A major consideration is the light source. The old rule of thumb used in architectural perspectivist is that the light source should come from over the left shoulder. This configuration puts one face of the building in bright light and the other in shadow, which makes it easier for the viewer to understand the structure.
Consider the doctor, plumber, architect, lawyer, or building inspector ... These are all professionals just like us, the architectural illustrator. They have been educated in their craft. They have spent years working in the field, and in some cases, earning their degrees, but credentialing is a valuable and recognized part of our career.
Below is my list, of desktop publishing applications, that I would like to get certified in, during the year 2012. I spent over 20 years mastering many applications, so I thought it was time to get certified in some of them.
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
- Adobe Photoshop®
- Adobe AfterEffects®
- Adobe InDesign®
- Adobe Premiere®
- 3ds Max Design 2011 Certified Professional
- Revit Architecture 2012 Certified Professional
- CompTIA Healthcare
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) Certificate
I'll post update, and my certificate credentials, as I work through my lists.
Yesterday afternoon, I spoke to a group of local college students, on the topic of computer graphics. One thing I stressed was, get your degree, so you can get a job, and then begin to learn.
Below is my top 25, best of the best, online learning resources. Some of these sites are pay and some are free. Not all of the sites are specific to computer graphics.
One thing I've learned over the years is you have to learn the rules before you can break them. Art is art whether it's on paper, canvas, cave wall, or computer screen. Without the basic knowledge of composition, you're not producing art.
I literally went through hundreds of my bookmarks to compile this list of 25. Please, check back often, because I'm sure the list will grow.
- http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums - Is the developer of the V-Ray rendering engine and provides fast rendering solutions for CGI - 3D animation, architectural and VFX studios, games ...
- http://www.digitaltutors.com - Since 2000, we've been a dedicated team of artists, professionals, representatives and problem-solvers who are truly passionate about teaching the people around the globe who make movies and games.
- http://www.lynda.com - Deliver a learning experience that exceeds our members’ expectations.
- http://www.youtube.com - Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. See our company timeline for more information on our company history.
- http://www.pencilkings.com - Learn how to draw cartoons by following along with our video lessons from professional artists and instructors. Unlock your inner artist today!
- http://www.sensationalcolor.com - Color Advice and Insights from the Experts: Color Meaning, Symbolism, Psychology, Color for Your Home, Color Schemes, Color Combinations, Color Trends, Quotes about Color
- http://www.beloose.com - BeLoose is a workshop where the experience will definitely change people's lives and increase their confidence beyond their expectation.
- http://www.deviantart.com - Art - community of artists and those devoted to art. Digital art, skin art, themes, wallpaper art, traditional art, photography, poetry / prose. Art prints.
- http://www.drawing-tutorials-online.com - Do you have a passion for drawing but lack certain skills? Would you like to earn a living as an artist but are unsure of where to start ? This one of a kind membership site will provide you with both technical drawing skills as well as sound career advice.
- http://artistsnetwork.tv - Learn techniques for lighting the subject, proportion, painting features, and more as you paint a stunning portrait, reminiscent of the masters--giving you the knowledge you need to create your own portrait paintings!
- http://psd.tutsplus.com - Fortunately, it isn't required to go to design school in order to be a graphic designer. A good foundation in graphic design history, theory, and practica
- http://cgworkshop.org -CG WORKSHOP is an on line service created to enhance 3d artist knowledge providing video tutorials, 3d models and training in many cgi areas. CGW is a cell of MOTYW studio, company that combines architecture with computer graphic. Explore our site, play with available models and presets, have fun.
- http://cg.tutsplus.com - Cgtuts+ is a source of learning on all aspects of computer graphics. We pump out regular tutorials on Maya, 3Ds Max, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Blender, Mudbox and more. We cater to beginner, intermediate and advanced CG artists.
- http://www.3dmotive.com - Join 3dmotive.com and get instant access to top notch training content streamed in HD. You’ll learn tips, workflows and techniques directly from game industry pros.
- http://www.khanacademy.org - With a library of over 2,700 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and 253 practice exercises, we're on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.
- http://www.vray-studio.com - VRayART LTD is a multimedia development company that stands behind this project, established in 2009. Since then we have created over a thousand different applications, including games, presentations, websites, 3D visualizations, also medical and Hi-Tec simulations. Our clients stand in the front lines of future developments. By joining our forces with them we create high end applications at super quality standards.
- http://curriculum.autodesk.com - Creativity and design play a significant role in every part of our lives, here you will find a new approach to design, sustainability, and creative problem-solving using Autodesk software.
- http://www.digital-photography-school.com - Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography.
- http://kelbytv.com/photoshopusertv - The weekly Photoshop TV show featuring "The Photoshop Guys" Scott Kelby, Dave Cross and Matt Kloskowski. Presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP).
- http://www.creativecow.net - Support communities for digital video, video editing, and media production professionals in broadcasting, motion graphics, special FX and film. Home to the top-rated Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid, Discreet Combustion, Media 100 844x and Pinnacle Cinewave user forums support communities, dedicated to digital video production professionals.
- http://www.mentalboutmax.biz - 3ds Max, Mental Ray, Vray, 3D, Rendering, Raytracing, Global Illumination, Photons, Final Gather, Irradiance Map, Image Sampling, Video Training, Vray Tutorials, Mental Ray Tutorials, 3ds Max tutorials, Anti Aliasing, Modelling, Lighting, VFX, MentalBoutMax
- http://www.thecgschool.com - 3DATS, LLC provides high quality training solutions for design visualization professionals. Our products and services include customized training, 3D design consultation, training books and DVDs, as well as some of the best content available in the visualization industry.
- http://www.openculture.com - Get free online courses from the world’s leading universities. This collection includes over 250 free courses in the liberal arts and sciences.
- http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/speakers_vftt - The student-run speaker series brings well-respected leaders of business and social sector communities to campus to share their views of leadership with student audiences. Speakers discuss their leadership style, personal vision, and strategies for success.
- http://www.wetcanvas.com - WetCanvas: Cyber Living for Artists
What does color mean, and how does it make you feel? I once heard that a color doesn't exist, unless it has a name. A rendering or illustration should tell a story. Do you want to make your viewer feel happy or sad, calm or excited, color can help you accomplish your goal of telling a story.
HOW THE COLOR GREEN AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Soothes
- Relaxes mentally, as well as physically Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety
- Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony
HOW THE COLOR BLUE EFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Calms and sedates Cools
- Aids intuition
HOW THE COLOR YELLOW AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Stimulates mental processes
- Stimulates the nervous system
- Activates memory
- Encourages communication
HOW THE COLOR ORANGE AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Stimulates activity
- Stimulates appetite
- Encourages socialization
HOW THE COLOR RED AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Increases enthusiasm
- Stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate Encourages action and confidence
- Provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety
HOW THE COLOR PURPLE AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Uplifts
- Calms the mind and nerves
- Offers a sense of spirituality
- Encourages creativity
HOW THE COLOR PINK AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Bright pinks, like the color red, stimulate energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate.
- They also encourage action and confidence. Pink has been used in prison holding cells to effectively reduce erratic behavior.
HOW THE COLOR BROWN AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Supplies a feeling of wholesomeness stabilizes
- Provides a connection with the earth gives a sense orderliness
HOW THE COLOR GRAY AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Unsettles
- Creates expectations
HOW THE COLOR BLACK AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Makes one feel inconspicuous
- Provides a restful emptiness
- Is mysterious by evoking a sense of potential and possibility
HOW THE COLOR WHITE AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
- Aids mental clarity
- Encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles Evokes purification of thoughts or actions
- Enables fresh beginnings
To check your rendering for balance, you can squint your eyes, which helps you concentrate on shapes and lines, avoiding all the detail. Your rendering will never look complete, until you achieve balance in your composition. To show you the value of squinting, here is a squint/spatial illusion
On a close-up view, you can see on the left face, an angry man and on the right face, a woman with a neutral facial emotion. But further back, the faces change expression and even genders! if you squint, blink, or defocus, an angry man should substitute for the face of the woman, and the left angry face should not be angry anymore.
This impressive illusion created by Dr. Aude Oliva and Dr. Philippe G. Schyns, illustrates the ability of the visual system to separate information coming from different spatial frequency channels. In the right image, high Spatial Frequencies (HSF) represent a woman with a neutral facial expression, mixed with the low spatial frequency (LSF) information from the face of an angry man. On the left, the face of the angry man is represented in fine details whereas the underlying female face is made of blur only ("blobs")
Too often we start the technical part of a rendering (building a 3D model) when, in fact, we should be developing a mood. It may seem like semantics, but it certainly isn’t. A rendering by itself is simply a static image. A mood is a strategy that tells your story through imagery and color.
Computer Off
Every rendering or illustration needs to start with a pencil in your hand and your computer turned off. Don’t jump into your rendering software until you’ve done your homework and have pages of sketches. If you skip this step, you’re letting the computer design and you’ll end up with a rendering without heart.
Describe the Mood
Before we even sketch, take out that paper and pencil and begin to write down words that describes your rendering or illustration, the culture, the people in the community who will use the space, what people will find when they arrive, etc. This helps to find a foundation to build your rendering on. Just because your building is 30,000 ft.², and three stories, doesn't mean, you have to show everything in one view (sorry architects). Instead, your rendering should tell your story.
Sketching Time
Once you’ve written out this list of words that make up your story, now you can begin to isolate the main threads that run through your intent. Now, you can begin to sketch with the goal of putting into visual terms these key concepts. Sketch and sketch and sketch. Put the paper down, go take a walk downtown, play catch with your kids, pull yourself away and refresh. Now, go back and sketch some more. Now Use the Computer Now take a look at your sketches, highlight those that jump out at you… now you can turn the computer on.
Many times the most captivating characteristics about a subject is the feeling invoked in the viewer. For example, the energy of a bustling street scene or the serenity of a peaceful meadow can be captivating. So how do you translate the mood of the scene to the screen? In general, warm colors portray a sunny, upbeat mood, whereas cool colors seem more calm or mysterious. For example, a sunlit field of bright yellow flowers seems cheerful and invigorating, where is a quiet harbor blanketed in blue-gray fog appears serene and still.
In this rendering, of an unused roof deck, I wanted to create a mood of a hot summer day. The building owner wanted to convert the roof deck into a patio space. The concept was to convert a cold space into a warm space, which I accomplished by using color.
Here, is the same rendering, only using cool colors, to create a more mysterious mood. I created a night scene, but I changed the ambient light, and kept the warmth contrasts of the artificial lights.
So, as you can see, just by the use of color I can change the mood and invoke a whole different feeling.
As you start creating digital art, try not to be too hard on yourself. You learn more from your mistakes than you learn from your successes. At the same time, don't go overlooking improvements you see in your techniques. With a lot of screen time and a lot of patience you'll, be illustrating like a pro in no time. Guard your identity! it's tempting to copy an artist you admire. However, if you genuinely desire to succeed as an artist, you want to allow your own artistic spirit to come through your work.
As long as you're consistently developing as an artist, your work will continue changing, and your style will continue to grow.
Having said that, artists have been creating art for a long time. Use your favorite search engine, or go to the library, and explore all different types of art. By studying works of art, you can discover different techniques, and styles, that you can use to develop your own skills.
Last month my son Benjamin, who is turning eight this month, had a hard day at school. After some bribing with the potential of longer computer privileges, Benjamin shared with me his troubles. Ben, who has Asperger's, told me kids at school were saying he was not normal. I told Ben, "nobody remembers normal". With the point of entry into computer graphics lowering I am seeing a lot of computer architectural illustrations being posted online. The majority of these illustrations are extremely limited and do not take into consideration the fundamentals of art. I compare this trend to the point-and-click camera. Most of us have a camera on are cell phone. Everybody can point and click to snap a photo. But not everybody takes a treasured photo.
Most computer architectural illustrations I'm seeing have a blue sky, puffy white clouds, and lack personality. These illustrations bore me and I find little excitement looking at them. Technically they might be accurate but creatively they lack substance.
Typically, in an architectural illustration, you'll see a clear blue sky, puffy white clouds, and apple green grass. Architecture's original purpose was to take us out of the elements. Try some dramatic lighting, perhaps the calm before the storm, or the calm after the storms. Concentrate your efforts on giving people a reason to go inside and get out of the storm with some bright sunny interior illustrations.
My point is straightforward. Anybody can pick up a camera or their cell phone and take a photo. Not many people know what makes a picture or rendering meritorious, they just know that it is. If all you create is blue skies with white puffy clouds and green grass your architectural illustrations will be normal, and nobody remembers normal.
Looking back at our lives, we all remember people and places, that were not expected. Referring back to my son Benjamin, his favorite Wonder Years episode, was the one with Margaret Farquhar. We all remember the Margaret Farquhars in our lives, because they were not normal.
Architectural illustrators play a supporting and essential role in the process of rendering designs for structures and buildings of all kinds. This skill set allows for architectural firms to maintain healthy relationships between the client and the contractor. This is essential in the long, and sometimes difficult and expensive, process required to carry a design from dream to reality. A accomplished architectural illustrator should also be aware of the wide range of techniques available to the professional.
The way in which clients hire architectural illustrators may depend on the specific type of structure involved. Industrial and commercial clients, for instance, may deal with illustrators only through large architectural firms. People proactively involved in designing a residential building for themselves, on the other hand, may directly engage illustratrors to craft designs for them. Moreover, regardless of whether the building involved is a house, factory or storefront, people can choose between specialized illustrators or illustrator and architect partnerships.
Illustrators can allow clients to conceive of how different details will be used in a structure. For example, illustrations might render the landscape surrounding the house, industrial workplace or commercial facility. Design drafts could also lay out the details of a building's floor plan and interior. Architectural illustrators effectively create models uniting all of these different elements, most effectively with 3D software. Builders can also take advantage of illustrators by employing them to create images of homes to show to potential buyers. In short, people involved in the home or workplace construction process should never overlook the benefits potentially offered by architectural illustratos.