Independent Illustrator Artwork Project
Create a complex Illustrator Artwork from the options below:
Option #1:
Complex Character Illustration Assignment:
Using Illustrator, create an original complex illustration with characters that you have invented. Create an illustrated world with a background environment and a minimum of 3 original characters interacting.
This can be a stand alone artwork, a video game concept, a concept for an animated movie, or a children’s illustrated book or graphic novel.
Requirements:
What you will turn in:
Option #1:
Complex Character Illustration Assignment:
Using Illustrator, create an original complex illustration with characters that you have invented. Create an illustrated world with a background environment and a minimum of 3 original characters interacting.
This can be a stand alone artwork, a video game concept, a concept for an animated movie, or a children’s illustrated book or graphic novel.
Requirements:
- A minimum of 3 original characters. They must be completely original and invented by you. (No copying other artists. No Mickey Mouse, no Pokemon, no Halo characters, no existing videogame characters, etc.)
- A minimum of 3 original background objects, for example a tree, cloud, flower, mushroom, etc. (no preset symbols).
- Create a complex background/environment for your characters.
- Advanced use of Illustrator: pen tool, gradients, mesh tool, blends, transparency, etc.
- Insightful use of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
- Dynamic Composition and layout.
- Complex shapes and layering of shapes to create dimension and depth.
- Use of color: use a color scheme including a range of values with tints and shades.
- Use of varying opacity and layers.
What you will turn in:
- A document that has only your 3 original characters and 3 significant background objects (ie tree, cloud, flower, mushroom) on a blank background. Label this “Yourlastname-characters.jpeg”
- The final “Complex Character illustration” with all your characters interacting in the original world. Label this “Yourlastname-CCI. jpeg”
Professional Examples
Student Examples
Option #2
Digital Circlism Artwork:
Create a digital circlism artwork in the style of Ben Heine:
Requirements:
1) Create a portrait using the Digital Circlism Technique.
Must have at least 3 overlapping or concentric circles with cast shadows built up on the portrait.
2) Must include a process document showing at least 5 stages of your artwork from beginning, to middle to end.
What is “Digital Circlism”? -
It is a modern artistic expression, a mix of Pop Art and Pointillism. It is made with digital tools usually featuring celebrities made of thousands of flat circles on a black background. Almost each circle has a different color, a different size and a different tone.
- How long do the images take? -
It generally takes between 100 and 180 hours for a single portrait.
- How is it made? -
I often make a photomontage first using a bunch of references, then a digital painting and I finally apply my "digital circlist" technique. When making a portrait with circles, it is important to focus on the dynamic movement of someone's face. I place each circle one by one with a sharp round brush, there is no automated process, it's a time consuming method. (Any powerful graphics creation software can be used).
It is essential to pay attention on the aspect of each circle (changing slightly the size and color for every circle is better). That's the difficult part, because there can be several thousands circles in a single portrait. I try to place them with harmony, according to the main lines and energy of the person represented.
I normally make bigger circles in the lighter areas of the subject and smaller circles in the darker places. This gives more volume and a 3D illusion. There is no limit, it's a new technique and I think there is much more to do with it.
Example tutorial in Illustrator
Digital Circlism Artwork:
Create a digital circlism artwork in the style of Ben Heine:
Requirements:
1) Create a portrait using the Digital Circlism Technique.
Must have at least 3 overlapping or concentric circles with cast shadows built up on the portrait.
2) Must include a process document showing at least 5 stages of your artwork from beginning, to middle to end.
What is “Digital Circlism”? -
It is a modern artistic expression, a mix of Pop Art and Pointillism. It is made with digital tools usually featuring celebrities made of thousands of flat circles on a black background. Almost each circle has a different color, a different size and a different tone.
- How long do the images take? -
It generally takes between 100 and 180 hours for a single portrait.
- How is it made? -
I often make a photomontage first using a bunch of references, then a digital painting and I finally apply my "digital circlist" technique. When making a portrait with circles, it is important to focus on the dynamic movement of someone's face. I place each circle one by one with a sharp round brush, there is no automated process, it's a time consuming method. (Any powerful graphics creation software can be used).
It is essential to pay attention on the aspect of each circle (changing slightly the size and color for every circle is better). That's the difficult part, because there can be several thousands circles in a single portrait. I try to place them with harmony, according to the main lines and energy of the person represented.
I normally make bigger circles in the lighter areas of the subject and smaller circles in the darker places. This gives more volume and a 3D illusion. There is no limit, it's a new technique and I think there is much more to do with it.
Example tutorial in Illustrator