For this years first project, our theme has been chosen to be ‘Western’, for this project, I needed to first study its context, by gathering a range of visual evidence to use for research, as well as mind-mapping ideas so that I can brainstorm different dioramas that relate to this theme. The purpose of conducting this research, will allow me to generate different ideas that I can use within my own work, as well as ensure that it meets the genre visually, looking into environments, objects, and scenery that would be scene in a western historical time period.
Dictionary definition of ‘Western’?
The definition is described as being situated in the west, being in Europe or the United States, specifically about cowboys and Indians in North America, during the 19-20th century. This definition will allow me to ensure that I understand the theme as best as I can, as well as make my diorama historically accurate to the time period, the items that people would have during this time, as well as the places my diorama could be based upon.
Western themed mind-mapping:
To gather a range of different ideas surrounding the word ‘Western’ itself, I created a large generalized mind-map, that refers to the types of clothing, places, objects, items, and entertainment within a Western themed community. The purpose of this was to gain an idea of the types of things I could include within this theme for a diorama, and what would be within their culture. I highlighted certain areas such as weapons, including: colt Patersons, revolvers, model 1841 rifles, as well as pocket pistols, which are all examples of guns that would be seen during the western era. Importantly, I also looked at geographical locations, that my diorama scene could show, including most typically the wild west, different railroads, mountain and country side areas, or tee-pee tent camps, all generating towards the development of what my own diorama could possibly represent.
Western Vehicles Mood-board:
Focusing on the themes of western, I created a mood-board that reflected the types of western travel styles people used during the 1800’s. Rather than cars, motor-bikes, etc, these images reflect wagons, handcars, steam engine trains, Merrimack canoes all designed during this era for transportation to mines, and for the people. For my diorama designs, I specifically like the hand-cars, as they are authentic to the western style, as well as historically accurate to its, time, it would also give me environmental ideas as handcars were primarily used to transport ore from the mines. Additional ideas would be western towns that feature the wagons intricate style, or canoes that are more focused towards the native American culture, meaning my diorama could focus more towards an ocean themed scene rather than solid land more typical towards the Western style.
Western Places Mood-board:
These areas are typically used as the locations for cowboys or native Americans. They represent both natural, and architectural buildings typically used within the Western culture. These location ideas are essential for my art-style, representing the overall theme the diorama should be set in. I have gathered images of warm coloured sunsets and sunrises, grand canyons, isolated deserts, and mountain sides for more natural diorama settings. For architectural structures, places such as mines, mining tracks, western towns, and camp tee-pee sites are focused towards the types of structures that would be seen and developed by a western society. I specifically liked this research, as its helpful in determining different backgrounds and locations I could include within my scene, and the type of atmosphere within my environment I plan on creating when generating my idea sketches or photo-bashes.
Western Saloons Mood-board:
Saloons are one of the most well-known and conventional buildings shown in multi-media for games, films, and concept art representing Western environment and infrastructure. For my project, I gathered different types of interior and exterior images representing how a Saloon what look, and what types of features they would include; for example: style of windows, curtains, staircases, bar surfaces etc. I specifically like the interior designs used within this visual research, as it gives me a lot of diorama assets I can work with for inspiration, including bar stools, 1800’s chandeliers and lamps, keg barrels and wooden tiling designs. These are all essential ideas that could be used to create my themed diorama. In addition to this, I can also use these images as reference for lighting, as as well as blocking out within Unreal Engine to gain perspective on the correct lighting angles.
Western Objects/Items Mood-board:
My Western assets are one of the most important pieces of visual research that I conducted, as the inclusion of these objects are what set the western feel for a diorama, as well as ensuring that there will be no negative space within the environment. I specifically like the guitars and wanted posters, as these are traditionally seen within a western community of cowboys. I also looked into the types of furniture that would be seen within this area, including dermatology (mounting of deer heads and other stuffed animals), traditional wooden beds, side tabled, clocks, and desks. As well as woven patterned pillows used for beds and couches, typically seen as traditional items within a country-themed house. I specifically like the bed and table designs, as these items are what people would focus on in a house diorama, meaning its important they visually represent the appropriate era of what people living in a western community would want and could afford, being as cheaper materials would be used more often.
Western Guns Mood-board:
I selected images of weaponry used with the 18th century typically by Cowboys during stand-offs or by the Sheriffs within a Western town or typically ‘The Wild West’. Typically handheld weapons were not used, and the weapons featured within this time were almost certain to be a gun; I gathered a range of Western firearms known throughout this era, including the 1858 Remington Model, 1851 Colt Revolver, Winchester rifles, and Colt Patersons. These weapons were heavily used within this community, and I wanted images that represented these historically, as they could be used within my diorama as decorations or within frames within a typical Western room. I specifically like the traditional brown, silver and black colours and old fashioned styles of these guns, as they clearly represent the separation between today’s modern style of firearms, and the aesthetic shown through throughout this decade.
Western Structures Mood-board:
Although I particularly focused on Saloons, I wanted to select a range of mood images that represent the types of western architecture, including but not limited to; banks, water towers, shacks, tee-pee’s, hotels or stables, or windmills. These structures in-cooperate the use of wooden materials, such as their tiling, balconies or window frames. The window designs themselves are usually painted with traditional styles or just plain glass. And the buildings design are usually quite simplistic, including either straight facing or slanted roofs, and planks for the main body for the stabilization of the building itself. This research will help be broaden my range of constructions placed within my diorama, as I didn’t want to limit myself to typically a saloon. This has allowed me to generate ideas that focus more on natural farm areas, or different parts of a western civilization.
Isometric Cabin Concept art Tutorial:
The purpose of this video, will give me some insight on how to draw isometric buildings during the sketching process, and the creation of the concept piece. It also gives me an idea on where I can place assets within an enclosed area to meet the requirements for my diorama. This video shows the process it takes using layers in Photoshop to build upon a design, starting from basic geometric shapes and adapting it with bolder shades of black once the main designs are drafted. It is specifically useful towards my research, as its design meets a very old fashioned style that I can use and contribute ideas towards my Western diorama. Materials such as wood and stone and used for the main structure of the building, which is something I could in-cooperate within my own work. This video is also easy to understand as it uses a step by step building system for their artwork, and will help me to generate building ideas within my drawing if needed.
How to create a Western Wanted Poster on Photoshop:
A Western poster is not only traditional to a Western culture, but also used in the media to portray a Western town or civilization in films, games, photographs etc. This tutorial would teach me how to make a realistic looking ‘Wanted’ poster, that could be featured with my diorama as a hanging asset. This video will teach me techniques such as aging paper to look used and torn, creating themed fonts within my work, and integrating images within the poster itself so that it created a printed look. In addition to this, I can add my own elements such as creating hand painted textures for the wood, rather than using an image so that my work is original and unique. I can also change how the poster itself looks, and aim it towards the aesthetic of the whole of the environment within my diorama.
Realistic Sunset Tutorial on Photoshop:
I thought this video was useful for the creation of my background, as it teaches me how to utilize the tools in Photoshop to create different types of skies and sunsets. In addition to this, the different shades and reflections can be used as guidelines within my diorama, so if I decided to create them by hand using Photoshop brushes, I have a rough idea of where to blend colours, and what warm and cold colours can be used appropriately together depending on what time of day I am trying to create within my environment. I can learn how to successfully use gradients within this tutorial, layers to create an overall backdrop tint, which can be toned down using transparency so that the rest of my diorama isn’t out of focus.
Primary Book Research:
I gathered some primary Western research in the library, and found books focused towards ‘western architecture’, and museum artifacts. This can be used to generate ideas for the types of structure that can be used within my diorama. These are possibly too detailed for concept art, although I could adapt them within my work, and simplify certain elements to meet my proposed theme and style.
Morgan Clark: Games Development L3 Year 2 