Rendering Progress Report

Remember how I was dying to get our my rendering markers and refresh my skills with Michelle Morelan's, from A Schematic Life, free tutorials? 

Well, I never did find those Chartpak markers in my storage unit, but I did find a kind soul on Craigslist willing to part with her set of 50 Prismacolors for $20. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I said 20 bucks. What a happy camper I am! I immediately went home and tried them out. 

First, by making a chart on bristol board paper:

(Don't be jealous of my hand-writing, guys)

Then I traced this photo I found from a photographer's site (why don't I ever record where I snag pics from?!), by following Michelle's tips on sketchy tracing. I did actually use a skinny Sharpie to outline, although Michelle advises not to because they bleed... which is indeed true. But I didn't have any Copic or Staedter liner pens... that's next on the purchase list for Texas Art supply (my favorite store). Then, I loosely colored everything in with the Prismacolor markers.

Here's my final sketchy drawing. It's definitely not as detailed as Michelle's, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Layering the markers for shadows was key.

Here's another image I used as an underlay. It's from Domino Book of Decorating.

Here's my sketchy rendering. I couldn't quite get the curtains the right color and I had some trouble with the lamp light, but it was a good try, I think.

The details are lacking, compared to Michelle's renderings, so hopefully with my renewed interested in rendering, my skills will be improving! It feels good to get back into something you used to enjoy doing, doesn't it?


xoxo,

 

Hand Rendering

So I've decided to brush up on my rendering skills. With images like these for inspiration, how can I not want to dig out my markers from storage?

 (images from A Schematic Life)

 Usually, when I design, I do the floor plan layout first, test out ideas with thumbnail sketches, and then move straight to Sketchup. However, this leaves out any process drawings to show the client along the way. Hand drawing and rendering is such a valuable skill and I have been neglecting it in favor of technology.

I used to render in school (it was required in a lot of classes). We used a grid technique for turning floor plans into perspectives, then laid down color with markers, and showed highlights/shadows with colored pencils... here are some renderings from my student portfolio. (Please be kind, as these are my STUDENT drawings).

This was an advertising agency project.

I got a little crazy with color, but I think it's my favorite.

 This was a condo design above a bakery as a live/work space. 

This semester I was obviously into neutrals and texture.

 This was a rendering class. I love the modern pieces of furniture and the spiral staircase. 

I must have been into Bauhaus that semester.

I know my rendering markers are all in my storage unit since our big 2009 Scamping Adventure. So I'm going to go dig them out and get started. This tutorial from A Schematic Life has inspired me. You should watch it too, even if purely for entertainment. She is incredible! She uses a marker-only approach that I am anxious to try.

xoxo,