The Heard Farms series of architectural renderings have a story, like them all. However, I learned a couple of new things from these. Well, I guess I didn't learn; I was reminded of a couple of things.
The fine folks of the Heard Farm team were a pleasure to work with. They reached out to me with a few dozen views, but they peered down to these 15 interior and exterior renderings after considering their budget. The designer did his renderings that he did in another software but he wasn't satisfied. They were not bad, and after looking at them, I saw mainly a lack of suitable composition. They provided me their Revit models, which I had to model over to get what I needed. Initially, I used their camera to get past the initial stages (broad brush). I intended to dive deep into the composition (more delicate brush), to correct what I initially saw as the image's weakness.
This is lesson one. I should have shown my version first; this way they wouldn't have compared them with what they already thought they liked. I mean, they wouldn't pick out camera views that they thought would fail, now would they? When I set up my cameras, I always try to have a solid focal point. I use light and shadow to direct the viewer to that focal point. Subtle depth of field, leading lines, and framing are tools I use to accomplish a strong composition.
Lesson two was, I am a comercial illustrastor. I like to think of myself as an artist. I have drawn my whole life, since a child, and I love art. Every architectural rendering I do, I try to create art (creative skill and imagination). Sometimes I forget that I am hired to create renderings, and the renderings are not mine. I can suggest things, but untimely, I am engaged in doing a job.
These architectural renderings turned out good, and my client was pleased, which is my ultimate goal. I need to remember that my client's happiness is the priority and if they are happy, so I am.
I have decided to create my own art again to please my own soul. I think it'll be houses, but in pencil and maybe some urban sketching.
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