10/12/2018 - Critical Report
In this brief summary I intend to describe the methods/media used for the five rendering projects as well as analyse the design outcomes.
In addition to the Windsor & Newton Brushmarkers, gouache and acrylic paints I ended up using, I also tried pastel, pastel pencil and coloured pencil. However, I found it hard not to make these attempts look like childish scribbles.
In addition to the Windsor & Newton Brushmarkers, gouache and acrylic paints I ended up using, I also tried pastel, pastel pencil and coloured pencil. However, I found it hard not to make these attempts look like childish scribbles.
BATF Goblet
The goblet design was by far the easiest. It was done as part of our summer holiday work, and as such, did not suffer from time pressure.
As a rule, I cannot draw something purely from my imagination, I must have some form of physical visual reference. Once I’d decided on the organic form for my goblet, I mocked it up with plasticine.
This worked surprisingly well, and the resulting render was pretty quickly done.
I used Windsor & Newton Brushmarkers and an opaque white gel pen on a mid-grey Canford paper.
I’ve included a hammered sample of metal, on the presentation board, to illustrate the technique and curvature that is possible.
Although my design is totally impractical (i.e. hard to manufacture, drink from and clean) I am very happy with it and would love to have seen it made.
The goblet design was by far the easiest. It was done as part of our summer holiday work, and as such, did not suffer from time pressure.
As a rule, I cannot draw something purely from my imagination, I must have some form of physical visual reference. Once I’d decided on the organic form for my goblet, I mocked it up with plasticine.
This worked surprisingly well, and the resulting render was pretty quickly done.
I used Windsor & Newton Brushmarkers and an opaque white gel pen on a mid-grey Canford paper.
I’ve included a hammered sample of metal, on the presentation board, to illustrate the technique and curvature that is possible.
Although my design is totally impractical (i.e. hard to manufacture, drink from and clean) I am very happy with it and would love to have seen it made.
BAMS Medal
At the start of term, the medal carved from wax last year, was the first rendering I started. And it was the last one I finished.
The problem was that I thought I’d be able to print out pale black & white photographs of the medal and simply “colour it in”. The first experiment I did with Brushmarkers and an opaque white Posca brush pen. It looked great but was on a failed printout that had half the medal missing, so I wasn’t able to submit it. I then spent the rest of the module trying unsuccessfully to recreate the effect.
Ultimately, the printout provided shading which showed through the pen. This, although effective, I felt was cheating, so I had to try and achieve the same look with pens alone.
I’m not totally happy with the result, I think it looks very flat despite choosing another patterned paper to do it on. However, I think it conveys the design sufficiently.
At the start of term, the medal carved from wax last year, was the first rendering I started. And it was the last one I finished.
The problem was that I thought I’d be able to print out pale black & white photographs of the medal and simply “colour it in”. The first experiment I did with Brushmarkers and an opaque white Posca brush pen. It looked great but was on a failed printout that had half the medal missing, so I wasn’t able to submit it. I then spent the rest of the module trying unsuccessfully to recreate the effect.
Ultimately, the printout provided shading which showed through the pen. This, although effective, I felt was cheating, so I had to try and achieve the same look with pens alone.
I’m not totally happy with the result, I think it looks very flat despite choosing another patterned paper to do it on. However, I think it conveys the design sufficiently.
GCDC Condiment Set
Like the medal, I started this rendering by printing out a pale black & white photo of the actual salt & pepper shakers made last year.
Again, the shading was provided by the photo but in this case, I didn’t feel it worked. Plus, the original objects were a bit wonky, so considerable Photoshop touching up was needed.
In the end, I modelled the shakers in Rhino to get a good orthographic view I could work with.
Unfortunately, my shakers consist of mostly flat surfaces, which are very difficult and boring to render. My solution was to find a piece of pre-printed patterned paper to work on. The one I chose had red brick effect and provided a touch of texture that showed through the pen work. I built up the colour using light strokes that added more texture and interest to the flat surfaces.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the final rendering. It’s not particularly realistic, but I think it’s attractive and effective.
Like the medal, I started this rendering by printing out a pale black & white photo of the actual salt & pepper shakers made last year.
Again, the shading was provided by the photo but in this case, I didn’t feel it worked. Plus, the original objects were a bit wonky, so considerable Photoshop touching up was needed.
In the end, I modelled the shakers in Rhino to get a good orthographic view I could work with.
Unfortunately, my shakers consist of mostly flat surfaces, which are very difficult and boring to render. My solution was to find a piece of pre-printed patterned paper to work on. The one I chose had red brick effect and provided a touch of texture that showed through the pen work. I built up the colour using light strokes that added more texture and interest to the flat surfaces.
Overall, I’m quite happy with the final rendering. It’s not particularly realistic, but I think it’s attractive and effective.
GCDC NAJ Chair’s Pin
This render was my most problematic. I started out using gouache but found that the white and black layers were blending more than I wanted. The shield background remains gouache, but the white unicorns were eventually done in acrylic, so that each layer was permanent when dry.
In total, the unicorns are made up of over 4 layers as I reapplied a white layer every time I was unhappy.
I am very pleased with the final design and render, and think I achieved a vaguely metallic impression. In order to get the highlights and shadows correct, I ended up buying an old metal sculpture of a horse and putting it in a lightbox with lighting angled to suit.
This render was my most problematic. I started out using gouache but found that the white and black layers were blending more than I wanted. The shield background remains gouache, but the white unicorns were eventually done in acrylic, so that each layer was permanent when dry.
In total, the unicorns are made up of over 4 layers as I reapplied a white layer every time I was unhappy.
I am very pleased with the final design and render, and think I achieved a vaguely metallic impression. In order to get the highlights and shadows correct, I ended up buying an old metal sculpture of a horse and putting it in a lightbox with lighting angled to suit.
GCDC Neckpiece
This was the final render I attempted, and I think it shows the improvement I’ve made over the course of the module. We didn’t have any instruction on rendering gold, so I had to work out for myself what colours were best to use. I ended up with yellow ochre and burnt umber gouache.
I modelled the piece in Rhino in order to figure out the complicated design which allowed me to arrange the form over a mocked-up female torso, move the viewpoint around and get a vague impression of the shadows and highlights.
The tiny diamonds were incredibly difficult to show, and they are the worst part of this render.
Of all the designs, this is the one I’m most proud of and would most like to see made.
This was the final render I attempted, and I think it shows the improvement I’ve made over the course of the module. We didn’t have any instruction on rendering gold, so I had to work out for myself what colours were best to use. I ended up with yellow ochre and burnt umber gouache.
I modelled the piece in Rhino in order to figure out the complicated design which allowed me to arrange the form over a mocked-up female torso, move the viewpoint around and get a vague impression of the shadows and highlights.
The tiny diamonds were incredibly difficult to show, and they are the worst part of this render.
Of all the designs, this is the one I’m most proud of and would most like to see made.