NUA Art Tests - Week 1 Summary

The Brief

"Over the next 2 weeks you will choose and engage with an art or design test that mimic potential tests set by an employer. Tests are used to validate your CV and further assess your suitability for a position within a company. Tests are not limited to art and design; programmers and occasionally producers will also engage in formal or informal assessment or tasks. Collate your development into your journal and produce what your selected test asks. Consider the context of your selected test. Research the studio and franchisee is applicable. Understand their production values and styles. Evaluate whether they would want to see a result that is to specification or with that extra something."

Because I specialise in 2D Concept art, these were the briefs I was able to choose from:

It was tough to decide between the 2D concept art briefs, however because my strength is drawing/creating characters I decided to go with the test from Telltale Games. In my last devlopment project I was creating asset sheets for products because I felt that I really needed to improve upon it, so now I believe I'm ready to play to my strengths and work with something I'm more confident with.

Assessing the Brief

Before I start working on the actual brief itself, I thought I would do some research into the company Telltale Games and the Monkey Island series. Despite the fact I haven't played any of the Monkey Island games before, I have played many from Telltale! Here is a moodboard I have created which includes some of Telltale's most famous and notable games, including an image to represent their art style.

TellTale Games are mostly known for using dark outlines atop a painterly base, whether this be for assets, characters or environments (with Minecraft being the exception because of its already distinct pixel-style, and Tales of Monkey Island; which is the oldest game pictured in this moodboard).

The Monkey Island series

"Monkey Island is the collective name given to a series of five graphic adventure games. The first four games in the series were produced and published by LucasArts, formerly known as Lucasfilm Games. The fifth installment of the franchise was developed by Telltale Games in collaboration with LucasArts. The games follow the misadventures of the hapless Guybrush Threepwood as he struggles to become the most notoriouspirate in the Caribbean, defeat the plans of the evil undead pirate LeChuck and win the heart of governess Elaine Marley. Each game's plot usually involves the mysterious Monkey Island and its impenetrable secrets."

- Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Island_(series)

Ideas and Inspiration

Considering how the brief specifies that our character will be located in a sunken underwater temple, I immediately began to think of how I could personify different sea creatures. The one that stuck with me the most was a jellyfish. I think that using a jellyfish as the main subject for my character would really work well with how this creature has a 'normal' and 'twilight' form. Jellyfish themselves are exceptionally beautiful creatures to look at, however very deadly as well. This is exactly the reason why I want to play with opposites while creating the character.

I want the jellyfish to have a very innocent and cute normal form, whereas the twilight one to be quite sinister and threatening.

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