COMD 3313, Intro to Illustration, SP26

Class Info

• Date: 3/ 10/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Sketchbook – Sticker set exploration
• Exercise 6: INK TEXTURES (This will count for 2 weeks, 1 per image)
• ASSIGNMENT 2: Development Phase DONE.

Activities

• HANG UP ASSIGNMENT ONE FOR CRITIQUE
• Warm Up

• CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT ONE (if you missed this opportunity last week)

• SKETCHBOOK SHARE – DISCUSS ASSIGNMENT 2
• Exercise

DIGITAL DRAWING & INKING

TOMER HANUKA NINJA TURTLES PROCESS

READ AND PRACTICE:

DIGITAL COLOR

DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION METHODS

—— BREAK ——

CONTINUE Assignment 2 – Themed Sticker Set

• WORK In-Class Lab Time

Begin digital inking and coloring

Due Next Week :

READ AND PRACTICE:

DIGITAL COLOR

DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION METHODS

Assignment 2:

FINAL ART & PROCESS BOOK

Complete the sticker set you liked best, and finish them as a cohesive set of 5–6 illustrated icons demonstrating strong line quality, strong use of color, and visual unity.

• Final full color sticker set (5-6 stickers ranging in size from 3 – 4 inches)

• READY TO PRINT PDF of FULL STICKER SET
• LAYERED PSD FILE OF STICKER SET
  • LINE ART & COLOR ON SEPARATE LAYERS

• PROCESS BOOK

UPLOAD TO DROPBOX

*AND PRINT ART FOR CLASS*

Exercise 6: INK TEXTURES (This will count for 2 weeks, 1 per image)

*I WILL REVIEW AND GRADE ALL EXERCISES THIS WEEK BEFORE MIDTERM GRADES ARE DUE.

Class Info

• Date: 3/ 04/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 5 – INK SWATCHES
• ASSIGNMENT 1: FINAL ART AND PROCESS BOOK  

• Final black-and-white, traditionally inked beverage label approx: 3″x4″ – 4″x6″

UPLOAD TO DROPBOX

*AND BRING ORIGINAL ART TO CLASS*

Activities

• HANG UP YOUR ASSIGNMENT
• Warm Up

• CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT ONE

—— BREAK ——

Introduce Assignment 2 – Themed Sticker Set

• WORK In-Class Lab Time

Begin 100 Things List

Due Next Week :

Assignment 2:

Part 1 – The 100 Things List (Required)

Create a written list of 100 Things You Like (To Draw). This list is a creative survival tool.

Part 2 – Exploration Phase (4–5 Mini Themes)

Choose 4–5 directions to explore. Each direction must include a Pinterest board and thorough sketchbook exploration.

Development Phase – Choose ONE direction you like best, to design a cohesive set of 5–6 illustrated icons demonstrating strong line quality and visual unity. You can finalize these sketches traditionally or digitally on velum, copy paper, or digitally – but we will INK in class next week.

Exercise 6: INK TEXTURES (This will count for 2 weeks, 1 per image)

Class Info

• Date: 2/ 25/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 4 – INK WARM UPS – in your sketchbook, do an ink warm-up – then draw swatches as per the example.
• NEW: Assignment 1 — Label Illustration (Research, Ideation, Thumbnails) 
• READ: Design Driving Industry
• READ: Label Inspiration
• READ ABOUT INK LINES

Topic: CONCEPT SKETCH to FINAL

Activities

• Weekly Sketchbook Share
  • small group sketchbook share
• Warm Up

Lecture: INTRO TO INK

In-Class Demos

• MORE Digital Techniques for Analog Art 
• Refining your CONCEPT SKETCH to FINAL ART

• CRITIQUE CONCEPT SKETCHES FOR ASSIGNMENT ONE
  • Hang your concept sketches on the wall. We will be critiquing your sketches as a group.
• REVIEW – EX 4 INK WARM UPS TOGETHER
• DISCUSS INTRO to INK READING
• SET UP to work on your final art in class. – Bristol Board, light box, tape, inking

—— BREAK ——

• WORK In-Class Lab Time

Due Next Week

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 5 – INK SWATCHES
• ASSIGNMENT 1: (FULL ASSIGNMENT BELOW)

FINAL ART AND PROCESS BOOK – DUE March 04 

• Final black-and-white, traditionally inked beverage label approx: 3″x4″ – 4″x6″

UPLOAD TO DROPBOX:

• 300 DPI print-ready JPG

• PDF process book including:

*AND BRING ORIGINAL ART TO CLASS*

EXAMPLES OF PROCESS BOOKS

• TIPS AND TRICKS
• PEN & INK TOOLS
• READ ABOUT INK LINES:

Class Info

• Date: 2/ 18/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 3 – VERY BORING THINGS – in your sketchbook, do an ink warm-up – then draw some “very boring things” in ink. Draw as many as you can, while still paying careful attention to LINE WEIGHT and CONTOUR. (HINT: READ ABOUT INK LINES first.)
• NEW: Assignment 1 — Label Illustration (Research, Ideation, Thumbnails) 
• READ: Design Driving Industry
• READ: Label Inspiration
• READ ABOUT INK LINES

Topic: CONCEPT SKETCH & INTRO TO INK

Activities

Sketchbook

• Weekly Sketchbook Share
  • small group sketchbook share & introductions
  • Warm Up

Lecture: NO LECTURE

FINISH CLASS CRITIQUE of EXERCISE 2 TEA BOX REBOOT

In-Class Demos

• Basics Digital Techniques for Analog Art 
• Refining your CONCEPT SKETCH to FINAL ART
• INTRO to INK
• In-Class Lab
• WORK ON CONCEPT SKETCHES FOR ASSIGNMENT ONE
• PRACTICE INK TEXTURES

Due Next Week

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 5 – INK WARM UPS – SWATCHES
• NEW: Assignment 1 — 2-3 CONCEPT SKETCHES

FINAL ART AND PROCESS BOOK NEXT DUE: Week 06 | March 04 

EXAMPLES OF PROCESS BOOKS

• TIPS AND TRICKS
• PEN & INK TOOLS
• READ ABOUT INK LINES:

Class Info

• Date: 2/ 11/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 2 – Tea Box Reboot: Final Designs 
• READ: Visual Vocabulary
• READ: CH 3-5 Dr. Jessica Boehman

Topic: ILLUSTRATION PROCESS & ASSIGNMENT 1

Activities

Sketchbook

• Weekly Sketchbook Share
  • small group sketchbook share & introductions
  • Warm Up

Lecture: ILLUSTRATION PROCESS & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

CLASS CRITIQUE of EXERCISE 2 TEA BOX REBOOT

In-Class Demo 

• Basics Digital Techniques for Analog Art 
• Refining your CONCEPT SKETCH to FINAL ART
• INTRO to INK supplies

In-Class Lab

• INTRODUCE ASSIGNMENT ONE
• CRAFT LABELS
• BEGIN ASSIGNMENT ONE

NAME GENERATORS:

https://thestoryshack.com/tools/drink-name-generator

https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/drink-names.php

Due Next Week

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 3 – VERY BORING THINGS – in your sketchbook, do an ink warm-up – then draw some “very boring things” in ink. Draw as many as you can, while still paying careful attention to LINE WEIGHT and CONTOUR. (HINT: READ ABOUT INK LINES first.)
• NEW: Assignment 1 — Label Illustration (Research, Ideation, Thumbnails) 
• Practice Analog to Digital skills demo from class
• READ: Design Driving Industry
• READ: Label Inspiration
• READ ABOUT INK LINES:

Class Info

• Date: 2/ 4/ 26

To-Do Before Class

• Read and Comment On: Free Photoshop Tutorials
• Exercise Week 1: Thumbnails & Iterations
• START YOUR WEEKLY SKETCHBOOK
• READ: What is Illustration? – John Hendrix
• READ: CH1-2 Dr. Jessica Boehman
• Join this Openlab Site
• Purchase Supplies

Topic: ILLUSTRATION PROCESS & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Activities

Discussion

• Wrap Up, Week 1

Sketchbook

• Weekly Sketchbook Share
  • small group sketchbook share & introductions
  • Warm Up … Add to the drawing jar!

DISCUSS: JOHN HENDRIX -This is Culture

WATCH: PBS OFF BOOK the art of illustration

DISCUSS: CH1-2 Dr. Jessica Boehman

Lecture: ILLUSTRATION PROCESS & CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

ILLUSTRATION PROCESS, PART 2:

• Who’s who in the process and what can I expect?
• Typical workflow.  
• Drawing from Reference
• The importance of multiple solutions.  
• Personal Vision         
• Thumbnails: How to and how many is too many?
• What’s next? How do I REFINE my work?

In-Class Demo 

• Basics Digital Techniques for Analog Art 
• Refining your Thumbnails

In-Class Lab

• Continue Exercise 1- Working in teams, choose 1-2 thumbnails that the group feels are the strongest.
• DUE: Exercise 1 — Tea Box Reboot : Thumbnails & Iterations 
• IN CLASS: Design Teams — Refine from Thumbnails to Concept Sketches to Final Art 
• Refine thumbnails as demonstrated today.
• Complete Tight Concept Sketches to share by the end of class. FINALS BY NEXT WEEK IN THE DROPBOX.

NAME GENERATORS:

https://thestoryshack.com/tools/drink-name-generator

https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/drink-names.php

Due Next Week

• Sketchbook visual vocabulary
• Exercise 2 – Tea Box Reboot: Final Designs 
• NEW: Assignment 1 — Label Illustration (Research, Ideation, Thumbnails) 
• Practice Analog to Digital skills demo from class
• READ: Design Driving Industry
• READ: Label Inspiration
• READ: Visual Vocabulary

• READ: CH 3-5 Dr. Jessica Boehman

Class Info

• Date: Wednesday, January 28th
• Course Goals: To familiarize students with the field of illustration, including its basic working methods, industry practices, basic history, and philosophies. Artistic techniques will be taught as well; however, this is a class focused on concept generation and the creation of thoughtful illustrations, as opposed to a drawing or painting technical course.

To-Do Before Class

• Join this Openlab Site
• Join the Discord
• Get on Adobe CS
• Review the Syllabus

Topic

WELCOME TO INTRO TO ILLUSTRATION

Objectives

• To familiarize students with the objectives of the course.
• To establish working practices and clarify expected outcomes.
• To introduce the basics of illustration working practices.
• To introduce concept generation techniques.

Activities

Course Structure and Expectations

• Weekly Warm Ups
• Go over the syllabus
• What to Expect in Class – Course Structure
• How to Navigate this Site
• Critique and Discussion (In Person & on Discord)
• Introduction to the required Weekly Sketchbook Practice SHOW & TELL
• Look at Required Supplies & Software

Lecture

• What is Illustration?   
• Illustrator as visual problem solver. 
• Working Process: Where to begin?  Brainstorming & Research Techniques

In-Class Demo 

• Brainstorm concepts for a new illustration for MINT MAGIC TEA
• Competitive Concept Generation in Small Teams

In class exercise: TEA REBOOT Thumbnails & Iterations in class

Exercise Week 1: Meet the Artist

Review Assignments and Expectations for Next Week’s Class

Due Next Week

• Read and Comment On: Online Discussion
• Read and Comment On: Free Photoshop Tutorials

• TEA REBOOT Thumbnails & Iterations – CONTINUE ON DISCORD
• Meet the Artist Ex 1
• BEGIN WEEKLY SKETCHBOOK (draw objects and spaces from observation that say something about you.) SHARE ON DISCORD
• READ: What is Illustration? – John Hendrix
• READ: CH1-2 Dr. Jessica Boehman
• Join this Openlab Site
• Purchase Supplies