Discussion

• Review Color Relations and finish Pattern Demo from last class.
• Review Midterm Project guidelines
• Review past student work for reference.

Lab

Midterm Project Work

• Choose a Bird from the list provided. Each student will accurately recreate a vector art version of a specific Brooklyn Bird, using a photograph or scientific illustration as a template. Take some time to research your bird and find a clear, preferably hi-res reference image using the sites below:
  • RESEARCH DATA:
    • NYC Audubon
    • NY Bio Diversity
    • All About Birds (Cornell
    • Bird Source
    • New York State Ornithological Association
  • IMAGES:
    • http://www.flickr.com/groups/birds_birds_birds/
    • http://www.flickr.com/groups/birdsphotos/
    • http://www.flickr.com/groups/field_guide_north_amer_birds/
  • AUDIO:
    • http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~tony/birds/index.html
    • http://macaulaylibrary.org/index.do
    • http://www.worldtwitch.com/sound_links.htm
    • http://www.naturesound.com/corepage/core.html
    • http://www.birdjam.com/

• Optimize a COPY of your reference in Photoshop by reducing the number of levels in the continuous tone. First carefully remove the background using pen tool > save path > create selection > inverse > delete. Next adjust/correct the levels. Then use Filter > Artistic > Cutout to keep as much detail as possible, while isolating the shapes that define the form (midtones, highlights, and shadows). NOTE: if your bird’s feet are obscured, include the ground, grass or branch that the bird is perched on.
  Those more advanced students may wish to work directly from the photograph and creatively simplify the reference image, while still keeping an accurate representation of the subject.

• Set Up your document by Placing the optimized reference file (photograph or illustration) and create a template layer. Also Place your original reference image on a layer, call it Color Reference.
• Define your Color Scheme. Your final illustration should have an accurate color scheme with named swatches consistent with your researched sources.  Take samples from your reference (Eyedropper+Shift Key) and add new color swatches to your palette. You may need to modify the color swatches to accurately reflect your bird’s form, coloring, and markings. Refer to your original reference image.
• Use layers for organization. Begin by working in Outline View and using the pen tool block out the largest areas of your illustration on specific named layers.
  For example:
  • Create a layer called BirdShape. On this layer create the silhouette of the bird shape. Toggle to Preview. Select the object and apply a fill color from your color swatches. This color is often a midtone, but refer to your reference for accuracy.
  • Next you might create layers for certain “parts of the bird”: wings, head, body, eyes or instead organize your file based on tone: midtone, shadow, highlight. This is up to you.
  • You will continue to build up your illustration subject by defining the changes in value using shapes for highlights, midtones and darks. This process is similar to building a paper collage.
  • NO STROKE PLEASE! Opt for the development of form using filled shapes.

• By end of class have your project file organized (layers, template, color palette, guides) and main areas blocked out.

Homework

• Midterm Project Work: considerable work toward completion of project.
• Be prepared to present your work in progress for review.