Digital Paintings

Here are some of the Digital paintings I've been working on over the easter break. I still have a few backgrounds but theses are the completed ones for now. All was created using photoshop.

The first image is a flower in the lacadon jungle (actually a rainforest) that will be used in the opening scene of the trailer.  I'm planning on having the flower blow in the wind and use it as a transition shot.

The next digital painting is our first look at the Aztec city, Tenochtitlan. Here the Aztec people gather around their chieftain and priest. They are situated before their temple. Aztecs built temples to honour their gods. The Sun, Rain, War and Maize god were honoured most above all other gods. Below I've drawn the Temple Mayor which has two temples on top of it. One honoured the god of War, Huitzilopochtli and the other the god of rain, Tlaloc. In Nahuatl temple Mayor was known as huei teocalli.

Here are some progress paintings that I am currently working on.

Above is an unfinished isometric view of the Chinampas, man made arable land that the aztecs built by weaving reeds and using trees and logs as anchors. The greyscale image is also going to be an opening scene where an eagle scout finds our main protagonist washed up on shore.

Storyboards

I had some difficulty trying to settle on what I wanted to show in the trailer the most. I really wanted to focus on aspects that represented the Aztec society as a thriving creative civilization more than a barbaric one. I settled on showing their Temple Mayor and Chinampas and the Kings bath. I also thought ending the trailer with an Aztec man dancing in silhouette would help add some mystery to the whole piece.

Logo Development 2

After taking on board the advice I was given from the my last designs, I got back to work. I still wanted to incorporate the sundial into my piece. However it was time for a name change. After discussing it peers and some young relatives we finally agreed on the name "The Book of Issac". We all found it suitable to the overall theme of the series. To remind you my original idea is a for a television series where the main protagonist lives in different time periods in each episode. So we have also brainstormed that each episode could be a chapter in Issac's metaphorically book. For example, I am focusing on Issac's encounter with the Aztecs as a Spanish sailor. This episode would be called " The Book of Issac, Water chapter" as the Aztecs were great engineers and built Mexico city on top of water as well as their arable land and they also created aqueducts so that they had a fresh water source.  The following are more rough logo prototypes with the above idea in mind. I wanted the ideas in my head to be created quickly so I could get opinions on which logo I should develop further. The final logo received the most positive feedback.

Outfit Variations

Using the images I submitted previously I designed three suitable clothing outfits for the characters. Below are my final designs. I also had to research alot of Spanish sailor outfits in the 15th century and then add my own unique twist to them to suit Issac's personality more. 

Chieftain

Issac

Elueia

Priest

Character Body Shape

Ok so now its time to finalise the characters body shapes. 

It was important to me that each character had a unique shape. I also wanted the mexican character to have different body proportions to the Issac. The mexican characters have thicker ankles and wrists. Next step is to use these images as stencils to try different clothing on them.

Logo Development 1

I've started to play about with logo designs for this project and I wanted something that would have a "tip of the hat" to time and to the past but without it seeming caught in the past. As I need this logo to be suitable for many time periods.

After some feedback from my peers and lecturer, I was advised type used wasn't working. Initially I was trying to go for a brush- handwritten style of font. Alot of my peers found I took away from the illustration of the sun dial.

Aztec Clothing

Aztecs clothing varied from simple to elaborate depending on the following factors:

- Class
- Wealth
- Status

Draped Items

Men commonly wore loincloths known as Maxtatl. This clothing came in two styles wrapped around the hips and through the legs. All men of all classes wore loincloths. They would reflect wealth and status through design motifs. For ceremonial purposes some loincloths would have loose cloth in front and back of the wearer. Musicians, Warriors and Cargadors would wear square pieces of cloth tied to the right hip. Capes were also the most important status symbol.

The fabric worn was an identification of the identity and class of the wearer. Commoners wore materials called maguey, yucca or palm fiber garments. The higher classes wore cotton clothing with decoration.

Cloak would also differ in appearance depending on the wearer's rank. Soldiers could only wear simple cloaks with no embroidery. The length would only be able to reach as far as below the knee. If it reached below the ankle in length it was punishable by death.

Women wore skirts known as Cuietl. That could either be very basic in style or decorated with rich embroidery. The embroidered skirts would be made of thin cotton with stripped edges. The coloured edges were created by combining finespun, dyed rabbit hair and feathers.

Slip on Garments

These garments were stitched together at the top of the garment and then draped over the shoulders covering front and back of the wearer. Women wore these garments known as Qechquemitl during ceremonial events.

Open Sewn Garments

Aztec warriors wore a short padded, quilted jacket-like cotton armour known as Ichahuipilli. The shirt was made with fluffed up cotton covered in cloth and stitched in a leather border with leather thongs.

A male sleeve-less jacket known as Xicolli was used in rituals.

Closed Sewn Garments

This style came in two different forms. They were known as Ichahuipilli as well. The first style was undecorated and sleeveless that reached to the top of the wearers thighs. The second style was a pull-on sleeveless garment that reached mid-thigh and was decorated.

Another garment that rested below the hip and was also sleeveless was the Huipilli. This was the basic garment worn by all classes of women. Again with the more decorated designs belonging to the higher ranks. These garments were usually worn with skirts.


Limb Encasing Garments

These garments were known as Tlahuiztli and were worn by men. They were used as military attire. They encased the mans body and in some cases even the head. They also consisted of a feather-covered fabric.