Journal Entry #6: 'Finding Shouko'

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It's been a while since I wrote here, but I decided to get my head down and really crack on with what I had to do. And the results are in! I'm so happy i've gotten favourites already! So, really, thanks to all you guys that did so - it's always immensely gratifying to receive stuff like that so immediately. Like most on DeviantArt I kind of just expect to upload then fade into the vast ocean that is the persistent upload frenzy that is DA. But, let's down to it! (If you're interested in learning more about 'Finding Shouko', take a look at my other journal posts!)

Finding Shouko: Main Title by TornIntegral


Story:

The story is complete! All path way selections are finalized and are ready to test your morals in the heat of the moment. There's no real way of sharing the story here, and it's better read with all the images I've uploaded - but, here's a taster! 

Sample by TornIntegral

Remember that it is intended for mobile format, so when it's more compressed it really does feel more alive. I've also included a kind of Japanese calligraphic border to help frame the images. It's still slightly rough (this is a PDF snapshot), so it's not the final final! I'm also playing around with the font to find something that reflects the narrative whilst not being distracting or too familiar. Times New Roman isn't going to cut it, and the general manga font isn't that pleasing to me - and this is a bit different. I had looked at Visual Novel fonts, but again, it just feels alien to the way I've come to present things. 

The many faces of Sizun:

Ren was actually the first character I conceptualized for this project, and she came together really easily. Sizun was more difficult. Originally he looked like this: 


Finding Shouko: Character Design Sizun by TornIntegral


Looks cool, but the face and so isn't right - but then I was still learning how to do all this at the time (I started learning to draw and paint digital in May 2013). I do prefer this version of Sizun:Finding Shouko: Pensive Sizun by TornIntegral
I have really trouble maintaining consistency with Sizun. I think it's the poses I put him in, you can tell it's him, but at all these different angles it might throw you off whack:


Finding Shouko: Sizun Looks Away by TornIntegral

Finding Shouko: Sizun Voice of Pain by TornIntegral

It's why I went for this greyish black hair and kind of pale-ish skin, it's so seperate from Ren's warm glow and Ryo's darker complexion that it would make him memorable (or at least as memorable as Ren's fiery orange hair!). 

Is being super clean in all your lines worthwhile?

For line-art, definitely. And Adobe Illustrator is the best tool out there without a shadow of a doubt. But for colouring, considering this is going to be on mobile format, you can get a bit loose because people just won't be able to see! So you can see where things aren't 100%, that's mainly a time thing on my part - I have to get stuff done, so there's a margin that I can keep to where I feel it's okay to move on after I spend a specific amount of time. You can literally spend forever on one piece if you're not careful, and who really thinks that a piece is ever really 'done'? 

Clean lines to me, mean everything. I can't do this flowing style that other users seem to be able to do, like Nuriko-kun for example. Right now I think that method of art is beyond me - you can see how I paint and colour. It's very anime. It's 100% of everything, meaning there's no blending, it's layer upon layer. Whereas the more flowing styles do have that blending that I find so difficult to do. I just went with what I can do best currently, rather than having this half-baked attempt at being awesome, i'll stick with it looking great for now! 

Finding Shouko: Ren Struck by TornIntegral



The Last Embrace

I have struggled with some drawings, but none really made me nervous other than the kissing scene. I really wanted to get Ren's tenderness across, but how do you that? Is it in the lips, the eyes, the face contortions? I puzzled over it for what must have been a month. Then I caught an image briefly somewhere - I can't even remember it - and it struck me that the hand is the most emotive thing in a tender kiss. Just the right amount of flex in a hand can convey tenderness, passion, and very deep emotion. So I focused on getting Ren's hand perfect (it's the best hand I have ever drawn), then the rest fell into place. 
Finding Shouko: Last embrace by TornIntegral
^ Beautiful hand.

Moving on...

When will it be finished? End of September and will be made available to download on Android phones! (iPhones can download the PDF)

Is it free? Yep! Unless you'd like to donate! 

I've kind of ran of things to say for now, there is more to come so watch this space and enjoy this image I did a while back:


Ocean View by TornIntegral
© 2013 - 2024 TornIntegral
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