Illustration and Visual Narrative (IVN) - Task 4 


Name: Lee Jong Yun (0358356)

Bachelors of Design (HONOURS) in Creative Media Design

Task 4: One Page Webcomic 


________________________________________________________________________________________________________


First I had to do some research about this short story The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. This is the decided part that I am going to make it into a one page comic. 


Neither spoke, but lay silently listening to the ticking of the clock. A stair creaked, and a squeaky mouse scurried noisily through the wall. The darkness was oppressive, and after lying for some time screwing up his courage, he took the box of matches, and striking one, went downstairs for a candle. At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock came so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door. The matches fell from his hand and spilled in the passage. He stood motionless, his breath suspended until the knock was repeated. Then he turned and fled swiftly back to his room, and closed the door behind him. A third knock sounded through the house. "WHAT'S THAT?" cried the old woman, starting up.


before i can start to sketch it I did some research on how i can sketch this and breaked this part down into pannel type. 


Research Part



Story Part Break Down 

Panel 1: Gathering Courage

  • Visual Description:
    Close-up shot of the old man’s trembling hand reaching for a small, weathered matchbox on a bedside table. The table is cluttered with mundane objects (e.g., a glass of water, an old book), and everything is cast in deep shadows except for the matchbox.
    • His fingers are slightly gnarled with age, veins prominent, showing his fragility.
    • The dim candlelight casts long, wavering shadows that add a sense of unease.
    • In the background, the old woman is barely visible under the covers, motionless.

Panel 2: The Match Goes Out

  • Visual Description:
    The old man stands at the foot of the stairs. The narrow staircase spirals upward into darkness, and the flickering match casts a weak light that barely illuminates his face and a few steps.
    • His expression is a mix of fear and hesitation. Sweat glistens on his brow.
    • The shadows around him seem alive, stretching and moving as the match flickers.
    • Just as the match goes out, darkness rushes in, leaving only faint glimmers of his silhouette.

Panel 3: The First Knock

  • Visual Description:
    A dark hallway with the front door barely visible in the background. The door is framed by ominous shadows that almost seem to creep inward.
    • The old man stands in the foreground, frozen in fear, his hand halfway raised with another match.
    • A faint knock sound effect appears near the door, small and almost hesitant, with ripples of sound illustrated radiating outward.
    • His face is pale, eyes wide, lips slightly parted in shock. The dropped match lies on the floor, catching the faintest glimmer of light.

Panel 4: Dropped Matches

  • Visual Description:
    Extreme close-up of the old man’s trembling hand letting go of the matchbox. Matches scatter across the floor, their wooden sticks glowing faintly in the dim light.
    • The texture of the floor is rough and old, with faint scuff marks and cracks.
    • The matchbox, slightly open, has a worn, aged appearance with faded writing on its surface.
    • His shadow looms behind the scattered matches, jagged and distorted by the uneven light.

Panel 5: Old Woman Asking Whats That with Scary Face

  • Visual Description:
    The old man is back in his room, pressed against the closed door. The room is dark except for a faint glow from the extinguished candle's ember.
    • His posture is tense, one hand gripping the door handle as though trying to keep it closed.
    • A loud KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK is visualized with jagged, sharp text near the door, growing in size to indicate volume.
    • The old woman is sitting up in bed, her silhouette stark against the shadows. Her face is barely visible, but her eyes gleam with alarm.


After breaking this down into pannels, I began to sketch the Cover page


After this i moved on to digitalizing this cover page

Before moving on to sketching the parts, I did some sketch study. So that I can design the characters easily without less challenges in the digitalization part. 

Face & Expression Study

Character face study & design


Comic Sketch 








Final Sketch

Digital Part 













Final Outcome





Reflection

Through this project, I learned that conducting thorough research is essential before creating a comic. Understanding the story's context, audience preferences, and artistic inspirations helps in shaping a well-rounded concept. Additionally, I realized that mastering layout design is crucial for guiding the reader's eye and ensuring the story flows smoothly across panels.

Character development also emerged as a vital aspect of the process. Defining distinct personalities, emotions, and visual styles for each character significantly enhanced the narrative depth. Choosing the right sketching style for the comic was another important decision, as it directly impacted the overall tone and aesthetic appeal.

From a technical perspective, I learned the importance of managing layers effectively in Adobe Illustrator. Combining multiple elements into single layers helped ensure smoother transitions and easier adjustments when importing them into After Effects. Initially, I struggled to move the layers freely in After Effects because they were not properly separated, which highlighted the need for better layer organization during the design phase.

Lastly, this project revealed gaps in my After Effects skills, which limited my ability to execute certain animations as intended. This experience has motivated me to improve my proficiency with the software to achieve more dynamic and polished results in future projects.

Overall, this project taught me the significance of preparation, technical organization, and skill development in creating a successful comic.














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