Exercise-Choosing Content

If this were to be made into a film, what would the main character be like?

I looked on the Internet and black-and-white films of this era, the 1940s, and came across many actors-Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart and James Cagney, playing gangster/tough guy characters.

I think that these actors would have many of the qualities that the main character might have.  Tough exterior, passionate about his job, may be a bit of a tough guy, perhaps getting into scrapes through his job with new Scotland Yard.

This may be etched on his face, lines, greying hair despite his years, tired looking from many late nights on difficult cases.  Rugged looking, slightly crumpled clothes, tidy loose, and hair ruffled.

What clothes with the character be wearing?

Shirt, tie-loose end at the collar, suit trousers, with turn ups, double-breasted suit jacket which would be on the back of the chair.  A trilby style hat and long raincoat hanging on a hook on the back of the office door.

What furniture is in the main area in which the action takes place?

Because this is an office, there would be a desk, chair, (perhaps a wooden swivel one) a filing cabinet, hat/coat hook and may be a settee/couch.  Quite spartan, no frills.

I decided that because the era was probably the 1940s (because of the reference in the text), that I would go with the sort of effect that black and white films from this period had.

Many of the films were ' film noir' so the drawing I wanted to produce would have this effect too.  Lots of shadow would be needed to give it a dramatic feeling.

I created 2 mood boards showing some of the elements I wanted to include in my illustration, such as clothing, scenery, tonal values, and texture.

I used cross hatching and pen in ink, to produce the effect I needed after trying out solid black and deciding I didn't like it, because it was too heavy and I couldn't vary it enough, or give the appearance of texture.

In conclusion the piece turned out well, I managed to include some of the descriptions of the office area, a view of St Pauls, and bombed out buildings, plus some of the things I felt should be in the illustration, such as items on the desk.


The character is drawn so that he is surveying the war torn city buildings outside his office window, particularly the smoke shrouded St Pauls Cathedral, an iconic image of the war years.