The final result

The final outcome is close to what I expect. I managed to find a nice background which perfectly matches the theme and the transformation effect. In After Effects, I use skills such as motion tracking, liquify effect, masks, color correction, etc.

As a result, it makes a pretty smooth face transformation. The sense of cubism in the picture is well shown. Also, by applying a light texture on the face, it brings a feeling that the cubist face is naturally merging into the background and becoming a real portrait.

However, one thing I am not satisfied is that I couldn't find a good way to draw out the outline of different planes as my concept shows. Although my glasses and eyes help define some of the outlines, the cubism effect would be better if all the outlines are tracked. In addition, the picture will be more rich in stereoscopic feeling if those planes slightly break apart.

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normal face


colors start to apply and separate the face


different parts of the face start to distort following the movement


the cubism effect goes well with the background


transformation finished

The Transformation

To achieve making such transformation is possible. It may require some of the following steps:

Divide the face into parts (at least 5-6 parts)
Distort or exaggerate certain components (eyes, ears, mouth, nose etc.)
Make masks on the existing face
Fill different primary colors to the masks
Stop motions for some parts (different rhythms on the same plane)
Duplicate the parts
Track motions
Draw or define the outlines
Find a suitable backgroud

...

Cubist face transformation examples

The first example is mainly using the distort effect to exaggerate certain parts of the face and make the scale irregular.

(from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WDnAcKtnRo)

The second example only duplicates different parts of the figure into squares and breaks them apart. But it also has a good outcome with the sense of cubism.

(from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy-HYN1QdzI&feature=related)

In my project, I will use both skills above and also apply multiple color planes on the face transformation. What's more, the choose of background is really important as it will help make the story complete. To go along with my initial concept, the background will be set in a rather artistic place such as gallery, painting workshop, or simply in front of a painting (maybe a cubist art). In this case, the figure and the background will work together better and deepen the theme of cubism.

A cubist self-portrait I create

From the knowledge and skills gained from the research, I try to create a cubist portrait for myself. It will be the ultimate and ideal outcome of my head's transformation.

Some cubist portraits examples

Light projection is drawn, which makes it more than a 2D painting.
(from http://jasonloya.com/abouttheartist.html)


A good example of using geometric shapes.
(from http://www.saugus.k12.ma.us/Art/G5%20Gallery.htm)


Black lines plays the most important part in this painting.
(from http://bluemoonpalette.blogspot.com/2010/09/student-viewed-several-of-pablo.html)


The picture is nicely divided by colors with good contrast.
(from http://artsjam.org/Workshops/tabid/184/Default.aspx)


Head of A Woman by Pablo Picasso. Great skill combines the figure, background, irregular shapes, space and colors together.
(from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1990.192)

A good cubist portrait needs...

I've looked at some cubist portraits. There are a few major factors that determine a good cubist portraits.

Combination of some basic geometric shapes
Multiple plane defined by different colors
Some physics are still applied in the picture (e.g. light projection, shadows)
Some scales/proportions are irregular or exaggerated
Color contrast is relatively clear within the picture
The color combination of the character works well with the background colors

Concept

Cubism is a unique form of artwork with random angles and interpenetrating space. The name “cubism” came from “cubes”, which are the geometric forms in the extremely abstract works. It is based on geometric forms so that there are a lot of pure and simple shapes in the composition.

In project one, I am going to create a visual portrait that transform into cubism portrait. Ideally, following the slight movement of the head, some basic geometric shapes will be drawn out from it. Then the colors and lines will gently turn into painting style. The whole face will construct into a cubism style too. Eventually, the original face trace will vanish and all it leaves will be the basic color patterns and geometric shapes. As a result, the angles on the visual portrait will look random and artistic by removing a coherent sense of depth. It creates fractured objects and the ambiguous space feeling.