Intro to Computing Art // OMG American Gods

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 Brantley

Venus by Caylee Hubbard

Apollo by Darren Cheairs

Hecate by Elizabeth Gammill

Athena by Grayson Brown

Loki by Rebecca Bailey

Apollo by Whitney White

Intermediate Computing for Design // How’d They Do That

First let me say WOW! I have 780 followers that are keeping up with my blog. I am astounded and humbled. Thank you for taking an interest in the artwork done by me and my students.

This class’s second project was called How’d They Do That.  Using Illustrator, they had to find a way to combine a typeface number with an animal in a creative way. All the shapes had to be pen-tooled, based on their original sketches.  Only two Pantone colors could be used, but were allowed to use the shades and tints of those Pantone colors. (What are Pantone colors? Watch a video HERE. Also see a delectable video of how ink is made HERE.) This project was good practice in demonstrating forced connections– taking two unrelated concepts and forging a relationship between them. This kind of conceptual thinking helps to broaden their skill in producing thoughtful, well-designed logos.

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.

6 by Bethany Smith

6 by Cameron Coleman

5 by Cara Moore

6 by Connor Booth

9 by Trent Furr

2 by Gerald Wicks

9 by Imani Smith

6 by Laura Leigh Hicks

7 by Ques Nevels

6 by Taylor Knight

Intro to Computing Art // OMG American Gods

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 Upton

Aeolus by April Porter

Aphrodite by Bethany Smith

Dionysus by Gerald Wicks

Karpo by Mary Emily Moore

Hephaestus by Parker Webb

Dionysus by Ryan Guillory

Hekate by Canaan Griffin

Hermes by Josie Goodman

Ninkasi by Meredith Morris

Demeter by Morgan Helton

Aphrodite by Taylor Knight

Intermediate Computing for Design // How’d They Do That

This class’s second project was called How’d They Do That.  Using Illustrator, they had to find a way to combine a typeface number with an animal in a creative way. All the shapes had to be pen-tooled, based on their original sketches.  Only two Pantone colors could be used, but were also allowed to use the shades and tints of those Pantone colors. (What are Pantone colors? Watch this video HERE.)

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.

8 or “Sneight” by Aubrey Pohl

2 or “Two-can” by Brittany Roberts

3 by Jeremy Childress

8 by Kelsey Bishop

5 by Layne Smith

7 by Marianna Myrick

3 by McKinley Ranager

6 by Paige Knapp

7 by Tori Holmes

0 by Logan Sanders