Infinite Story: Process

Project Description

In this project, I am constructing an infinite paper flipper. This flipper is four panels, and tells a narrative that is cyclical. This means that the end of the narrative leads back to the beginning. This flipper is to be made out of Bristol or card stock, and will feature original and/or appropriated imagery. With the imagery being cyclical, it is essential to harmonize the series of events and make intentional use of the physical action and qualities of the flipper form (opening, closing, changing directions, etc.) The main goals are to apply visualization to a narrative that demonstrates a progression of time and apply concise editing to feature essential information to maintain intention over time.

Research

Brainstorming Narratives

My main ideas were to make a continuous task (like the iced coffee one) or zoom into a scene (like the Christmas or coffee shop scenes)

Beginning Exercises – Day 1

Example of a Narrative- making iced coffee

1- put ice in a cup, 2- pour coffee over the ice, 3- pour milk into the cup, 4- pour creamer into the cup, 5- stir, 6- drink/enjoy

Simplifying to 4 parts-

1- (have ice already in the cup) pour coffee into cup, 2- pour milk and creamer into cup, 3- stir, 4- enjoy

Creating one image to represent the story-

Crafting a flipper-

Beginning Exercises – Day 2

Drawing a story (our choice) on the flipper- making iced coffee

1- ice in cup; 2- pour coffee; 3- pour creamer; 4- drink

I wanted the flipper to be cyclical, so I had the girl drinking the coffee last so then when it changes back to the first one, the coffee is gone and it looks like she drank it all, then the story starts over.

Crafting another flipper and drawing Red Riding Hood story in 4 parts-

1- showing the setting of Red Riding Hood in the woods approaching her grandmother’s house; 2- Red Riding Hood opening up the door to her grandmother’s house; 3- Red Riding Hood seeing the wolf dressed as her grandmother and in her bed, Red Riding Hood gets skeptical thoughts; 4- the wolf revealing himself and Red Riding Hood gets frightened

(This one did not have to be cyclical)

Types of Imagery in a Story

We learned about the types of imagery that could be included in our flipper that have very visually appealing qualities and would work well in a flipper narrative.

Beginning Exercise

In class, we did an exercise where we were given one sentence and had to create 4 scenes from it.

More Brainstorming

I ended up creating a Miro board to put all my ideas in:

I added some sketches for those ideas:

Then I refined my favorite ideas into mind maps:

Inspiration Imagery

I then went online to find some images that related to my idea of the fashion show.

Feedback

After getting feedback from Taylor, I made some notes and refined some of my ideas.

Here is what he sketched for me on the board so I could see what he meant visually:

start with a curtain (it opens as the flipper opens)
the “past” model is in the center, in color, while the “present” and “future” are in black and white in the background
the “present” model is in the center, in color, while the “past” and “future” are in black and white in the background
the “future” model is in the center, in color, while the “present” and “past” are in black and white in the background

Taylor also gave me a fashion book to look at for inspiration-

I then went and made a new inspiration board of images:

*The pictures with stars are the ones I ended up using.

Iterations

I edited the final images I wanted to put into my flipper. I decided I didn’t want my models to have facial features to unify them more in the work. I also added camera flashes to the audience and edited in different backgrounds to the runway.

Models-

Before After (Black and white for background)

Camera Flashes-

Before

Past Present Future

*gradually, more cameras flash

*used Procreate to add the flashes

Backdrop-

Past Present Future

*used Procreate to edit each background/lighting in

Curtain- Potential Titles (that will go on curtain)-

Feedback

I asked my peers their opinions on what the title of my piece should be. One response was “Fashion Through Time.” Taylor also presented in class about constructing the flipper and making sure we score correctly. I actually ended up making my first flipper in card stock, but he suggested we make it out of printer paper so that it doesn’t get too thick when we put the imagery on it. I thought this was good advice, and it ended up making my flipper much better.

Concept Statement

In this project, I was put to the task of creating an infinite paper flipper. This flipper is four panels, and tells a narrative that is cyclical, which means that the end of the narrative leads back to the beginning. The materials I used are printer paper, 60 lb. card stock, scissors, exacto knife, and glue. With the imagery being cyclical, it was important to me to harmonize the series of events and make intentional use of the physical action and qualities of the flipper form (opening, closing, changing directions, etc.) The main goals were to apply visualization to a narrative that demonstrates a progression of time and apply concise editing to feature essential information to maintain intention over time. My narrative is the components of a fashion show. I made it a goal to have at least one frame use the actual movement of the flipper turning, so I started with a curtain opening to reveal the start of the show. After that, I have three models, one highlighted in each frame: past, present and future. These models are clothed in their respective time periods’ “trendy” clothing. I decided to do this concept because it creates harmony within the piece, which is essential in a flipper mechanism. In each “scene,” the lighting and background of the runway showcase that era’s “vibe.” I wanted to keep the unity of the work but also individualize the models too. A sense of hierarchy is portrayed in each scene, the model that represents the time period is shown large and in color, while the other two are smaller and in black and white in the background. Also, the cameras flashing in the audience change as each scene goes on, the most flash when the “future” model is being shown. I chose to do this for the fact that in a fashion show, the finale is always the part that draws the most attention, and also the “future” of fashion would be a popular part that people would want to capture. Overall, I wanted to not only use the movements of the physical form of the flipper, but unite my narrative in a cohesive, interesting, and clear manner.

Production

I then printed off these images and started crafting.

Flipper:

Tutorial~ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOL5iPG1CI)

Crafting~

Cutting & Scoring Gluing Pieces Together

Cutting backgrounds in half Cutting out model imagery

Laying out imagery

Feedback

After talking to Taylor, he mentioned that I should have the model that just walked the runway be turned away from the audience instead of always turned towards them. I thought this made more sense in the narrative, so I edited in Procreate and made all the models’ backsides.

I then started laying out the imagery in a way that made more sense with the narrative (like having both the present and future models be on the left side in the second frame because they haven’t yet walked, etc.)