my short story has to do with something in the now, that it talks about what we are all collectively struggling with, a pandemic.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted to create an image to compliment my story, I want the elements of technology showing through since majority of my character's setting has to do with her being in her apartment with just her laptop
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
That we need to find how to help each other during these hard times so we won't have to resort to irresponsible measures.