Testing colours and styles

Testing colours and styles

Students learn about how illustrators take time to plan and test their ideas in order to convey the right message.

Student activities

Task no. 1

Exploring how illustrators test their ideas

Once the layout for each page had been decided, Shaun Tan was able to start experimenting with colour and other stylistic features.

Watch the video of Shaun Tan speaking about the way in which he tests his ideas:

Shaun Tan - Testing colour

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Shaun Tan - Testing colour

View the small oil sketch – do you recognise the idea in this sketch from the sketchbook viewed earlier? 

10. Dog oil sketch on board, 2017, 68 x 125 mm: Antiquity , 2016-2017
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Compare this sketch with the final illustration, Antiquity. Which aspects of the ‘test’ did Shaun Tan keep? What did he add?

Antiquity, Series 1: Original artworks for the book Dog / by Shaun Tan, 2017
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Discuss the following questions as a class:

  • What emotion does the illustration Antiquity evoke?
  • Why do you think it makes readers feel that way?