Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Sketching for Environment - Historical Thumbnails

Time for another homework update. This week, I went to what I found to be the most historical building in Burbank.

In 1924, American architect Kenneth MacDonald Jr and Italian sculptor Federico Giorgi constructed the Valhalla Memorial Rotunda to serve as a final resting place for pioneers of aviation, including Amelia Earhart.


The structure was later renamed "The Portal of the Folded Wings", with a replica of the shuttle Challenger being added to the path in front of it.






The main area beyond the shrine serves as a large cemetery.


Now for the sketches. I wanted to focus more on my linework and less on tone. Again, poor image quality, so sorry.








That last one is an interior view of this, in case it wasn't clear.



After I got all sketched out on this building, I spotted a fountain further down the path.







Last, here are some additional studies I did of the Hotel Green in downtown Pasadena.


I think I took steps forward in my composition and staging, but my location didn't have enough overlapping shapes like a city would, so I hope to have more opportunity to explore that.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sketching For Environment - Drawing Downtown



Time for another post regarding my class. This week we had the pleasure of drawing downtown with concept artist Brian Yam! You can check out his work here


The main focus this week for me personally was construction of my image and where to place level of detail. Having a more densely detailed area helps with directing the viewers eye. It was nice to get some perspective on perspective as well, ha. It's actually the least powerful depth cue we have, being trumped by things like size and especially overlap. Objects in relation to each other are much more "real" than any perspective grid can tell you. That's not to say perspective isn't important for believability. I will be posting my hw assignment as well as the drawings later this week.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Sketching for Environment - Week 1

Hey everyone, for those of you who don't know, I'm now a full time 3D artist at a company called Animatic Media. I'm also taking classes at the famous Concept Design Academy in Pasadena. I wanted to post up my first week of hw to keep track of what I'm learning. More posts to come soon!
I should apologize in advance... I just moved out here from Florida, and I don't have access to a scanner or anything, so the quality doesn't look great. I work full time so going to a print shop is tricky, though I might be able to go this week. Anyway, here is the first batch of sketches, I did all interior shots for my first ten.


For this shot, I wanted to divide the space using the metal beam in the center of the bottom floor of the restaurant. I feel this shot is successful in tonal distribution, but I feel it lacks in clarity in some areas.


Another view from the upper floor of the restaurants. For this shot, I had trouble with level of detail and keeping straight lines. I don't want it to look too messy but I also don't want to use a ruler because it slows me down. Guess I need more practice drawing straight!


I picked this shot to achieve flat space, although the table in there helps suggest depth. Another level of detail problem I ran into, whether or not to draw the wood paneling into the wall.


This one was too ambitious, although I actually enjoy it as a quick read. An attempt at deeper space. If you get in close you realize that the detail is faked in a lot of places... but I didn't want to have my thumbnail larger than three inches wide.


This is a view from the top of the stairs. I am pleased with how this came out, I kept the detail to a minimum further away to place emphasis on the foreground rails leading down to the soda bar.


This is a table that I found interesting, not only was it bar seating but it was elevated and cornered, it made for an interesting shot. Tables and chairs are frustrating to me a bit since it's easy to get the perspective wrong, but I kept the sketching fast and quick.


These two "windows" section off another part of the main dining hall. I was trying to figure out if this qualified as limited space.


Changed the angle so that you see more of the roof than the floor, thinking about Bruce Block stuff.


A view from behind the baker counter. I liked the L shape of space created between the counter and the wall. I drew outside the box for this one.


Last of all, the exit by the arcade. Maybe relying on tone too much for this one, it was night outside so it definitely tricked me into toning that dark.

Feedback is welcome. If I can find some time this week, I'll be adding some exteriors to this post, but my full time has made it difficult for me to go out while it's still light.