I'm almost done with the first week of my last term and before the end goes rushing past I wanted to at least catch you up to the middle...
So I'm sure I mentioned at least once or twice how crazy things were last term. I didn't really have time to do much besides schoolwork (which I'll share more of below). I have reason to believe that this term will be much different. Today, for example, I decided to head to Carmel-by-the-Sea after class and found a charming and beautiful little community that I can't wait to visit again; on my way home I made a wrong turn when trying to find a my way to Trader Joe's and discovered a whole new part of Monterey that was also lovely and made me wish I could stay and explore. It's made me realize just how little of the area I've seen (and how unlike the peninsula is the area that I have seen). Don't get me wrong, though, I love how affordable Marina is, and I thoroughly enjoy living just steps from the Monterey Bay dunes and the beach (and just 10 minutes from class).
We'll be making a few visits to Santa Cruz again this term (once for a "party" and then again to visit the Arboretum). I'll tell you more about the party later, and I'm sure I'll post pics of the Arboretum visit (eventually). Oh and I'll get some visitors during the middle of the term when our exhibit opens next month.
But on to the good stuff...
In order of completion:
The Natural Roots of Urban Landscapes, Illustrator and Photoshop
So this piece was done for our "conceptual/editorial" assignment. It is commonplace for an illustrator to be assigned a topic that is very difficult to portray directly, either because the subject is ambiguous by nature, can't be easily depicted with a simple illustration, or is too socially delicate for a direct visual representation. We had to come up with our own titles (as for an article) and then had to create the illustration for it in the medium of our choice (see the title directly below the illustration and imagine this occurring alongside an article of the same name and you'll get the idea).
Tromp l'oeil of a "Hebe study," Watercolor and Gouache
This piece was for an assignment called, "tromp l'oeil," which is French for "fool the eye." This painting was done so that all objects depicted are lifesize, thus creating the illusion, in person, that you can actually reach out and grab the objects. If you get the chance to see it in person someday, it'll make more sense. I chose to depict the study of Hebe (the name of the flower you see), which is a well known botanical export from New Zealand.
For one of our finals, we chose an article of interest to us (everyone did something different) and then illustrated it. The illustrations were done in acrylic and watercolor and the layout was done in InDesign.
My last final (and most anticipated assignment):
Agapanthus sp., Watercolor and graphite
By far my favorite piece of the year term, probably because it is a plant portrait in the most classical style. I've never done one of these before and while it was very difficult and time consuming, I felt in the end like it was all worthwhile -- a good first attempt at a botanical portrait. I hope it is the first of many, many more.
This term we are taking Zoological Illustration, Botanical Illustration (yay!), Interactivity and Information Graphics (computer), and Applied Illustration. I'm really excited about all of the classes and hope to get some nice portfolio pieces before the end.
I'll tell you a little more about what's coming in my next post, and I still have one more illustration to show you, it was done earlier in the winter term, but needs a few edits and I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
:)
