1-2-3
Fantasy Portrait
Step into another world and reimagine the human face through a fantasy lens. From elves and sorcerers to warriors, royalty, and mythical beings, fantasy portraits use design choices to suggest history, power, and personality. In this project, you’ll go beyond realism to create a portrait that feels like it belongs in a larger story-driven universe.
Your Mission is to create a fantasy-themed portrait that transforms a character using imaginative design choices. Through digital painting, illustration, or photo-based techniques, you will use features, accessories, colour, and atmosphere to communicate your character’s role, mood, and identity.
​Project Goals
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Use visual elements to suggest character, story, and world-building
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Practice facial structure, expression, and stylization in portrait work
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Apply colour, lighting, and texture to create mood and atmosphere
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Develop stronger digital painting or illustration techniques
Level 1
Pick and Do 2 Exercises:
Each exercise should ONLY take 1-3 classes to complete.
LVL1 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing BOTH exercises,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your files correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-1-AMotif
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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Use hyphens in image or file names --- no spaces.
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Even though Windows and Mac computers allow spaces, the web is built on systems that do not handle spaces well. When a file name has a space, web browsers often change it to %20, which can cause broken links or make files not load correctly.
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Using hyphens (-) instead of spaces helps your files work properly online.
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2) Do the level 1 reflection
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-1
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Answer the questions. You can focus on one exercise or answer for both.
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3) Hand in all 3 files
Level 2
​BEFORE YOU BEGIN
​1) GET the level 2 DESIGN BOOKLET
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) Choose your level 2 assignment (below)​
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3) Start the booklet before starting your assignment
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Answer the questions in the following sections:
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The Assignment-ID and timeline questions.
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KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PRACTICING​
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FEEDBACK
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PLAN YOUR APPROACH
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4) do your assignment​
Pick and Do 1 Assignment:
LVL2 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing your assignment,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2-CTextureStudy
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) FINISH the level 2 reflection​
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aka the last section in the Design Booklet.
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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files
LVL3 CHECKPOINT
AFTER completing your project:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-3
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Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.
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2) FINISH the level 3 reflection​
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aka the last section in the Design Booklet.
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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files
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4) Return to the Media Design page and repeat the 1-2-3 cycle with a new project!​​
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Level 3
The Project
It's time to shine! For this project, you will create a fantasy-themed portrait that transforms a character using imaginative design choices.
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Your goal is to make a portrait through digital painting, illustration, or photo-based techniques, you will use features, accessories, colour, and atmosphere to communicate your character’s role, mood, and identity.
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​​​​​​BEFORE YOU BEGIN
​1) GET the level 3 DESIGN BOOKLET
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Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.
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RENAME IT
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Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level
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ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-3​
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​2) fill out the booklet as you do the project.
Your Fantasy Portrait must include:​​
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​Your portrait!​
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Focus on:​
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Using visual elements to suggest character, story, and world-building
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Using facial structures, expression, and stylization in portrait work
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Applying colours, lighting, and texture to create mood and atmosphere
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Ready to Make?
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Your file should be 3300 x 5100 pixels, at 300 pixels/inch.
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(same as a letter-sized paper).
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You may create your kit using…
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Digital Illustration: Draw directly in a program like Photoshop or Krita.
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Digital Collage: Use photo cutouts, scanned drawings, textures, etc., to build your kit. Layer and combine them using Photoshop.
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To Help You Get Started:
1) Who is this character?
Before diving into creating, brainstorm their defining features. Use the following questions to help you brainstorm:
1. What are their defining physical features?
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2. What are their strengths or “powers” as a person?
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3. What accessories might they have?
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4. What environments or settings would they come from? ​​​​​​
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This project brings together everything you practiced in Levels 1 and 2:
you've got this!​​​