I saw a project about scale and proportion as a perfect opportunity to use some of the miniature figurines I use to play fantasy games with friends. However, most of the figures are quite small, only an inch or two tall, and detail was hard to make out. So I decided to use my largest figure, a five-headed dragon. Using a friend's replica sword, I posed as if fighting off the dragon, shrinking myself down to Minifigure size, taking part in a real-life adaptation of one of our games on the carpet. The 'scene' would include the dice, pencils, paper, and rulebooks used to play the game. I added my own shadow in, and took out the base of the dragon to make it look like it was actually flying. Most of the hard work was the mask but after that, I used various adjustment layers to tweak colors and add some drama to the battle.
I see a scene set in a bedroom. In the image there is a figure off set to the left, holding a sword. In front of him, there are multiple dice, a pencil sharpener, and a pencil. In the midground there is a player handbook. The figure is seen fighting a dragon. Behind the dragon there is a book and it looks like there are characters and creatures emerging from a different world. Compositionally you did a good job because you keep the viewer engaged and help them move visually throughout the image.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it seems like a battle between good vs. evil. The way your lighting is set up it looks like its cutting through the darkness as your go to fight the dragon. I think there could be different meanings to the work depending on what everyone sees. I think since it has a players hand book maybe it could be a guide to “slaying your own dragons”. There is a lot in the image so it is up to interpretation. The work does give clues on what it could mean, but I like that there isn’t all the clues so it still gives viewers a chance to interpret it themselves.
I think the image works, its creative and brings a new look to gaming. You have some pretty strong light behind you so I would like to see your shadow a little more. Maybe shift it more so that it’s in front of you a little more, if that makes sense. I would love to see the dragon larger because you and the dragon are almost the same size. Maybe just select it and then transform it to be a little larger. I think you could take it a little farther and change the background or make it simpler if you want to keep it in your room. The fan the book is leaning up against and that wire in the background is a little distracting. Overall though, I think you did a good job with editing and composition. I also think the subject matter is interesting too so good job.
I think the overall image is successful. It gives me a glimpse into the world of gaming. Again though, it could mean something totally different. It could stand for a battle of good vs. evil I think looking at it that way makes it even more interesting. Commenting on the question in the theorize section. I don’t think it comments on any cultural issues, but I don’t think that every work needs to be about cultural issues.
For Matt’s piece, the viewer see’s a fight scene between the five-headed dragon and the guy holding up his sword. But around this scene, the background is just an ordinary room. There are clear indications of this with the carpet floor and the fan in the background. There are special dices and a player handbook to indicate this scene is a replication of what the board game entails. The box looming behind the dragon shows a similar action scene between monsters and people also holding onto weapons. The color is super contrasted bringing out the intensity of the scene as well as all the pieces that are in place. The slight tint of red shows strength and intensity. There is also a soft black diagonal frame that can be found in fight scenes in video games.
ReplyDeleteI think this work is a representation of what it may seem like to play the game. It shows how immersed one can be while playing. I think there are indications of this through the scene between Matt and the dragon while the surrounding is ordinary. I think there is a clear indication that it isn’t real and is just a game but there is still this element of adventure through being the player. The artist is putting himself as the player instead of the character pieces.
I find that the background helped me understand that it was a role-playing game and that this is just taking place at a home. The scene was a good representation of how one might feel while playing the game and I think that comes across pretty well. Although you did play with the scale of yourself, I think it would have also been impactful to scale up the dragon. It would have brought more intensity into the scene and replicate the scene found on the box better. Something that I found unnecessary was the fan in the background, although it does further push that this takes place in an ordinary room, I think you could’ve either added more to it or just removed it since there is already a clear indication. For the pencil and pencil sharpener, I had a hard time understanding the use for it because I don’t know the game. So maybe if there was a clearer indication of how it is used or where it is used, it would help viewers understand why those elements were included.
I think this work could be more successful to certain people that may have a better understanding of the game. But I think the message of imagining yourself as the hero is very common and understandable. Everyone wants to be the main character or has tried placing themselves into a scenario where they are one. I think this concept is universal.