ILLU326 Atmospheric and Environmental Illustration
Perspective and constructive drawing techniques are essential when creating compelling narrative illustrations. Through research and practices, students illustrate building interiors, exterior environments, vehicles and other objects from different perspectives and in a variety of locations and atmospheric conditions.
Course Introduction
This course is designed to help artists develop a better understanding of environments and atmospheric conditions and the effect use and benefits in illustrations. Students will explore a variety of environments and weather and climate conditions using an assortment of techniques including depth, water vapor and moisture, light and color, and both real and imagined atmospheres. Exploration through sketchbook and in-class exercises help student learn and utilize a wide range of effects and styles to develop more dynamic and emotional illustration techniques, methods and assets. The end results will be numerous portfolio quality final illustrations.
The Importance of Sketchbook
The Artist's Sketchbook is an integral part of developing unique creative ideas and a means to continue to grow artistic talents and skills, while exploring visual storytelling. During this course, weekly Sketchbook Assignments are part of the Out-of-Class projects. Sketchbook assignments are open to interpretation and I encourage you to be creative - any medium - any style - be creative!
I suggest a 9" x 12" spiral sketchbook with 100 pages. You will be using a variety of mediums and techniques and the standard sketchbook paper will work fine.
In Class Swatches
These exercises give the students an opportunity to sharpen skills in color, rendering and composition while receiving immediate feedback and assessment. Subjects can include: Weather, buildings, landscapes, perspective, scale, composition, color, creativity and concepting, textures, moisture, organic and man made.
Assignment One
Tropical
Utilizing structure, environment and atmosphere – create individual and composite structure - site-based reference content – environment, atmosphere and background – depth, realistic conditions and content, and lighting effects - Hot - Humid - Steamy - Mysterious - Lush
Assignment Two
Village
Based on European structural examples - Utilize two and three point perspective –including interior and exterior – create individual and composite structure - site-based reference content – environment, atmosphere and background - Friendly - Warm - Inviting - Rural - Sunny
Assignment Three
Conceptual Futuristic Complex
Utilize two and three point perspective – including interior and exterior themes - Utilizing a contemporary theme, content and components - create individual and composite structure - site-based reference content – environment, atmosphere and background -Etheral - Apocalyptic - Other World - Evening - Blade Runner-like - Weather conditions should include ice and snow!
Assignment Four
Arid/Desert
The emphasis here is a desert planet - hot - dry - abandoned civilization - only thing that remains is structures and vehicles - sand - dunes - mirage - void of life - yet mysterious and deathly -atmoshere is sun-like - crematorium - water is hot and toxic
Due Dates
Mar 26 - Pre Quarter - DUE - beginning of class
Mar 28 - In Class Swatches - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before end of class.
Apr 9 - Assignment One - Tropical- DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before beginning of class.
Apr 16 - In Class Swatches - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before end of class.
Apr 30 -Assignment Two - Village- DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before beginning of class.
May 9 - In Class Swatches - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before end of class.
May 14 -Assignment Three - Conceptual Futuristic Complex - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before beginning of class.
May 21 - In Class Swatches - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before end of class.
May 28 - Final Sketchbook - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before end of class.
May 30 -Assignment Four - Arid/Desert - DUE - Must be placed in Dropbox before beginning of class.
Required Textbooks
Roberston, S. & Bertling, T. (2013). How to draw: Drawing and sketching objects and environments from your imagination. Culver City, CA: Design Studio Press. ISBN-13: 978-1933492735
Montague, John (2013). Basic Perspective Drawing: A Visual Approach (6th Ed.) Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN- 13:978-1118134146.
Archiving Your Work
Preparing each Final Illustration File.
1. All Final Artwork must be archived, both for Department and the college for promotional reasons; the Illustration Department will select student works for large full color prints to be displayed in the hallways of Hayman's Hall, for entries to be entered into various important competitions, the department's Illustrious Magazine, etc.
2. Each file must use the Department file naming convention and other pertinent/required information placed in the Metadata area.
3. Scan all work or be sure all finals are 300dpi and saved as PSD.
4. Be sure to flatten each image, please add a white 1/4" - 1/2" border to each final, clear guides and resize so that no side is longer than 18". Be sure that the image size is no smaller than 8" x 10".
5. Naming Convention: 'Save As' using the Department's Naming Convention; use TA2, TA3 and so forth or use ProjectA, ProjectB; no need to enter title of work here. Title of Work must be entered in the Metadata area and 'untitled' or TA2 or ProjectA is not acceptable.
Example: Doe-J-07Win-ILLU200-Foerster-A1.psd
6. Metadata; Metadata is information that is embedded in your image file. This data will be used by the faculty when completing competition entry forms and for giving you credit for your work when published, so it is imperative that you include all requested information.
Start by opening your file in Photoshop, go to File>File Info....click there and a new window will open. This is the window to enter the information for the Illustration Department and for the college.
7. Setting the correct color profile: To set the correct color profile, when your illustration is opened in Photoshop, go to Edit, near bottom of the Window, look for 'Convert to Profile' click on that link. A new window will open and look for 'Profile' and using the drop down menu select Adobe RGB (1998), click OK. Then save or save as to complete the task.