My Project

Illustrations 

Reflection 

In my practice I could use the genius hour to have students engaged with learning through a passion project. They will be able to complete work they are interested in, while understanding how to use technology such as blogs, research, video editing (TEDtalks and trailer), etc.! Students can spend larger time periods to work on projects, with the understanding that creativity takes time. This length of project will help students persevere and work on time management, organization and writing skills. Genius hour will cover many different curriculum expectations, through writing, research, media literacy, and depending on their subject area, other curriculum. For example my genius hour would also use the art curriculum expectations.

Resources


My learning videos are linked below:
1. This video showed basics functions of the app, such as how to choose colours, how to add effects, how to use layers etc.
2. This video demonstrates how specifically an example of using procreate to illustrate, to help with my goal of creating my own illustrations. It also talks abut using references, as important for when you are practicing getting proportions right. However, the creator states you should always use copyright for your references when posting the final product. She also demonstrates completing a sketch in one layer first, and then completing the finished drawing on top.
3. This video shows the full process of creating the drawing. First an initial paper sketch, then a sketch on the iPad, then linework, and then fill in colour.
4.Then I used the fourth video as a paint along, to practice skills such as copying and flipping for mirrored effects, using different kinds of brushes (such as the airbrushing tool), and creating depth.

Final Genius Hour Post

My final drawings:

Where I go from here:

1. While I improved on my abilities to make backgrounds for my characters, I found that my natural backgrounds still are not up to my standard. While I feel that my throne room is a complete world, with characters, background, and detail, I need to refine my skills in other areas. This refinement will mean studying nature, completing practice drawings and working on details in my backgrounds.

2. I want to complete drawings for my entire book, so I will continue to create my illustrations. These illustrations will show key parts of the story. I want to ensure my drawings complement my book, not overpower it.

3. I want to have separate pages for my text, as I found it too cluttered to have the drawings and words on one page with the style of illustration I was going for. While I liked have the text with the header and footer, I think this would look better with a full page of writing and different lettering that is not in all capitals. With typorama it allowed me to input text into procreate, but it meant fewer choices on types of text, and if it would be all capitols etc. I want to continue to research other programs I could use to create the text.

4. I want to continue to try different styles of digital drawings, and continue to practice. I want to ensure I am refining my skills and completing a variety of drawings using the full range of the app.

What I learned about myself:

1. I learned that I put too much pressure on my art. I want everything to be perfect and thus lose joy in the creation of my drawings. I want this process to become more positive for me, and while I will still strive to become a better artist, I will be gentle with myself.

2. I learned that I have a real passion for writing and illustration. I said to my mom that I could see myself doing this as a career.

3. I learned that while I still love traditional ways of creating art like sketching or painting, I also love digital art. I didn't know how I would feel about the process being electronic, not feeling the pencil in my hand. However, I found that with the advancement of drawing technology, it does somewhat feel like a pencil in your hand and the pencil senses your pressure, if you are using the side of the pencil etc. I began to see digital art as its own medium.

What I learned from the project:

1. I learned how to use the app, and many of the tools, functions, effects and brushes.

2. I learned how to complete a fully realized drawing.

3. I learned how layers help with having the sketching, outlining, and colouring in one illustration.

4. I learned about background and character design.

5. I learned how to time manage, and complete drawings on a schedule.

6. I learned how to input text into my drawings.

7. I learned how to create and embed PowerPoints, images, videos, TEDtalks, and stop motion.

8. I learned how to create a blog.

My TED Talk

Genius Hour Research 3

What I did this week:

I completed four character designs I could use to reference, so each illustration with this character could look similar. These drawings answer my second question from last week, on how to have my characters look the same throughout my book. For each drawing I learned how to site my reference photo and included these below. These citations answered my question from last week on how to cite references for illustration.

Sir Gerard the Gerbil

cutegerbil [Image]. (2012). Retrieved from https://piremongolia.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/cutegerbil.jpg

Yenin, M [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.artstation.com/artwork/42LR2

Duncan the Great Dane Squire

Heroes of Camelot. [Image]. Retrieved from https://heroes-of-camelot.fandom.com/wiki/Squire

American Kennel Club. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-dane/

Boris
(I completed this drawing with my own cat as a real life reference so no citation is needed)

Darrel Ducky
(I just drew this from my memory of ducks, so no reference)

Then I completed the rough sketches for my four final drawings. To answer my first questions on how I would pick four scenes to illustrate, I picked the scenes that I though I could complete in the time frame, and ones that showed different sections of the story. In my trouble shooting last week I discussed being concerned about time, so I want to make sure I set manageable goals for these final illustrations.

Boris Dreaming

Gerard and Duncan

Darrel Saves Boris

Boris is Knighted

What did I learn?

I learned how to cite reference photos, about character design, how to time manage to complete all my drawings and refined my drawing skills. I also completed rough sketches of backgrounds which helped with learning how to create backgrounds, but I will have to continue this week to work on this skill.

Troubleshooting:

I will have to learn when to allow my illustrations to be finished, as I am a perfectionist and my art is never good enough. I need to overcome this perfectionism to complete my genius hour in the time limit, as well as to manage my time with other courses. I will have to schedule time to complete the final four illustrations and work within this.

Need to do this week:

This week I need to complete my four final drawings, my TEDtalk, and my final blog post.

Questions: 

1. How will I ensure my backgrounds feel like they are to the same level of my character design?
2. How will I manage my time to complete the drawings and other genius hour tasks?
3. What text will I include on each page? 

Where to go from here: 

From here I will finish my genius hour blog this week, but I want to continue to work on my drawing and illustration skills in a digital format.