Design and layout
Viewing guide
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Think about how graphic novels are presented. Typically the action is portrayed in panels as in a comic book. If you are unfamiliar with graphic novels, have a look at Scott McCloud’s The Carl Comics.
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Think of an action that could be part of a graphic novel. Draw an outline or rough sketch of the action. How many panels did you need? What aspects of the graphic medium easier or more difficult then writing words for storytelling?
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Listen out for Nicki’s explanation about why the panels and frames are more than just boxes to contain the action.
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How does Nicki describe the atmosphere? How is colour used to create this atmosphere?
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Considering Nicki’s comments about design and layout, re-draw your action from the above activity, focusing on the meaning and tone you want to convey.
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What is the tone of your drawing/s? Which colours would you use to convey the tone?
Interviewer: Where did your ideas come from for the design and the layout of your work?
Nicki Greenberg: The layout is something that I'm fascinated by. How layout can convey information and how panels or frames in a comic can be more than just a box to contain a piece of the action. So I wanted to set it up as a photograph album. This was my idea from the beginning so that when you opened it up you were immediately transported back to the time of the events. So it looks like an old-fashioned photo album with the black pages, the sepia photographs with the scalloped edges. And that also gives you the sense of peering into people's private lives, into things that perhaps you shouldn't see and there's certainly a lot of that in 'The Great Gatsby'.
Interviewer: How would you describe the atmosphere of your art work in 'The Great Gatsby'?
Nicki Greenberg: Overall the atmosphere of the book is quite dark because you have the black pages and then the sepia photographs which are a quite dark greeny-brown colour. So even in the very exuberant sparkling parts, the parties and so on, I think there is a sense of tragedy or darkness overshadowing it. I guess that's how I feel about the book. It has a, even in its really bright moments it is bitter sweet. That pervades the atmosphere of the book.
Videos
Nicki’s inspiration
Nicki’s writing
Characterisation
Design and layout
Nicki’s advice
