Category: Assignment Instructions

Some folks ask: What do I owe?

To them I say: You tell me!

Everything asked of you in outlined in the WEEK IN REVIEW! posts — below is a BRIEF SUMMARY of assignments for reference — consult the WEEK IN REVIEW! posts for full information.

Creative fields are often very fast-paced, require quick turn-around‘s, and require creativity, self-motivation, time-management, and communication to resolve any issues. I’m a free-range teacher who will leave you alone to produce your work knowing that I’ve provided the information on what is due, when it’s due, AND that I’m available for questions primarily during Office Hours. Your grade is yours to earn and ignoring due dates and ghosting assignments is as bad for your grades as it would be for your professional career — keep track of things and communicate before the assignment is late.

WEEK 1

• Week 1 Assignment: Horizontal Label Design: 5 inches high 6 inches wide for an aluminum can label wrap around. B&W only. No shading/Smudging. Choose existing beverage to inspire your illustration or create your own.
• Week 1 Sketchbook Assignment: #MeetTheArtist. You may choose to include any information about yourself.

WEEK 2

• SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT: (at least) 30 Thumbnails that detail different options to 1 or more projects you would want to be involved with. Create your own project for the thumbnails to explore concepts — OR — Adapt existing campaigns/products/identities to represent something new. Always draw thumbnail boxes in proportion to your final art! Be sure thumbnails don’t share edges—Leave a space between boxes.
• READING 1) Ideation by Jillian Tamaki: https://www.jilliantamaki.com/new-page-2 READING 2) Being an Art Director: All you need to know: https://www.creativebloq.com/career/art-director-11121180 READING 3) How to Be A Creative Director: Rashida Morgan-Brown: https://theluupe.com/blog/how-to-be-a-creative-director-a-conversation-ebony-magazines-rashida-morgan-brown READING 4 ) Art Director VS. Creative Director: https://elvtr.com/blog/art-director-vs-creative-director READING 5) Illustrator John Hendrix’ keynote address to the ICON Conference of Illustrators:THIS IS CULTURE
• Shared Research: Illustration Spotlights: OPENLAB MAIN PAGE > ACTIVITES > DISCUSSION > Comment with a MINIMUM of 3 Illustrators, Creatives, or Artists who motivate your work, or inspire you. Write a quick 1-2 sentence summary of them, their work, and what you like about it. PROVIDE LINK to socials/website for others to see (make sure link is public/not private)

WEEK 3 Homework

W3 • SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT #1: FIVE (5) ADVANCED THUMBNAILS

• Pencil ONLY, meant for sketchbook • NOT computer/digital brush/drawing app-assisted • Choose a project / thumbnails from your 30 Thumbnails to advance • Provide 5 advanced thumbnails of the project, thinking EVERYTHING OUT. • The goal is not a finished drawing—use pencil techniques to advance concept. • SKETCHES SHOULD BE IN PENCIL & IN PROPORTION TO FINAL PRODUCT….not rhombuses or uneven shapes!!!

W3 • SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT #2: CREATIVE QUILT

• This assignment is a direct response to the part of to W3’s lecture about the 4 basic principles of pencil technique: STIPPLING + HATCHING + CROSS-HATCHING + SCUMBLING/ OTHER TECHNIQUES. DO NOT FILL IN WITH SOLID PENCIL OR SMUDGING! Use various techniques with varying line weight or markings to achieve value. • Pencil ONLY, meant for sketchbook • NOT computer/digital brush/drawing app-assisted

WEEK 4 Homework

W4 • Sketchbook Assignment 1 : Midterm Poster : Step 1 • 8 (EIGHT) THUMBNAILS.

• This is what I want to see: • Your words used to develop the CONCEPT • 8 Different ideas/compositions/approaches • TEXT IS OPTIONAL / 20% OF IMAGE MAX • TOPIC/CLIENT IS UP TO YOU • Thumbnails that use PENCIL TECHNIQUES (hatching + cross-hatching + scumbling + stippling + etc) to quickly convey value in your preliminary sketches.
• Guide yourself through the work that lies ahead, pencil sets the pace for pen!
• FINAL WILL BE: -Inked -On Bristol board/Illustration Stock. -No Digital.

W4 Sketchbook Assignment 2: INK YOUR QUILT

Using a variety of pens and inking techniques, ink the pencil-markings you set created in your quilt last week. Apply care, make it look nice, feel how the brush pen rolls in your hands, identify what size felt-pen is best for your needs.

W4 Sketchbook Assignment 3 : 4 (FOUR) CROSS CONTOUR INK DRAWINGS

• Sketch out an object IN PENCIL, just enough to establish the shape your contour lines will follow. • Use PEN/BRUSH PEN to create cross-contour lines across sketch • This is a VARYING-LINE-WEIGHT exercise—If your contour lines all appear the same width/thickness, you are not doing the assignment right. Give your pencil sketch volume by inking it with lines that accentuates its -TEXTURE -LIGHTING -DEPTH -FORM.

WEEK 5 Homework

W5 • SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT #1: INK 2 ABSTRACT INTERIOR DRAWINGS

• USE SHARPIE PRIMARILY •Exploration, NOT perfection • Break down environment into simple shapes/lines/markings • Include as much information (simply) as you can

W5 • SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENT #2: MID-TERM STEP 2: 4 ADVANCED THUMBNAILS

• 1) PICK 1 (ONE) OF YOUR W4 THUMBNAILS • TEXT IS OPTIONAL / 20% OF IMAGE MAX • TOPIC/CLIENT IS ESTABLISHED! • CONCEPT IS ESTABLISHED!
• 2) REFERENCING THAT 1 THUMBNAIL, PENCIL 4 ADVANCED THUMBNAILS BASED OFF THAT 1 THUMBNAIL • SHOW DIFFERENT APPROACHES OF THAT 1 CHOSEN THUMBNAIL
• EXPLORE & REFINE COMPOSITION • EXPLORE & REFINE IDEAS & ESTABLISH VALUE • ADVANCED THUMBS RESEMBLE FINAL • THUMBNAILS PROPORTION TO FINAL SIZE: 4.25˝ x 6˝ IS THE MINIMUM FOR THIS STAGE • PENCIL TECHNIQUES & VALUE ON DISPLAY: HATCHING + CROSS-HATCHING + SCUMBLING + STIPPLING + ETC

WEEK 6

• Poster Midterm 2:3 – Fully PENCILLED Poster in actual size (8.5˝w x 12˝h) on Bristol Board/Illustration Board. This poster dimensions mirror 24×36 at a much smaller scale, but serve the same purpose.
• STEP 1) Choose ONE Advanced Thumbnail and convert that to 8.5˝ x 12˝
• Your PENCILS on 8.5˝w x 12˝h should be a MORE refined version of your Advanced thumbnails previously.
• Pencils! NOT INKS (patience, we will get there)
• This would essentially be a version you could hand to someone else and THEY would ink it as YOU would because the pencils are essentially a penciled version of your final inked version.
• Have EVERY aspect mapped out, this should look like an un-inked version of your final Inked poster. Converting all of your problem solving in the thumbnails phase to the final piece, you are ready to pick up a pen and ink knowing how you will execute all parts on the page. DO NOT FALL BEHIND! DELIVERY OF A FULLY INKED POSTER ON WEEK 8
• Document every phase & DON’T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF. Don’t start inks until Week 7, get your pencils right first!

• W6 • Sketchbook Exercise #1: Ink FIVE Value Studies
  • 5 “acceptable” Value Studies done with •Hatching •Cross-Hatching •Stippling •Scumbling •Your Choice
  • Acceptable = 1 value study includes 5 progressive Squares
  • Acceptable = No smudging!
  • Acceptable = No Large Gaps in value!
  • 5 is not the limit—5 is the REQUIREMENT. Produce as many Value Studies as needed to get 5 good ones—I will call you out on it!!

WEEK 7

• Poster Midterm 2:3 – Fully INKED Poster in actual size (8.5˝w x 12˝h) on Bristol Board/Illustration Board. This poster dimensions mirror 24×36 at a much smaller scale, but serve the same purpose.
  • MUST INCLUDE (AT LEAST) 3 INKING TECHNIQUES (line-weight +stipple +hatching +etc)

WEEK 8 TK

• Nooooooooope.

WEEK 9 TK

• Your assignment is…to be patient.

WEEK 10 TK

• WILL YOU EVEN MAKE IT THIS FAR?!?!!?