IntArc 32 - project illustrations

Some notes on the illustration for our project

This project requires only one “illustrated” sheet. This drawing is typically used as an adjunct to a project and is sometimes not considered essential. But, it is important to know how to develop such drawings. Because you are to create this on your standard roll tracing paper I recommend you first create your drawing using our standard course techniques. Then, switch to regular soft pencils to illustrate. I prefer a monochromatic rendering for this assignment. However, if you so desire you can illustrate in color. Be sure to show me examples of your color skills before you go with colors! The following are some examples of plan view drawing illustration styles in color. “I still prefer monochrome for this assignment” But, look at the shading and texturing techniques anyway.

Note how the walls are filled in with a solid color. Not solid black but rather a medium grey. Black is too overpowering. The scale of the wood floor planking is more or less accurate. No shadows were incorporated on this illustration. But generally speaking shadows really enhance a drawing.

While this illustration includes an exterior, pay attention to the interior. It is simple and clean. But, what makes it work is the subtle shadow work. Notice that the shadows are based not on “realistic” lighting but rather a simplified, diagrammatic, “unrealistic”, lighting scheme. I do like the use of shadow and shading on the vegetation in the exterior portions of the drawing.

This is obviously a computer rendering. But, you can still learn from it. The shadows are very simple and diagrammatic.

The textures are consistent and even. The shading is consistent and even. The line work is consistent and accurate.

This illustration was done with marker and pen. I donʼt recommend you use this technique as it is an advanced technique. And I donʼt think the illustrator is doing a very good job. Proper marker technique can achieve a much smoother illustration. This drawing has long shadows from the pillars between the windows. It would have been better without them. The floor would have benefitted from leaving some blank area in the center. The carpeting color is too much.

This illustration does not include the walls. It depends on the situation. The textures are “flood fill” textures (computer generated). Hand rendering would really bring it alive.

This illustration of a casino floor could be computer generated or even a hybrid computer/hand illustration. When you have a broad area to be textured, it can be better to leave areas uncolored so that the coloration does not overwhelm the drawing. For example in this drawing, if the carpet were fully covered in color, it would have taken away from the seating arrangement and flow in the room.

This another image from the casino. Great detail, subtle shadow work, good contrast between he furnishing and fixtures and the carpet.

This computer generated illustration shows where a lot of designers fail to pay attention to their work whilst using computer graphics. Notice the shadows on the bottom row of tables, the middle row of tables and the left tables. Fail. Pay attention to consistency.

This next set of illustrations depict plan view and various elevations. Study the lighting effects implemented. The same can be achieved by hand shading.

This last illustration is typical for this level of skill. What I like about it is that it was not done in mixed media. Ie. It was not a mix of pencil and ink - pencil only. If the walls were done with ink it would have look awful. I would have liked the floor to have some white in the middle area rather than fully covered in color. Object lines are pretty clean, the textures and shading is consistent and clean.