For students to refine their skills using Adobe Illustrator’s Pen Tool, my students accepted the challenge of the OMG project, as in “Oh my gosh, this is so hard and time consuming!!!” But the effort is well worth the outcome. The objective: Recreate a movie scene with your own models and photography. Then use the photo as a template to make a vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator. Tiny solid shapes make up the entirety of the photo to make a realistic representation. They spent about three weeks on the project. The process is like creating a digital painting! Below are some examples that were turned in. I also included the outline imagery to show the number of shapes that were created to make up the compositions. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results! These illustrations are sure to blow your mind! * I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
This spring semester I have a brand new crop of Intro students. After my experience teaching the previous semester with 3 sections of Intro, I get to make tweaks to my curriculum where I see fit for this 1 section bunch. Like I said in my very first Intro post last semester, it is so satisfying to teach these beginners about Adobe design software, and watch them learn and grow. Community is starting to form among them after their first very successful critique together, as well.
The idiom illustration project was a hit last semester, so it was introduced as their first Illustrator project again this semester. They had to choose an idiom (raining cats and dogs, hit the hay, you are what you eat, etc.) and construct an interesting, successful illustration. Brainstorming processes such as mind mapping and forced connections were introduced. Then they had to submit a series of thumbnails of their ideas, and narrow down to their top three. Those three were then turned into rough comps that were drawn with sharpies and micron pens, and critiqued with their entire class. The best chosen sketch was scanned into Illustrator, and vector shapes are placed on top. The focus in Illustrator was learning the Pen Tool and layer management.
Below are some first page resume examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
Smart Cookie by Ali MeelerOut on a Limb by Gerard WoodsTwo Peas in a Pod (referencing the Black Eyed Peas band– Fergie and will.i.am.) by Heather HardmanTongue Tied by Lexus GilesTongue Tied by Morgan LinnettAll Ears by Randi WatsonHoly Cow by Reagan HuffmanTime Flies by Sarah TewoldeWhen Pigs Fly (referencing Iron Man) by Tré Braswell
For Intro to Computing’s final project, they built simple personal logos in Illustrator and constructed resumes in InDesign. This project was meant to create an awareness of how much or how little they have accomplished during their first years of college, as well as give them a little experience with logo development and InDesign. Many of the students had not typed a resume before, and they found this project useful as they prepare to apply for part-time after-school jobs and post-graduate jobs. The layout needed to be organized, easy to read, and fluid with a sense of style. Creating hierarchy with text was a challenge, as they have not taken typography classes yet. I edited everyone’s first two resume info drafts they typed in Word or Pages before they moved into the InDesign software.
Below are some first page resume examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website. I smudged out contact info to respect their privacy.
by Sanessa Wrightby Aubrey Pohlby Paige Knappby Jessica Comerby Layne Smithby Morgan Donourby Kelli Claytonby Keats Hauptby Terrence Ewingsby Marianna Myrickby Mitchell Phillipsby Kelsey Bishopby Jeremy Childressby Ben Graceby Anna Barberby Anna Zollicofferby Chelsey Johnson
My students’ second Photoshop project was entitled “Pen & Pixel”, in which they had to construct a self portrait. It was a requirement to scan in textures, drawings, paintings, or items they could edit to become a part of the image. Many students demonstrated impressive concepts about themselves. Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
by Austin Fairleyby Hezekiel Blackmonby Khadijah McDonaldby Logan Sandersby Sanessa Wrightby Anna Zollicofferby Bonnie Hollidayby Cassandra Alleyby Chelsey Johnsonby Kelsey Bishopby Kelli Claytonby Morgan Donourby Layne Smithby Sarah Praterby Aubrey Pohlby Ben Graceby Sadie Houinby Anna Barberby Claire Burgett
For my students’ first Photoshop project, I wanted them to think outside the box and create an “Impossible Reality”. They had to gather their original photography and make new photos as needed to compose their surreal image. The main artist of inspiration was Eric Johansson. He is an incredible Photoshop artist, but also kind enough to post photos and videos to demonstrate his entire process, which is great for beginners to see. Like Eric, they needed to produce an image that tricks the eye to appear realistic.
Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website
by Claire Burgettby Keats Hauptby Anna Zollicofferby Hayden Lambertby Kelli Claytonby Layne Smithby Sami McDougallby Sarah Praterby Anna Barberby Aubrey Pohlby Marianna Myrickby Kelsey Bishop
I have extraordinary students. They accepted the challenge of the OMG project, as in “Oh my gosh, this is so hard and time consuming!!!” and they did very well.
The objective: Recreate a movie scene with your own models and photography. Then use the photo as a template to make a vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator. Tiny solid shapes make up the entirety of the photo to make a realistic representation. They spent about three weeks on the project.
Below are some examples that were turned in. I also included the outline imagery to show the number of shapes that were created to make up the compositions. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results! These illustrations are sure to blow your mind!
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website
It has been awhile since I have had a chance to update my blog, because I am busy teaching at Mississippi State University! This fall semester, I teach Design I and Intro to Computing Art and manage the art department computer lab. This does not leave much time to do papermaking, but I also do not have a space for that at this time. Fingers crossed I will find a studio space soon!
My Intro class turned in their first project last week. I have a great bunch of students. They are mostly sophomores and juniors. It’s so satisfying to see them learn the creative software as beginners and push themselves. I love to encourage community within my classes, and it’s nice to watch that happen, as well, during critique and on work days.
For their first Illustrator project, they had to choose an idiom (raining cats and dogs, hit the hay, you are what you eat, etc.) and construct an interesting, successful illustration. Brainstorming processes such as mind mapping and forced connections were introduced. Then they had to submit a series of thumbnails of their ideas, and narrow down to their top three. Those three were then turned into rough comps that were drawn with sharpies and micron pens, and critiqued with their entire class. The best chosen sketch was scanned into Illustrator, and vector shapes are placed on top. The focus in Illustrator was learning the Pen Tool and layer management.
Below are some examples that were turned in. All have aspects to be improved upon for their portfolio, but overall I was very pleased with their results! Some of them illustrated their idiom as a play on words.
* I have permission from my students to promote their work on my website.
Grammar Nazi by Jack HannonSplitting Hairs by Jessica ComerWhen Pigs Fly by Logan SandersWhatever Floats Your Boat by Keats HauptEye Candy by Austin FairleyEverything but the Kitchen Sink by Claire BurgettPoker Face (reference to Lady Gaga) by Marianna MyrickClean as a Whistle by Jeremy ChildressButterflies in Her Stomach by Brittany RobertsFork in the Road by Mitchell PhillipsHold Your Horses by Kelsey BishopClose Call by Aubrey PohlCool Beans by Kelli ClaytonDrink Like a Fish by Ian GreenFlip the Bird by Anna ZollicofferPoker Face by Layne Smith
Brittany Spencer // Papermaking & Graphic Design 