1st process step:
The first step to this project is tracing artifacts. We first picked up three things we wanted to use for tracing, then used the pen tool in Illustrator to outline the objects we chose. During the process, I focused not only on making the lines precise and smooth but also on the colors and line hierarchy. This way will benefit my logo designs later on. Then we experimented with the Pathfinder tool in Illustrator to combine the objects we traced and made logos out of them. These logos would be used in the project later on. It was a very interesting process, I learned how to manipulate objects through different tools to give them a completely different look and meaning.
2nd process step:
The next step is to find a place in school that’s either 2 point perspectives or 1 point perspective. I chose the 1 point perspective hallway on the fifth floor, thinking it would be easier to draw. However I was very wrong. The proportions were very hard to find, the curved pipes were even harder to sketch. Then, we were to scan our drawing into Illustrator or Photoshop, afterwards, trace the entire drawing, showing line hierarchy. In order the make the lines perfectly vertical or horizontal, I had to pull out many guiding lines, the process was a lot harder than I imagined. During the process of tracing, I realized my proportions were quite wrong with some parts of the drawing, it took a long time to adjust them to the right proportions. However, I wanted to make my work to be as precise and detailed as possible, therefore, it took a bit longer than most of my peers in class for me to finish. The result was quite nice.
3rd process step:
The third step was to develop ideas on how to manipulate the space. I was inspired by the floating scenes in the movie Shape of Water, which the main character was floating in her room filled with water, along with some floating furnitures. I used this idea to determine my color palette. I was also inspired by the idea of underwater river, which was recently discovered in the Black Sea. I also wanted to incorporate the underwater river in my work. There were many technical difficulties in how to blend the underwater river in with the floor, and how to make it look more like it was another layer of water under water. Then there was the problem of how to realistically present the lights on the ceiling and make them look like they were lit up. The placements of the floating furnitures were also a challenge. Above is a process of picture of my work.
Final Product:
Reflection:
This project lasted for around three weeks, as I spent a very long time on each process. Each process was a challenging experience for me. First, trying to find the right proportions of the hallway, going into details while trying not to make the drawing messy. Then realizing despite the effort in trying to drawing the proportions right, I still did a clumsy job while tracing it on Photoshop. It took me a long time to adjust each section of the drawings to the right proportion. Determining which line should be thicker, which line should be lighter, which part of the drawing to trace and which part not to was also a challenge, because if I had traced everything, the drawing would look way too crowded and messy, adding objects and colors later would make the work even more complicated, and it would loose its focus.
However, apart from all the challenges I have encountered, I feel like my drawing skills, and my proportions are more accurate. This project helped in in developing more creative ideas and it was very fun to experiment with different tools from photoshop and illustrator. I have also learnt the importance of composition and how to effectively combine different colors to convey ideas.
