CAPSTONE PROJECT: COMIC BOOK CREATION
For my senior capstone project at Texas A&M University, I decided to create a comic book. I was inspired by Sunday comics and collections such as Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes. This was a three month project, supported by commentary and critique from my peers and professors.
This project was also supplemented by a research paper on color theory and its effect on emotions. I created Pip and Puddle to explore how color theory enhances and implies dialogue. This colorful comic book explores the connection between emotion and color, supplemented with elements of collage for world-building.
initial sketches
This comic takes place in a fantastical forest world, telling the tale of two friends’ daily adventures and mishaps with the unique creatures that inhabit their woods.
When designing the world and characters of this comic, I referenced my research on emotional color theory to imply their personalities. Pip is a bright green leaf, donning red overalls that reflect his spunky and impulsive behavior. Puddle is a tall pile of moss, and his varying shades of muted green instill a sense of trust and represent his down-to-earth personality.
In Pip and Puddle’s adventures in the woods, they come across some mysterious side characters. These side characters are each in varying shades of purple, hinting at their curious nature.
ELEMENTS of COLLAGE
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End of Story
Captures the thrilling final action sequence and launches the story into its next chapter
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single box scene
Establishes the scene and mood of the story in a single comic panel.
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end of Chapter scene
Visually conveys character traits through their expressions in the scene.
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illustrative scene
Spotlight illustrations that capture a moment and further define each character’s persona.
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start of story scene
Establishes the chapter with a compelling title that teases the narrative to come.
I applied color theory when illustrating Pip N Puddle, using emotional associations to enhance the tone of each story and express the personality of each character. Color-blocked backgrounds and comic box outlines help subtly define the emotions of the scene or character. Contrasting colors in the comics and bold title colors help create an eye-catching illustration that immerses you into the story.
