Creature Mark

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Creature Mark

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Creature Mark • Creature Mark •

Stylized Oceanic Manta Ray with text about wings, blue waters, and manta rays on dark background.

Photo Benchmarking and Sketches

I researched the Oceanic Manta Ray, a majestic sea creature recognized for its curved head fins (cephalic lobes), diamond-shaped body, striking black-and-white patterns, graceful movement, and playful nature.

A sketch of various manta rays with outstretched wings drawn in pencil on paper.
Sequence of four digital illustrations showing a black and white manta ray in various artistic drawing stages, including initial sketches, line work, added details, and finalized stylized designs.
Series of four stylized illustrations of a manta ray in different stages, with the top row showing black and white images and the bottom row showing sketches with blue construction lines.
Series of four stylized illustrations of a manta ray in different stages, with the top row showing black and white images and the bottom row showing sketches with blue construction lines.

Project Objective

The objective of the Creature Mark was to create a 2D, simplified geometric design of an animal, while highlighting its distinct features and characteristics that make it immediately recognizable.

Collection of underwater photographs of manta rays swimming in the ocean.

Digital Translations and Final Mark

Sketch of multiple manta rays on white paper.
A black design of a manta ray on a white background, shown on the left, with construction lines and geometric guides on the right.

Poetic Composition and Ideation

After finalizing our Creature Mark, we paired up with classmates to write several poetic options that included the name of our animal. Below is the chosen phrase.

Its wings like silk it sweeps the blue. A dance of grace in waters true. The manta ray in the deep blue.

Black and white stylized image of a manta ray with intricate wing patterns
A poetic illustration with text describing a manta ray with wings like silk sweeping the blue, and a dance of grace in waters true, set against a grid background with a large gray circle in the center.
Two sections of a visual poem with black and gray text, and abstract black shapes on a graph paper background. The poem describes wings sweeping like silk and a dance of grace in deep blue.
Stylized abstract artwork with a manta ray figure, words from a poem about grace and the deep blue, in shades of blue and teal.

Final Composition and Mark

An artistic illustration of a manta ray with abstract shapes and scattered blue oval patterns on a dark background. The image contains poetic text about wings, grace, and the deep blue color.