Divi & Frey

Research, Insights and notes for educators

Come and find me on Instagram, tony_flowers99

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Madam Boar

June 14, 2015

This character appears in” Samurai vs Ninja book 3: Day if the Dreadful Undead”.This is Madam Boar.

I thought it would interest some people to see the basic steps to get get this image ready for print.

This image appear (as at stage 3) on page 62 of the book. I have spent a little extra time creating stage 4 (above) to demonstrate the difference black and white and colour.

For the technical minded readers, this image was coloured in photoshop. I created a layer for all on the black line work. The line work was originally hand inked and then scanned. This layer had a clear background. Then by creating a second layer underneath this, I digitally painted the colour where it was needed. The reason I apply the colour in this way, is if you try and colour the layer with the line work you will end up with white pixel specks where lines join or your ink work is a bit rough. Not such an issue if you create the line work digitally. In the past I would have added the colour by guiding the cursor with my mouse. I have recently brought a wacom Intuos pro, pen and touch tablet. I have used these for this image.

If you have any question please put in the comment section or email me.
Samurai vs Ninja Kamizumo Game

June 7, 2015

When looking for extra activities for Samurai vs Ninja, I came across the game Kamizumo.

Kamizumo is a Japanese ‘paper wrestling’ game. Paper figures are place them on the Kamizumo paper ring. You tap your figures on the edge of the paper ring, the first figure knock over of out looses the round.

I have been hard at work on my first ever Kamizumo game. But before I start work on characters from the stories. I thought it would be fun to battle it out with Nick Falk. So the first characters are Nick and myself. If this proves popular, I plan to add other characters (Buta-sama, Kingyo-Sama, Skinny fish, Little pig, Sumo san, Mighty Fish).

Below is the character sheet, Print in landscape and set the scale to auto adjust to the page size.

and here is the ring. When you print it, it should automatically print in the centre of the paper. Just fold the paper edge under the ring to give a little extra spring. You can also place the ring on to a large book to add bounce.

Have fun!
The Totoro’s branch

June 2, 2015

From woodblock prints to anime. Japanese inspiration for ‘Samurai vs Ninja’, my series with Nick Falk, is everywhere. One of my favourite anime artists the master himself, Hayao Miyazaki.

In this illustration (right) from the Curse of the Oni (page 71), you can see how I have borrowed from Miyazaki to give Kaba –sama a branch to sit on. The image on the left, as you will see is from “My Neighbour Totoro”. One of the movies I have watched many times with my son. I thought doing this is a nice way to pay homage to Miyazaki, as true master.

For more information on Miyazaki see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayao_Miyazaki
Visual research for Samurai vs Ninja

May 30, 2015

When considering how to create and sustain the Edo period world of “Samurai vs Ninja”. It was important to undertake a lot of research. One of my favorite forms of art is the Ukiyo-e woodblock period of Japanese art. I love colour saturation, the strong line work and the masterful compositions.

The work of artist such as Katsushika Hokusai are synonymous with the art form. His ‘wave’ (The great wave off Kanagawa, from the 36 views of Mount Fuji series) image being one of the recognized images of Japanese Artist.

From the Edo period of Ukiyo-e woodblock artist, my favorite character artist is Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Kuniyoshi work from the early to mid 1800’s. One of his most recognize series being the images of the 47 Ronin. His distinctive black and white patterned sleves on the characters in this series was the inspiration of Buta-sama’s own clothes.

In Samurai vs Ninja (book3) Day of the Dreadful Undead (June 2015), The story required an image to over state the actions of the Mighty Kingyo-sama, Lord Goldfish of the Samurai. When asked by the ghost of a long dead relative “’Tell me, Master Goldfish,’ rumbled Fuka-Sama,’how many victories have YOU had in battle?’” (p41)

Kingyo’s assistant then tell of an epic battle against a mosquito. I thought it would be funny to have the battle commemorated in a woodblock print.

Know that Utagawa Kuniyoshi used to portray narrative based conflicts. I started to research into his battle images. I quickly found one of his more interesting compositional device was to place the conflict in the bottom 3^rd of the image, suggesting the character on top had the upper hand and was overpowering his opponent.

I decided that this would be a dynamic/over the top way to portray such and under stated conflict.

I love it when my illustration work allows me to draw inspiration from and pay homage to such an amazing artist as Utagawa Kuniyoshi. I would certainly encourage anyone who love Ukiyo-e woodblock prints to have a look at his work on line.
Dinazor Sokağı

April 14, 2015

The Dinosaurs of Saurus Street have landed in Istanbul. Turkish publishers ‘Final’ have released ‘Dinazor Sokağı’. So if your looking for Turkish editions of Saurus Street, check out http://www.idefix.com/kitap/dinazor-sokagi-bahceye-tiranozor-girmis-nick-falk/tanim.asp?sid=YNL5HG6W6S3SK1ZM5VLH
Staedtler Pens

April 9, 2015
Ghost Samurai Horse

April 2, 2015

i have been working through the last chapters for book 3 in the Samurai vs Ninja book series. One of the main characters appears on a ghost battle horse, ready to charge down a hill into battle. Below are some of my research images and sketches to create the battle horse character.

The finished image as it will appear in the book (below). This image was created using the horse illustration (above), a separate illustration for the ghost Samurai, another for the back ground, another for the speech buble and another to create the pattern for the fishbone border.
Samurai vs Ninja released into the reading world

April 1, 2015

Samurai vs Ninja books released by Random House Australia on the 1st of April 2015.
Golden Ratios in illustration

March 10, 2015

When planning an illustration there are many composition theories that can be applied. One of my favourite is ‘the Golden Ratio’. Some times referred to a ‘Di Vinci’s Golden Section’ or ‘Golden Spiral’. That is Leonardo Di Vinci not the Mutant Ninja Turtle. “The Golden Proportion is considered as the most pleasing to human visual sensation and not limited to aesthetic beauty but also be found its existence in natural world through the body proportions of living beings, the growth patterns of many plants, insects and also in the model of enigmatic universe” (Akhtaruzzaman & Shafie 2011) This image from book 2 of the Samurai vs Ninja series is based on a double ‘Golden Ratio’ spiral composition. Calculating the Golden Ration is very involved and there numerous complex mathematical models are available in print or online. But to keep it simple the ration roughly works out as 1:1.6. This works a grid of rectangles is formed based on the short length of the rectangle being multiplied by 1.6 to give the longer length. Once you had one grid calculated it is simp a mater of ceasing a series of rectangles that for a grid pattern. Each of the intersection or grid line form strong focal points in an illustration. A spiral can be plotted through the intersecting lines. In this diagram you can see the spirals have been overlaid on the grids and I have rotated the 1st grid (and spiral) 180 degrees to create a complimentary balance from one page to the next. The resulting focal point and elements of the illustration that imply the spiral as shown above. So why have I bother to use this technique in such detail? This image is printed in black and white on a small page. I wanted to give a scenes of chaos while maintaining easy readability. The section of battle on the left hand page is cluttered and the characters body become merged together. I have used the spiral to guide the readers eye into the image. On the right hand page I wanted the battle to focus on the fight between the 2 main characters (brothers) Buta-sama and Kingyo-sama. The centre of this spiral leads down to the clash of their weapons. As the spirals are arranged in this way. the eye of the reader is guided form one spiral to the other in an endless loop. For more in-depth reading on he subject I recommend looking at Akhtaruzzaman,Md & Shafie, A.A, 2011.Geometrical Substantiation of Phi, the Golden Ratio and the Baroque of Nature, Architecture, Design and Engineering, International Journal of the Arts, 1(1), p1-22

-35.282000 149.128684
Research into Visual Literacy

February 22, 2015

I have recently began a PhD in design at the University of Canberra, looking at the role of visual literacy in emerging reader chapter books.

The purpose of my study will be to investigate visual literacy from the perspective of the creators of illustrated works. From my initial readings on the topic of visual literacy, it is normally tackled by educators and literature experts. While this is highly appropriate, a unique perspective on the subject can be gained by discussing visual literacy with the people who create it.

Books that are narrative driven by text and illustrations occupy a unique phase of in a student’s journey to literacy. The transition from first concept books to pictures books then onto illustrated chapter books can set a student onto a path of life long reading. As a professional illustrator my work is primarily in the area of emerging reader chapter books for 8 to 12 year olds. I feel that this a very important stage in the reading journey and that through greater understanding we can support children both learn to read and develop a love of books and literature.

While I have access to limited research funds, I am alway looking for more opportunities. One of which is a ‘Big Ideas – pitch for funding’ run through the University. I will have 3 minutes to explain my research proposal and the reason it is relevant and deserves funding. Unlike most of my other presentations, where I can draw illustrations or show an avalanche of images. I am limited to a single image to support my concept. below is my book bridge image for the presentation.

I am hoping that the pitch will be successful and I receive some extra funding to assist with my research expenses. It is my aim that this research will have a practical out come, giving teachers resources to draw upon for a more in depth understanding of an illustrators work practices and the visual narrative devices they construct. Enhancing their ability to utilise illustrated works in supporting a student’s development of visual and text based literacy skills.

Please feel free to contact me at tony@flowersink.com.au if you are interested in my research area.

Tony Flowers

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