Introduction
“How well can you visually tell a structured story?”
Freestyle students are taught how to recognize and build captivating and creative narrative stories with developed characters, and a three-act framework through both written and graphic mediums. To better communicate our stories, we learned how to use useful programs like Adobe Illustrator, ProTools, and Wacom Digital Drawing Pads.
I’ve learned that dialogue is a great way to add visualizations to your story. It helps to bring characters to life and allows the reader to picture them interacting with one another. Also, instead of telling the reader what is happening, i’ve learned to show them by using action and description to help the reader visualize the story and its characters.
Story
I’ve learned a lot about reading and writing in English class through analyzing literature and writing exercises. This taught me how to dissect stories and write with a more clear and creative mindset .By practicing writing, I’ve developed my own voice and how to express my thoughts and ideas in a unique and compelling way. Some class activities that have helped a lot were the flash fiction stories we wrote, and all the poems and books we disected and annotated together in class.
A stroll to kill the past
Written By Tegan Parket-Morris
I am not a bitter man. I am not helpless or lost—I merely hate you”.
Oscar gazes once more at his concluding sentence and then stuffs the letter into the envelope. He licks the harsh adhesive strip and applies enough pressure to keep it stuck.
Solitary life in his run-down, dark one-bedroom apartment in the middle of Brooklyn is perfect for Oscar.
Without any urge to purchase new garments or find ones that fit, his figure is often completely concealed by his baggy, ripped button-ups and denim jeans. If it’s cold, he has one jacket that keeps him quite warm, and when it’s warm, he has one shirt that keeps him quite cool. His cluttered life makes him look ten to fifteen years older than he is.
On this specific day, Oscar has been tormenting himself while attempting to compose a letter. This letter holds an extra weight of importance since it is the first one ever addressed to Oscar’s father.
Charles Crust has a contrasting story that can entirely be depicted as impulsive and careless. He is so thoughtless that he left Oscar to his own devices for all of his childhood. Oscar is not impulsive, he has a routine similar to an aged cat’s. He sleeps in, scarcely works, Eats, and heads to bed early in the evening.
Nevertheless, today is considerably the most impulsive day of his life. I state this because Oscar has taken an hour of the day that he usually spends with his work colleagues, to sit down in a broken wooden chair, and end his relationship with his father.
After all the stress and misery his father has put him through, Oscar has felt the need for a long time to prove to his father that he has gained his worth and success without his help or lack of it. Oscar has had dreams from time to time of going right up to his father and yelling in his face while throwing his arms around. Just to make him listen. However, due to the current situation, it would be very difficult and illogical for Oscar to follow through with this impulse because hospitals tend to have thin walls.
Mr. Crust isn’t insane, he just has limited options. He’s fed up, and can’t trust a phone call to work in his favor due to his lack of control and temper. So, he’s writing a letter… An angry one I might add.
“My god just slide it in the box and leave now”, Oscar thinks to himself as he stares blankly at the mailbox outside his apartment. He’s been standing for a few minutes now gripping tightly onto the letter as if it would fly out of his hand and set the world aflame “Forgot to proofread it”, He mutters quietly to himself while he stumbles back to his room. Oscar slams the door behind him and mechanically puts on his coat and places the letter on his desk before he frantically leaves his apartment.
Walking down the cold city streets he wonders if he even remembered to lock the door.
For instance, on this quick stroll he’s taken, he has somehow gone from questioning if his apartment was sealed behind him, to suddenly acknowledging that there is nobody on the planet that would have any reason to go into his apartment and that he has nothing of matter or importance to be stolen. This epiphany completely halted Oscar and if anyone near him cared enough to look closer at his sad peeling face, they would notice a single tear stream down his textured face. All because of his old apartment and life that has no genuine importance.
In a sudden daze, Oscar maintains treading, unaware of his surroundings and location. His head is hanging low in humiliation from the tear. In the middle of his sulking, he’s suddenly drawn out of his trance by the close sounds of ambulance sirens. He starts to wonder if by any coincidence that siren could be a sign that his father has finally passed. Oscar is bewildered concerning whether or not he should be overwhelmed or relieved, and even more perplexed when he admits he feels neither. Somehow, he simply keeps walking, until eventually, he arrives on a street that has a different and harsh energy than the previous roads. Oscar reads a sign in front of a tall school-like building that says “Crust Orphanage”.
He freezes, not from the frigid climate but from the name detailed below the title. “Founded by Charles Crust in 1945”, He couldn’t believe what he just saw. He wanted to feel enraged or betrayed by the reality that his own father preferred to spend his life taking care of other children in need, rather than his own. “Was I a horribly behaved baby?” He thought to himself. He eventually decided not to let the rage control him, instead, he chose curiosity as he entered past the gates.
Illustrations
During my exploration of mini designs in Adobe Illustrator, I discovered a multitude of valuable lessons and experienced a sense of creative freedom. Firstly, learning to manipulate anchor points and paths allowed me to craft precise and polished shapes, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of my creations. Additionally, I familiarized myself with various tools and features, such as the pen tool and gradients. Adobe Illustrator comes with a lot of flexibility, enabling me to express my artistic vision without limitations. With each mini design, I found myself gaining confidence and honing my skills.
Creating a custom-designed mug and witnessing it come to life through the printing process was one of the coolest project I did for the Narrative unit. It was inspiring merge my creative vision with a tangible object that could be used and appreciated daily. The journey taught me valuable lessons about the importance of attention to detail, as even the slightest adjustments in design could significantly impact the final result. I learned to consider the practical aspects of my artwork, ensuring that the placement and size of the design were suitable for the mug’s shape and size. Witnessing my design take form on a physical object not only validated my artistic abilities but also ignited a sense of pride and fulfillment. The experience reinforced the power of art to transcend mediums, bridging the gap between imagination and reality. It reminded me that art is not limited to traditional canvases but can manifest in everyday objects.
Film
Collaborating with a partner to create a narrative film was an incredibly enriching experience. Throughout the process, I have learned and gained so much, not only in terms of technical skills but also in terms of creativity and problem-solving. Working closely with my partner allowed us to pool our strengths and ideas, resulting in a cohesive and engaging story. We faced numerous challenges along the way, from script development to production logistics, but each obstacle provided valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.