Illustration and Visual Narrative - Task 3:Digital Triptych

5.11.2025 - 26.11.2025 / Week 8 - Week 10

Aida Tan Jie Fei / 0385645

Illustration and Visual Narrative / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 3:Digital Triptych

---

Tutorials

Exercise 1

Figure 1.1 Exercise Story

Exercise 2

Figure 1.2 Sample of Lecturer

Figure 1.3 Exercise of creating word design

Documentation 

Description of Inspiration

My inspiration for the Mushroom Spirit came from my desire to create a forest environment and imagine a creature that belongs there. One day, I saw a can of mushrooms at home, which sparked the idea of making mushrooms my character. I wanted the character to have magical qualities, so I decided to make it a spirit. Since forests are full of trees, I came up with the idea of creating a story about the interaction between the spirit and a tree.

Moodboard

Figure 1.4 Reference

Storyboard

Night had fallen upon the mysterious and silent forest. Suddenly, in the distance, a swarm of fireflies appeared, flying toward the front. They were circling around something — is Mushroom Spirit！
 
The Mushroom Spirit was the elder of the mushroom tribe, and the only spirit
among them. He was responsible for caring for the young mushrooms and
protecting every creature in the forest. He has gentle and powerful magic, often using it to heal and help creatures in need, helping them to regain their vitality.
 
He liked to appear at night, with the fireflies serving as his lanterns. They would be flying beside him, lighting up the dim forest paths. His magic radiated warmth and tranquillity, maintaining the peace and balance of the forest. All the creatures adored him. Though small and seemingly frail, the Mushroom Spirit had an ageless body and a steadfast heart that guarded the forest’s serenity.
 
One night, while on patrol, he discovers a small tree surrounded by an aura of sadness and weariness. He hurries over to check on it and finds that, unlike the other tall trees, this one is very short. It turns out that the little tree has long suffered from malnutrition, which has slowed or even stopped its growth.
 
The kind-hearted Mushroom Spirit cannot bear to see the little tree so sorrowful, so he decides to use his magic to help it. He raises his hands, and countless points of light begin to drift toward the small tree. As his magic gently flows into it, the tree slowly grows taller and stronger, bit by bit, until it reaches the height it should have for its age.
 
The Mushroom Spirit’s magic not only helps the little tree grow taller but
also replenishes the nutrients it has long lacked. Now the tree stands tall and
sturdy. Overjoyed, it sways its branches as if dancing—perhaps to express its
gratitude to the Mushroom Spirit.
 
Seeing the tree safe and healthy, the Mushroom Spirit continues his night patrol. After he leaves, the forest returns to its usual calm, as though nothing has happened. Only the suddenly taller tree and its ever-swaying branches stand as quiet proof of the night’s miracle.
 

Transition Explanation

In my triptych, I applied three different transition types to tell the story of the Mushroom Spirit:

1. Scene-to-Scene（Panel 1-2) : The Mushroom Spirit is walking from a distance. This transition introduces the environment and establishes the story setting.

2. Action-to-Action(Panel 2-3): The Mushroom Spirit arrives in front of the sapling and casts magic on it. This transition emphasizes the character’s actions and interaction, driving the narrative forward.

3. Moment-to-Moment(Panel 3): The Mushroom Spirit has left, and the sapling instantly grows. This transition captures a key moment, showing the effect of the magic and the passage of time, highlighting the story’s emotional impact.

Rationale

I chose the Mushroom Spirit as my character because I wanted to create a magical forest environment and imagined a creature that belongs there. Seeing a can of mushrooms at home inspired me to make mushrooms my character and give it magical qualities as a spirit. The story focuses on the spirit helping a small, malnourished tree grow, highlighting its kindness and magical abilities. This allowed me to explore fantasy, care, and growth in a visually engaging way for my animation.

Progress

Sketches

Figure 1.5 Sketches Panel 1and 2

Figure 1.6 Sketches Panel 3

I only have two sketches because the first two panels show the same scene, with only the Mushroom Spirit moving.

Figure 1.7 Work in Illustrator

Final Output 

Figure 1.8 Panel 1

Figure 1.9 Panel 2

Figure 1.10 Panel 3

Technique Applied

For this project, I first sketched the scenes on paper to plan the composition and the movement of the Mushroom Spirit. I then imported the sketches into Adobe Illustrator, where I used the Pen Tool, Shape Tools, and color fills to digitally draw and color the characters, the small tree, and the forest environment.

Self Reflection

Looking back on this project, I found the task both enjoyable and challenging. Using only Adobe Illustrator helped me focus on the drawing, composition, and visual storytelling without being distracted by animation software. I learned how to plan a scene, sketch ideas, and digitally illustrate them using the Pen Tool and Shape Tools. Arranging the elements to create a coherent three-panel sequence taught me how to guide the viewer’s eye and communicate a story visually.

This task also helped me improve my attention to detail, especially in coloring and layering, and allowed me to express the magical and caring qualities of the Mushroom Spirit. Overall, I feel more confident in my ability to create digital illustrations that tell a story and convey emotion through visual design.