Final

 My finished triptych, all put together. My laptop started dying last week, so the last of the colouring was done without a tablet, but I'm proud of how it turned out.

Rationale

My triptych is based on the song “True Colours” and follows the story of two girls growing up together and falling in love. It consists of three rings, one for each verse and the chorus, with each ring having a section for the pair as kids, one for them as young teens, and a middle illustration of them as older teens/adults. I did this to show their progression growing up together, as they become who they really are.

The song itself has ties to the LGBT community due to the rainbow imagery and Cyndi Lauper’s actions, which I wanted to work with for my story. For the shorter girl, she grows from dresses she’s given as a child to presenting more androgynously. Mirroring this, the other starts as a young boy, before figuring out who she wants to be and transitioning to a woman as she grows.

The layout is based on the colour wheel, with the three main sections being cyan, yellow, and magenta, the ‘true colours’ of printing. The red, blue, and green sections show a crossover between the moods of these main sections. When put together, they show the full spectrum of colour and make the full story of the pair.

Full Image Plan

I've switched back to an older iteration for my layout. I feel like this one shows the colour wheel idea better

Interim Presentation

Here are the images I presented for interim.

The idea behind this being that each ring is a looping action. Each layer is a different time period in the girls' life (kids/teen/young adult). There would 3 circles (cyan/magenta/yellow), two for the verses and one for the chorus.

The feedback I got from Tanya and Matt

Week 7 Class and feedback

In class we went over the brief again and looked at some examples from last year. I talked to Tanya about my idea and got some more in return.

• Clour triangle with sections bleeding into each other.
• Have the circles be clear acrylic with images overlapping to form the secondary colours.
• Three seperate zoetropes that make a short story each.

I like the zoetrope idea, if I can figure out how to work it. Even if I can't get it to work moving, it could still make an interesting still visual.
The top size limit to keep in mind is roughly A3 size, or A2 size at the most.

Story + Layout Ideas

I've started a bunch of character sketches for my story. The song is pretty straightforward, so I'm not going to make any huge metaphors or allegories out of it.
So far I'm focusing on two queer girls growing up, helping each other become who they're meant to be. The colours/rainbow theme works well for a queer story.

[images]

For the layout, I want to do something with a CYMK colour scheme, specifically looking at the overlapping circles. CYM are the 'true colours' for printing and are the secondary colours in a RGB colour wheel.

My current plan is that each circle will be a verse/chorus, with the overlaps making mini-images linking them. The images are going to be black outlines with single tone colouring (CYM). The layout will be rows of images and patterns, with one main centre image.

Triptych

Google definition:

1. a picture or relief carving on three panels, typically hinged together vertically and used as an altarpiece.

   "a triptych depicting the Crucifixion"

   • a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.

     "a triptych on the theme of the holocaust"

Image examples:

 

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Ours will be a bit different from these as it has to a) show a narrative and b) be read/displayed in a nonlinear fashion.

Chosen Song

I've chosen to do "True Colours" by Cyndi Lauper for my triptych. I just really like the lyrics and theme, and I think I could do some cool stuff with the 'colours' theme.

Lyrics:

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing

If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

[Whisper:] Can't remember, when I last saw you laugh.

If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors
True colors are shining through

I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow. 

Brief and Song Options

Brief:

This project will provide students with the opportunity to develop a triptych that will convey the non-linear narrative construct defined within a song. Songs are constructed from a set of verses and chorus, each defined as a separate elements, but interwoven with the over arching narrative. The verse often provides the “narrative” of the song, whereas the chorus delivers a summary or overview of the song . The context for your triptych will be selected from a set of  provided songs, and this will indicate the starting point for the development of a meaningful three-part response  which explores the narrative implied or inspired within the song.

This process will begin with an analysis of the chosen context in relation to the construction of a nonlinear narrative and the design formula for developing a triptych. Students will start with iterative development of designs from rapid ideation and thumbnail sketches, through to image roughs and the final design, this developmental process will enable you to explore effective design practices.
The three spaces can  be interpreted in any digital or analog media or material. The final output could be could be either stills, booklet, objects, animation, installation, or automata.

The songs we can choose from are:

1. Elton John - Rocket Man (sci-fi)

2. Lullaby  -  The Cure (surreal/nightmare)

3. Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon (war)

4. David Bowie - Life on Mars (commentary on society)

5. Cyndi Lauper - True Colours (human condition - individuality)

6. Florence and the Machine - Shake it out (personal demons, great metaphors)

7. Alanis Morissette - Ironic (unfortunate events,great visuals)

[Youtube Playlist] 

Submission:
-        1 final triptych
-        Workbook ( digital or physical)
-        100-250 word rational describing your process.