Illustration and Visual Narrative

Chan Wan Qing / 0350928 / BA of Design (HONS) in Creative Media
Illustration and Visual Narrative
Project 3

PROJECT 3: DIGITAL TRIPTYCH

In project 3, we are to choose a story from one story from this website: https://poestories.com/stories.php and break down the narrative of the chosen story into 3-act structures of Introduction - Climax - Epilogue. Then create a 3-panel digital triptych illustrating each of the act. We can consider the interesting twists in the plots of each act, and include these into the design; we can also highlight the notable icons or symbolisms that occur in these acts. We should think of creating a premise preview for the story to make readers intrigued.

Challenges:

1. Only one story by Edgar Allan Poe from the website provided
2. Visuals are displayed in a series of three
3. Include short non-spoiler text for each act

Story - "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe

I chose this story titled "The Cask of Amontillado" to create the digital triptych as I thought that this story has two characters and one main object that I can create a 3-panel digital triptych. The 2 characters and 1 object can represent the plots of each act which are introduction, climax and epilogue.

Plot:

"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe is a chilling and macabre tale of revenge. The story is set during the carnival season in an unnamed Italian city, where the narrator, Montresor, seeks vengeance against his acquaintance, Fortunato. Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs of his family estate with the promise of tasting a rare wine, the Amontillado.

As the two descend deeper into the catacombs, the suspense builds. Montresor takes advantage of Fortunato's drunken state and chains him to a wall. He then proceeds to wall up Fortunato, burying him alive behind a brick wall. The story concludes with Montresor's chilling final words, "In pace requiescat" (rest in peace).

Characters:

1. Montresor: The narrator and protagonist of the story. He is driven by a deep desire for revenge and meticulously plans and executes his plot against Fortunato.

2. Fortunato: The unfortunate victim of Montresor's revenge. He is portrayed as a wine connoisseur, which becomes his downfall as he is lured into the trap set by Montresor.

3-Act Structures:

Introduction:
"The Cask of Amontillado" introduces the narrator, Montresor, who shares his deep-seated desire for revenge against Fortunato.

Climax:
Montresor leads Fortunato deeper into the catacombs under the pretext of tasting a rare wine, the Amontillado, exploiting Fortunato's love for wine and his drunken state.

Epilogue:
While Fortunato is drunk, Montresor chains Fortunato and begins to wall him up within the catacombs, sealing him alive behind a brick wall. The epilogue concludes the story with a chilling reflection on the success of Montresor's revenge.

References + Sketches

The Cask of Amontillado Visual Research:

I did some visual researches about this story before I start my own sketch.

Character Reference:

I tried to find character(s) references with the settings in 1800s in Italy, like what is written in the story.

Settings References:

For setting of place, I search up for the word 'cask' just like the title of the story.

Character Sketches:

Montresor Fortunato

I did a rough sketch for two main characters of this story, Montresor and Fortunato.

Digital Triptych Sketch:

I sketched out the composition of my ideas into a 3-panel digital triptych. Each panel represents each act from the 3-act structures.

Development Process 1

I first started to draw out the main characters, referring to the researches I had done. I applied the method of image trace for some part of the outfits and amend them using pen tool and pencil tool. After creating the character, I added some details on the characters.

Montresor:
- mask: symbolize concealment and deception in the 1800s century (representative of what Montresor hide behind his mask - a deep desire for revenge and meticulously plans and executes his plot against Fortunato.)

Fortunato:
- portrayed as a wine connoisseur in this story
- in his drunken state after Montresor lured him into the catacombs under the pretext of the Amontillado.

After creating the characters, I proceeded to the background, which is one of the places in this story’s settings, the catacomb.

In the catacomb:
- barrels: represent the word ‘cask’ in the title; to deceive Fortunato that he is in place that stores wine
- bones: usually appear in the catacomb; represent death
- hole: where Montresor chained Fortunato and walled him up

I set the 3 artboards before I started illustrating the background so that I can adjust the size of the objects according to each panel.

1^st panel: Montresor - Main character: The narrator and protagonist of the story.

2^nd panel: The Amontillado - The wine that leads Fortunato to fall in the trap of Montresor

3^rd panel: Fortunato - Main character: The victim of the story

Throughout the process, I applied the chiaroscuro technique (as shadows) that we learned while adding shadow onto the characters but it may seem not that obvious due to the low opacity of the shadows. I also added some other elements like torch, lightbulb and so on into the background. I observed the positions of light while adding shadows onto the objects. By editing the colours (black/white) on the casks, floor and ceiling, I was able to create depth on the background.

Week 11 Progress Check

Development Process 2

I started 3 panels together so that they look like a single composition when they are placed together.