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1st Project: Period Accurate Graphics

Updated: Apr 22


The brief for this project was to create a realistic prop of my chosen time period (1860 Victorians). The other aim of this project was to design a set from a wide-angle perspective with a close-up of the handmade prop.



I started with a proposal of ideas including a 1940s WW2 soldier's room/tool room and a 1970s teenage bedroom where the young boy is trying to join a band. However, I felt that neither of these ideas had enough narrative and personality to design a set from and therefore went with my third idea as seen below.

My chosen idea was based on an 18-year-old Victorian lady who falls in love with someone from the lower class and therefore their love is forbidden. The props I created included a written letter from her lover along with a make-up tin stolen from the lower class man who is also a thief.



I captured first-hand evidence of original Victorian items ranging from 1860-1880 found around my home. These objects inspired me for this project as I love the Victorian era and the research involved enabling me to create detailed and intricate props from first hand research.




I next carried out research on the Victorian 1860 era using academic sources found online along with books and catalogues. Some of the images are sourced online and from books/magazines. One of the most interesting pieces of information I found out was that a pale complexion was a sign of nobility and that of a well-off woman, who did not spend hours outside working. It was so desired to look pale that some women went to extreme lengths of drawing on and emphasizing their dark circles, pinching their cheeks and biting their lips to make them appear redder. I feel that this information has been really helpful in creating my project for the interior and exterior architecture of Alice's room along with the make-up product I created.


I then went on to create initial sketches of ideas from make-up-related Victorian products I had seen online to gauge a concept of shape and form. Although these sketches are only rough and quick, they allowed me to understand shading for my wide-angle visual and photoshopped prop.





The letter: I sourced the original Victorian letter paper from the Nottingham Stamp shop along with the original stamps. I then practiced handwriting several times in pen and ink. Although I am happy with how it turned out, I still feel that the ink is too dark however I think it is because I am quite heavy and this would come with practice.

The Makeup tin: I sourced original Victorian cleaning product tins which are the same size and shape as the makeup tins. Then, using photoshop, I designed the packaging cover lid and had it printed onto clear vinyl stickers. I then sanded the tins to look authentic. Although I am happy with how the tins turned out, one thing I would change is the font. I am also not happy with how the sticker slightly leans over the edge of the tin and becomes wrinkled however I feel overall it looks Victorian. I added flour to the tins to resemble the 1860-setting powder makeup product.



For my Photoshop visuals, I used a mixture of Adobe Photoshop and procreate. I created 3 designs as the first two I feel were not period accurate enough and therefore I added a bay window and half wall panelling. I also adjusted the angle of the bed to sit flat against the wall.


I really enjoyed the process of making this storyboard from my Photoshop visual, zooming into the different shop types following the camera plan. I illustrated the close-up scenes by drawing squares around the objects we zoomed into. One thing I feel I could improve is the quality of some of the images because once zoomed in closely, it almost becomes

pixelated.


References:


Feedback from tutors:

  • Good research reflected through finished props

  • good ideas and a strong storyline/narrative

  • Make sure the prop resembles the brief- looks new from the time period and not aged as if we were to have found it from today.

Response from feedback:

  • I am going to source another tin and place the labels I have designed onto the tin to make it look as though it had just been bought and made in 1860.

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