See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/235794494

Creating Stylized Characters Using The Collage Technique

Conference Paper · January 2011

CITATIONS READS
0 86

2 authors, including:

Nekhat Sultana
Multimedia University
3 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Nekhat Sultana on 28 September 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Creating stylized characters using the collage technique
Nekhat Sultana binti Tarique Azam Anuar Hassan
Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Faculty of Creative Multimedia,
Multimedia University, Malaysia Multimedia University, Malaysia
nekhat.sultana@mmu.edu.my anuar.hassan@mmu.edu.my

Abstract

Designing characters for animation is a process similar to any type of design process
where certain information and references are used in order to develop a successful
character. All forms of references are used to identify the visual elements of the
character, as well as their emotional and physical attributes. This project experiments
with the techniques and workflow that can be explored when designing characters using
the collaging method of photographs and images as a point of reference, using Adobe
Photoshop and Illustrator as the tools for manipulation.

This paper investigates ways to develop of stylized characters by experimenting with

collages, as a method of exploring design to compensate for the lack of drawing skills.

Keywords : Character Design, Collage

Introduction

Creative content development today can be quite challenging for a well-trained artist, and
near impossible for someone who has the creative ideas but is unable to express them.
Whereas creativity is not an element that can be controlled, skills to express these
creative ideas can be developed. In this research the authors were faced with the issues of
students who had great ideas but lacked skills in demonstrating those ideas. So the
authors decided to explore ways that would be appropriate in helping these students
overcome their limitations, and be able to implement methodology in class.

This research focuses on a particular area of creative content development which is

character design. This paper looks at how a character is designed, and what factors are in
play when designing the characters. This paper also, through references, defines what
collaging is and how it can contribute to developing creativity when designing characters.
Finally, the authors go through the process of developing their own characters
incorporating the collaging method. Artworks are also inserted to showcase the method
applied in the design process and its final output.

Character design can be seen everywhere today. Designing character takes into account
the context of its environment, also needs to be believable, and should generate empathy
from the audience based on the physical make-up, disposition and personality of the
1
character. Designing a good character is more than touching the surface of the character.
A form is always followed by function. An in-depth study of the character’s personality is
of utmost importance. Once a strong profile has been created, only then the visuals will
make sense. In most cases, the profile design and the visual design process tend to work
parallel and help develop each other. Characters designed should be relatable to the
audience it is being designed for. Otherwise it will prevent the audience from
empathizing with it, thus making it difficult for the audience to like the character.

When sketching out the possible designs for a character, it is important to keep in mind
their personality and traits. Inserting these elements into the design process will help in
getting a better understanding of the character’s body language. A simple sketch of a
character standing will reveal so much information about him, whether he’s slouching or
standing erect, reflects his personality. Designing characters with attitude will give the
audience an insight into the character’s personality. Pose studies are essential in
developing the character further. Exaggeration of the poses can lead to distinct shapes
that will later signify the character further (Gard, 2000).

Unfortunately, designing a unique character design is getting more and more difficult as
increasingly visually stunning creations are presented over time (Seegmiller, 2003).
According to Chris Patmore, at times, characters we design are actually based on objects
or characters we’ve read or seen. “Taking an existing concept and adding your own
personality to it can set you off in directions you might never have explored” (Patmore,
2005). Some may consider this plagiarism, but characters designed are usually based on
an archetype, an existing character (Blair, 1994).

In the last 10 years or so, there has been much exploration in the area of arts-based
research (Mullen, 2003). This encompasses a wide range of activities where arts are
created as part of generated data from the research, or research that is generated as the art
is being created. This paper looks at the latter as its methodology. Arts-based research is
defined by Eisner and Barone (1988/1997) as follows:

“The presence of certain aesthetic qualities or design elements that infuse the inquiry and
its writing. Although these aesthetic elements are in evidence to some degree in all
educational research activity, the more pronounced they are, the more the research may
be characterized as arts based”. (p. 73)

Collaging has been acknowledged by researchers in the fields of arts and creative design,
as a legitimate form of creative visualization (Dudek & Cote, 1994). According to
Princeton.edu (princeton.edu), collage is a paste-up made by sticking together pieces of
paper or photographs to form an artistic image. Its influence in the Western art is
attributed to Picasso and Braque through their artworks between 1911 and 1912 (Poggi,
1992). Subsequently, the collaging method has been applied to across many forms of
visualization including painting, drawing, photography and video. Collage explores
thinking outside of the box. It juxtaposes different elements together to produce a whole
new object or element. Collage has its roots in the creative practice of an experimental

2
orientation, with focus on innovation rather than creation or repetition (Vaughan, 2005).
The main focus in collage is to innovate rather that repeat the same ideas, thus giving
insight to ideas we may have not come across otherwise (Bal, 2001). A collage method
can be applied in a variety of fields of research, producing experimental texts, visual
artifacts, or even new forms (Vaughan, 2005). Collage technique can help the artist look
at the big picture as a real element that can be moved around, thus suspending linear
thinking (Davis and Butler-Kisber, 1999).

Context and Methodology

For the purpose of this research, the authors had developed several profiles based on the
stereotype personality taken from literature reviews (Blair, 1994). An in-depth
personality was developed to attain certain visual cues in developing the physical look of
the characters. Then rough sketches were made to develop the silhouettes studies for each
character.

Once the general looks of the characters were clearer, the authors moved to the next part
of the experiment, which was to identify the collaging elements. The authors identified
several photo portraits of people and existing character images that would be used in
creating the collages. In these experiments, photographs and existing character images
were modified and manipulated using digital software. The manipulations were
controlled based on existing guidelines for effective character designs. Other images were
also used as references in developing the new characters. The collages were created by
juxtaposing different elements, body parts or even shapes in order to create a brand new
character.

In order to validate these methods, an extensive study of photographs and existing

character designs was undertaken. Unique quirks and the essence of each photograph
were identified. These unique elements were then exaggerated to produce a caricature of
the existing photographs. Several different caricatures were made for each selected
photograph. These were done digitally with a photo manipulating software. The next step
was to experiment with the cut-and-paste technique, where pieces were digitally cut from
several different images and pasted over the caricatures to generate new character
designs.

Annotations were made on the initial collages to indicate the direction of the design.
According to Blair (Blair, 1994), characters exude certain personality through proper use
of shape, form and gestures. Thus, the collages were designed with the personality of the
new character in mind. The distortions were analyzed through silhouette studies to
determine whether the personalities are clearly defined.

Each character designed, went through several different combinations before one was
selected as the final character and drawn over using digital drawing software. According
to Eisner (Eisner, 1991), the collage technique gives the artist the flexibility to assemble
and re-assemble various parts until the artist finds the order or pattern he or she is looking
for. In the case of the authors’ character design experiment, the silhouette studies were

3
crucial in achieving the appropriate form, based on the annotations made during the
collaging process. These silhouette studies established the direction, mood and attitude of
the characters. Once these silhouettes were finalized, it was easier to fill in the details to
develop the visual look of the characters.

The collaging method gave the authors many quick options, with the ability to re-arrange
the collages around in digital software. Then, using another software, the authors drew
out the final outline for the new character. From the digital drawing, more variations were
made to explore color and texture.
More detailed explanation of the experiment can be found on the development boards.

Conclusion
These experiments were aimed at exploring effective workflow for those who find
drawing a challenge. Using guidelines for good character design as outlined by
Seegmiller and Blair, the authors managed to produce several options for each character
to choose from. A clear and systematic workflow was discovered to be of importance in
this experiment. The systematic workflow developed paved way for a non-linear method
of collaging, where layers of images were co-adhesive yet independent. Adding smaller
variations were also easy, as all layers were maintained and easily modifiable.

Caricature of selected photographs and character images produced some surprising

results, where the changes were significant enough to generate new characters. By adding
cut-up pieces from other images, these enhance the innovation of the new character. The
collaging method also gave multiple perspectives and direction when exploring the shape
and silhouette study. Linking different objects or parts of different characters together
also produced some surprising results, which may not have been visualized through
sketching only. In some cases even the smallest of changes were enough to generate a
whole new direction in the design.

The authors, while working through these experiments, felt liberated in expressing their
ideas for character design. The collaging method opened up many avenues with multiple
results that were easily and quickly achievable. This method has been considered by the
authors, to be very effective in developing stylized characters, where essence of reality is
exaggerated and developed to produce something unique yet believable.

4
Technique demonstration Formatted: Font: Bold

Images below show the techniques discussed above in a visual demonstration. Images 1
to 6 showcase the steps taken in developing characters using the collaging method and
their results.

Image 1 Formatted: Font: Bold

Formatted: Centered

Image 1 : This is the first step in developing the collages. Using an existing photo, Formatted: Font: Bold
features of the person has been manipulated to develop a new look. Various looks can be
achieved using this method.

5
References

(Seegmiller, 2003) Seegmiller, Don. Digital Character Design and Painting. ISBN : 1-
58450-232-0

(Patmore, 2005). Patmore, Chris. Character Design Studio : Creating Cutting-edge

cartoon figures for Comicbooks, computer games and graphic novels. ISBN 1-86155-
476-1

(Dudek & Cote, 1994). Dudek, Stephanie Z. & Cote, Remi. Problem Finding Revisited.
In Mark A. Runco (Ed.), Problem Finding, problem solving and creativity. NJ : Ablex,
130-149.

6
 (Gard, 2000) Gard, Toby. Building Character.
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000720/gard_pfv.htm. June 2000

(Mullen, 2003) Mullen, C. A. A self-fashioned gallery of aesthetic practice [Guest

editor’s introduction. Qualitative Inquiry, 9(2), 165-181.

( 1988/ 1997) Eisner, E., & Barone, T. (1997). Arts-based educational research. In R. M.
Jaeger (Ed.), Complementary methodsfor research in education (2nd ed., pp. 73-94).
Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. (Original work published
1988)

(princeton.edu). http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=collage

(Poggi, 1992). Poggi, Christine. (1992). In defiance of painting: Cubism, futurism, and
the invention of collage. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

(Vaughan, 2005). Vaughan, K. Pieced together: Collage as an artist’s method for

interdisciplinary research, International Journal of Qualitative Methods 4 (1) March
2005.

(Bal, 2001). Bal, M. Louise Bourgeois’ Spider: The architecture of art-writing. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press.

(Blair, 1994). Blair, Preston. Cartoon Animation. ISBN 1-55010-084-2, Walter Foster
Publishing Inc.

(Davis and Butler-Kisber, 1999). Davis, Donna & Butler-Kisber, Lynn. Arts-based
Representation in Qualitative Research : Collage as a Contextualizing Analytic Strategy.
Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association, 1999

Eisner, E. (1991). The Enlightened eye : Qualitative Inquiry and the enhancement of
educational practice. NY : Macmillan

Eisner, E. (2002). The Arts and the Creation of Mind, In Chapter 4, What the Arts Teach
and How It Shows. (pp. 70-92). Yale University Press. Available from NAEA
Publications. NAEA grants reprint permission for this excerpt from Ten Lessons with
proper acknowledgment of its source and NAEA.

View publication stats