Design a Collection of Props

This assignment is to design a collection of props from photographs of an antique store window display. 

Here is your back story:

The year is 1962. In a small Danish town, an antique shop owner closes up for the night. The lights dim and the door closes on another quiet day. The old shopkeeper's foot steps can be heard outside the windows as he slowly makes his way home in the snow. A spark, crackle and hiss interrupt the quiet. A warm light flickers and grows from beneath the table of porcelain and brass. 

Chose one of the following photos for your reference - 













This exercise will force you to deal with overlapping shapes, tangents and silhouette. For example, use the design of a prop(s) as a directional element to guide the viewer through your composition. You might frame the subject matter/focal point with a series of decorative objects in shadow. Try to create appealing groups of props in your layout. Think about the placement of every item and what is their relationship to each other and if you can tell a story with the props you have chosen, even better! 

The finished design should be a line drawing composition with tone to differentiate foreground, middle and background.  

Please post any questions you have on this blog and I will respond as soon as possible. When you have finished the design, post it on your blog or websight and post a link to it on this blog. Enjoy and be inspired!!

Here are a few inspirational images from 101 Dalmations courtesy of Ken Anderson and Walt Peregoy. Notice the areas of detail that frame the open areas of staging. 

101 Dalmations - Ken Anderson



The blocked color keeps the detailed areas of interest from reading as individual objects. 

101 Dalmations - Walt Peregoy

Artist Designs:

 Anna Nissen





Camilla Smidt - 

 

Nadia Orneborg -

    Stina Willadsen - 


Julie Astrup - 


 Yasha Monic - 

 

15 comments:

  1. This design assignment is due two weeks from the date of this post... 13 NOV 2015.

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  2. Here is my design of a danish antique store:
    http://anna-nissen.tumblr.com/post/133025324566/antique-store-in-denmark-with-a-lamp-who-dreams-of

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    1. Gorgeous Anna! Great lighting, very moody! Play around with the shapes of your set dressing items on the tables and desks. Try placing an interesting item or two on the floor, screen left of the paintings. Try an interesting etching on the glass of the lamp on the floor. Its size in the frame justifies the greater detail.

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  3. And here is my design:

    (Picture) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-mUnZmon4Y/VkTFcKUicNI/AAAAAAAAB34/m-2UV7Dmk8Q/s1600/60%2527sShop.jpg

    Blog: http://stilladslee.blogspot.dk/

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    Replies
    1. Beautiful work Stina! Try placing some objects in front of the window to create interesting shadows and silhouettes.

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  4. Hi Fred.
    here is my assignment.
    http://nadiaorneborg.tumblr.com/post/133094770419/antique-store-in-viborg

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    Replies
    1. Outstanding Nadia! Excellent choice in composition and high key lighting! I like the Danish details you have put in the scene. Add more details to the foreground display and the hanging light at the top of the frame.

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  5. Hi Fred!
    Here is my design :-))

    http://julieastrupart.tumblr.com/

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    Replies
    1. Fantastic Julie! The story you are telling in this design is very compelling! Add a few more items to the tables on the far left and right of the composition. It will help frame your design more and guide the viewers eye into the setting. Try making any more elements you add, Danish! So the audience has a good frame of reference for the location of the store. Keep an eye on your perspective and honor the vanishing point. I want to see what this film is about!

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  6. Hi Fred

    I hope you are doing well!
    Here's my not-completly-finished-I-am-so-sorry take on the assignment:

    http://camillasmidt-gallery.tumblr.com/

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    1. http://camillasmidt-gallery.tumblr.com/post/133128114244

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    2. Camilla! This is really beautiful! I like your directional elements, your composition, use of the rule of thirds, contrast and design! Now add the details you need to sell your story. Add more details to the foreground to build a sense of depth. Inspired!

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  7. Hi Fred!
    I hope everything going well!
    here is my design and it's need a lot of work. :)

    http://yashamonicart.blogspot.dk/

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    1. Yasha! This is a beautiful composition! I really like the way you built up the setting with foreground, middle ground and background elements. Your area of high contrast guides my eye exactly where it should. Now add details to the foreground and midground. Make sure the details you add guide the eye as well as reinforce the perspective. Try and add a few object that place the store in Denmark.

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  8. Overall, nice work! To those of you that have been able to do the assignment, I see you were challenged and were able to design something with a story, mood and style. In general, I would like to see you all work with the shapes of the set dressing items in your store display. Concentrate on the positive and negative shapes and how the objects relate to each other. If there is a large foreground object in your composition, give it character! Use the design to help tell the rest of the story. Keep in mind the important elements of the design: who? what? where? when? why? Period and culture and easy ways to convey some of this information. Lighting will tell you when and why (perhaps). Don't neglect the use of texture! Look at the reference from 101 Dalmations. The furniture and background details are lush with texture and patterns. These help to tell the viewers about Roger's history in the house, that he is a bachelor in need of a wife. He loves dogs! He is a musician and (messy/unorganized) artist. We learn all of these character traits from the background before the animation begins!

    Impressive work artists. Don't forget to tell the story with everything you design.

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