Manor House Moodboard
To begin some research for my project, I decided to do some more research on manor designs. I decided to check out some buildings from the UK, in order to get some visual ideas for what the design of my building could be. There are some manors that have a simpler design, with a simple cube structure, or maybe with additional towers/chimneys attached to them, whilst others appear more complex, with curves, multiple stories, and different textures at separate places. This would help me to come up with what sort of shape I may want to do, as I can do something simple, or I could do a more complicated design. Looking at some manor houses, it also gives me some ideas for certain assets for the building – such as gargoyles, window and door shapes, porches, etc.
Photography Moodboard
To help with my research, I decided to go to a nearby grade II listed county house in my town, the closest one to me, and do some photography of it for some ideas on the shape of my manor house. The building in question is the Hotham Park House, situated in the middle of Hotham Park, in Bognor Regis. I couldn’t take many of the building up close, because the building had become a private residence, but due to some of the places in the park, I could get higher up to get some photos over the wall. There was also a nearby road on the outside of the park, with some fancy buildings, so I decided to take some photographs of those buildings too, as they appear old like my option of building. I find the building itself to be very impressive, especially it’s impending clock tower, but it does appear complicated for a possible base of my manor building idea.
Fire Damage Moodboard
As the second part of my project will be the building after it is destroyed, I decided to have a look at buildings that have been destroyed by fire – the cause of my buildings destruction. Too help with my research, I tried to do research of manor or mansion fires, as it would link back to my project. It both assist me with the visual damage, for when I do come to designing my damaged building, I can have a rough idea of what the scene of destruction may look like, so I can make it visibly different than the building as it was before the fire, as well as the colour/staining as a result of the fire. Although I do think it would be a cool effect to draw my burnt version of the building with flames, I think it would be too hard, so I may just stick to the building being in ruins.
Art Style Moodboard
I also decided to do some research based off of the art style I intend to use for this project. The art style of choice is screen printing, and it is a style I have used before on my two previous projects. I like the style because although it looks simple, it can produce very effective pieces of work if done correctly. I mostly tried to look for building examples of print-screening work, so it could help me understand the sort of view I am expected to do. The only part of the screen printing I haven’t done yet is adding the texture that brings out the vintage appearance. This is due to being unable to know how to reproduce the effect on Photoshop, the software I intend to use. During my research and/or idea generation segment, I can attempt to replicate that effect, to see if I can get it to appear for my final project piece.
Building Concept Art Moodboard
I also decided to do some further research in the style of concept art I intend to do. I searched around for online portfolios of artists who have done environmental/building concept art, to get some ideas on how to present my own work. I have found that some artists do the original building, and then create replicas, and add pieces to those replicas so that the building can evolve into something bigger and better. I do quite like the idea of how that sort of work is presented, as it shows the development progress, however, with the time constraint I have, and the fact I have to do two of the same building for my project, I don’t think it’ll be a good idea for me. Some artists have also done their concept for buildings as an scene rather than just showing off the building as an asset. Although I do find it impressive, I would find it hard to do, due to my time constraint, and not being able to conjure up full scenes. I think I would simply create my building as though it was an asset/diorama, and then I would do a third piece that would focus in on some detail of the building. What that piece of detail is, I have not yet figured out.
Photoshop Tutorial
The above tutorials are some videos I found on YouTube, whilst looking around for tutorials that demonstrate the sort of art style I am looking for using Photoshop. The style they use is very similar to how I use my technique for when I do buildings, so I thought it was pretty effective, and helpful for when I come to do my project for real. Another bonus of these tutorial videos are that the creator is making buildings, so that can also help me with visually understand how to use the colours I use effectively for my buildings. I also like how they start off with the buildings being very simple, because once you start it easy, it does become easier once the objects become bigger.
Above are a few tutorials I discovered whilst searching up the effect that is given in print screen art. Both the tutorials show something very similar to the effect, so these could be helpful for me when it comes to practicing my piece. I may not add the effect for my final project if I am unable to master it, but I do think it would be nice to learn how to add this effect anyway, for any case of future art I wish to do in the similar screen printing art style I use.
Sophie Level 3 Games Dev 2nd Year 