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 challenging and time consuming!” But the effort is well worth the outcome.
The theme was to recreate a god or goddess in modern society. Students researched Greek, Roman, and Aztec mythological figures to learn about their core characteristics, and brainstormed how to apply them in our current culture.
They photographed themselves, friends, or family as their models. Then they used that 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 of a couple illustrations 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.
Aditi by Madison Wigginton(Outline of shapes)Hera by Carson BrantleyVenus by Caylee HubbardApollo by Darren CheairsHecate by Elizabeth GammillAthena by Grayson BrownLoki by Rebecca BaileyApollo by Whitney White
The third project for Intermediate Computing for Design class was called Reinterpret a Cliché. Imagery seen too frequently is often not seen at all. This is the case with overused design symbols and everyday objects. Overuse renders them ineffective, and they lose their power to communicate. It is the function of the designer to revitalize these clichéd symbols and objects by interpreting them in individual and personal ways.
Students picked 6 of the following 12 examples of typically clichéd objects to be reinterpreted:
Heart
Key
Apple
Sun
Stars
Mouth
Light Bulb
Tree
Cloud
Eye
Rose
Nuts & Bolts
Then they chose a theme all 6 illustrations would have in common. Not only were they to work stylistically, but conceptually, as well. The final product had to be black & white. They scanned their sketchbook designs into Photoshop or Illustrator to continue rendering them to completion, either using the Pen Tool or Live Trace option.
Below are some designs 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 Bethany Smith; insectsby Cara Moore; flowersby Carly Bond; fairy-talesby Connor Booth; under the seaby Gerald Wicks; Harry Potterby Imani Smith; dancersby Ques Nevels; fightersby Sarah Ferguson; fruits & veggiesby Stephen Latham; bit-syle Mario charactersby Taylor Knight; stereotypesby Laura Leigh Hicks; facial hair
Fall 2016: 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 challenging and time consuming!” But the effort is well worth the outcome.
In the past the theme has been to recreate a movie scene. This semester to mix things up, the theme was to recreate a god or goddess in modern society. Students researched Greek, Roman, and Aztec mythological figures to learn about their core characteristics, and brainstormed how to apply them in our current culture.
They photographed themselves, friends, or family as their models. Then they used that 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 of a couple illustrations 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.
Huitzilopochtli by Moesha Wright(Outline of shapes)Apollo by Allie Hanson(Outline of shapes)Poseidon by Kaitlyn UptonAeolus by April PorterAphrodite by Bethany SmithDionysus by Gerald WicksKarpo by Mary Emily MooreHephaestus by Parker WebbDionysus by Ryan GuilloryHekate by Canaan GriffinHermes by Josie GoodmanNinkasi by Meredith MorrisDemeter by Morgan HeltonAphrodite by Taylor Knight
Fall 2016: In Intro to Computing, students learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. In the past, their first project was creating an illustration based on an idiom in Illustrator. It was time to retire that project for awhile and try something new that challenged fresh ideas. This semester, I teach 3 sections of Intro to Computing for a total of about 40 students.
I am proud to admit that this new project was something I conceived on my own! For Creature Cartoon, each student pulled words out of separate bags– one for a physical trait, one for an action, and one for an emotion. Then they had to illustrate a unique creature that accompanied all those traits successfully in Illustrator.
After receiving their words, students brainstormed and submitted a series of thumbnails of their ideas, which were then narrowed down to their top three when I visited them in class one-on-one. Those three were turned into well-drawn comps that were drawn with Sharpies and Micron pens, and critiqued by their entire class. The best drawing was scanned into Illustrator, and vector shapes were placed on top. The focus of this Illustrator project was learning the Pen Tool and conducting organized layer management.
For even MORE fun, my students turned their illustrations into animated GIFs when we started the Photoshop segment. See how the GIFs turned out HERE.
Below are some illustrations 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 Andrea Osby: joyful, shell, smell flowerby Ashley Rude: curious, climb, short legsby Austin Smith: bashful, antlers, upside downby Hannah Livingston: bored, talking on the phone, sharp teethby Kaitlyn Upton: angry, fly, whiskersby April Porter: webbed feet, anxious, floatby Bethany Smith: surprised, fly, beakby Brittany Riland: mad, long arms, swingby Chris Gates: sing, short legs, giggleby Gerald Wicks: excited, climbing, long tailby Laura Leigh Hicks: squishy cheeks, afraid, smell flowerby Mary Emily Moore: big eyes, broken-hearted, eatby Olivia Ketchum: happy, sharp teeth, readby Ryan Guillory: horns, exercise, lazyby Allie Hanson: long arms, calm, unicycleby Ann Gray Flowers: mane, bored, smell flowersby Josie Goodman: squishy cheeks, joyful, upside downby Meredith Morris: tentacles, mellow, floatby Morgan Helton: beak, sleepy, readby Ques Nevels: grumpy, webbed feet, skateby Sarah Ferguson: sad, jumping, shellby Taylor Knight: big ears, bashful, eat
UPDATE: See GIFs created later during the semester here.
Fall 2016: My Design I class is a sweet group. I have 15 girls and 2 guys. (Where are the creative major guys these days?!) Most of them are Interior Design majors, but I also have a few representing Fine Art, Photography, and Floral Management.
For their first project, we focused on line and the psychological meanings of straight and curvy line work. Students chose 1-3 adjectives to illustrate using line, creating a “line explosion.” The medium used to depict these lines included Sharpies and Micron pens of different thicknesses, and good craftsmanship was emphasized. They were to also implement the elements and principles of design in their work.
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.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
by Alleigh Moffettby Amy Farrarby Carly Meltonby Imani Smithby Joanna Bauerby Joseph Garlandby Katie Ericksonby Alex Caysonby Calli Nelsonby Lauryn Rodyby Maddi Marascalcoby Matthew Rogersby Sydney Armer
Spring 2016 // 1 section
by Abbey Goodmanby Connor Boothby Dion Colemanby Katherine Huangby Stephen Lathamby Taylor Darby
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.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
by Abbey Rigdonby Alleigh Moffettby Amy Farrarby Carly Meltonby Imani Smithby Katie Ericksonby Phoebe Fitzgeraldby Alex Caysonby Haylee Uptonby Katherine Mooreby Lauryn Rodyby Maddie Marascalcoby Nicolette Johnson
Spring 2016 // 1 section
by Cecilia Lemusby Abbey Goodmanby Connor Boothby Gerard Woodsby Katherine Huangby Stephen Latham
For Design I’s third project, we focused on balance. Students constructed 4 compositions based on the following options of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial, and pattern. Their theme had to be inspired by the lyrics of a song or poem of their choosing. The medium used to depict these shapes was black construction paper, and good craftsmanship was emphasized. They also had to implement the elements and principles of design in their work. Some students even accepted the challenge of making 3D pop-up elements.
Unfortunately I did not do a good job of keeping documentation of the songs and poems the students were inspired by.
Below are some of the composition sets that were submitted. 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.
Fall 2015 // 1 section
Design by Christine SmithDesign by Annie KeslerSong: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”; Design by Hannah McCainSong: “How to Save a Life” by the Fray; Design by Jessie HollowayDesign by Josie GoodmanDeisgn by Kaitlynn HarnessDesign by Lexus NealyDesign by Rachel WilsonSong: “Hail State”; Design by Wrenn ParrishDesign by Zynettra Woodard
Spring 2016 // 2 sections
Design by Carson BrantleyDesign by Colin BrownDesign by Elizabeth PhyferDesign by Emory EndicottDesign by Gabrielle MartinezDesign by Grant CarterDesign by Jeremy HamiltonDesign by Johnathon JohnsonSong: “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift; Design by Mary ZunigaDesign by Mimi ShepherdPoem: “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue”; Design by Olivia Williams
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 of a couple illustrations 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.
Fall 2015 // 2 sections
O Brother Where Art Thou by Katie Erickson
The Hangover by Abbey Rigdon22 Jumpstreet by Alleigh MoffettThe Good, the Bad & the Ugly by Amy FarrarThe Hobbit by Carly MeltonMean Girls by Isabelle CottrellBreakfast Club by Joseph GarlandThe Other Woman by Kenan SimpkinsBreakfast at Tiffany’s by Phoebe FitzgeraldLove & Basketball by Tykia JosephNightcrawler by Alex CaysonShutter Island by Becca Van HornLegally Blond by Calli NelsonCool Hand Luke by Haylee UptonMulan by Justice WilliamsPrisoners by Matthew RogersPrincess Mononoke by Nicolette JohnsonFried Green Tomatoes by Samantha SumrallSherlock Holmes by Victoria Martin
Spring 2016 // 1 section
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Cara MooreFight Club by Cecilia LemusPhantom of the Opera by Connor BoothAnne of Green Gables by Katherine HuangScream 4 by Dion ColemonReservoir Dogs by Stephen LathamHarry Potter by Victoria Allgood
In Intro to Computing, students learn the basics of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. For their first 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 illustrations 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 Abbey Rigdon: Pinching Penniesby Alleigh Moffett: Whatever Floats Your Boatby Carly Melton: Sleep Like a Rockby Imani Smith: Easy as Pieby Joseph Garland: Eat Like a Birdby Katie Erickson: Broken Recordby Phoebe Fitzgerald: Eye Candyby Alex Cayson: Get Off Your High Horseby Becca VanHorn: Sick as a Dogby Samantha Sumrall: Quit Cold Turkey
At this point I would intend to feature the Idiom Illustration student work from my Spring 2016 classes, but I was unfortunately on medical leave. I am thankful my art department colleague and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Suzanne Powney was willing to step in to instruct my Intro to Computing class while I was out.
![aphrodite [Recovered].ailast](https://brittanyspencer.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/section3_bethany-smith_americangods_aphrodite.jpg?w=636)
![Vector Illustration [Recovered]](https://brittanyspencer.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/section1_phoebe-fitzgerald_breakfastattiffanys-01.jpg?w=636)
Brittany Spencer // Papermaking & Graphic Design 