Prompt

Choose a myth and illustrate it in a contemporary setting. Characters and elements of the story must be recognizable while being contemporary.

Core Ideas

Concept development, character design, narrative illustration

Process

1.
Choose a myth you want to illustrate (Example shows the Minotaur and Labyrinth)

2.
Research the myth.

3.
Brainstorm and sketch to make the story contemporary. 

4.
Pencil in the image onto your final surface, based on a sketch.

7.
Create a wide range of gradients. For more instruction on how to use ink wash, watch this course. 

Related Artists

Chas Addams, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet

“I decided to illustrate the myth of Atalanta, which I’ve always liked. Long story short, Atalanta, evades marriage by challenging all of her suitors to a footrace with the prize of marriage and the price of death. 

She finally loses to Hippomenes who wins by distracting her with three golden apples. In my modern version, Atalanta is an contemporary Olympian, surprised to find a golden apple on the track and who realizes that she’s been tricked.

I think the crucial thing this project taught me was to pay attention to materials. I used a regular pen and sketchbook paper, which backfired on me when the pen bled and the weak sketchbook paper buckled. Tips to deal with this if it happens to you: work around the “mistakes” by incorporating the ways the pen and paper are acting (for example, using the pen bleeding on purpose as a different texture, etc.), or begin again, this time with the correct materials!”

DO THIS PROJECT!

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