Well, I felt like this portfolio was much harder to choose for than the last. Not because we had to only choose 4 works - but because we had to choose 4 works from a much smaller selection of material. Also, because I felt that the mediums that I used this last half of the semester were much more limited. Earlier on, there was more required (and projects that worked better with) watercolor and drawing. This half, I focused on mainly my digital technique.
The first piece that I knew would be in the portfolio was my Society of Illustrators. I was able to reprint it without the color mix up and largely love this assignment because of the scale and also because of the open concept. I feel that this work is a great display of how I can use the computer as a digital painting tool. I labored over this on my other dying computer for days and hours. I feel like after a lot of trial and error, I finally painted a lighting effect that would mimic an underwater glow. I gained a lot more experience with the technique I used. I normally am not able to paint such large-scale finished works because of the time involved. Despite all the time spent on this, I only came to realize how much more I could do with double or triple that time (and a faster computer to run SAI on).
My second choice was my World Record work. I spent a comparable amount of time on this graphic to get a clean-looking vector with a lot of detail. I learned a lot about using transparent layers of color to build up a graphic or to change other colors beneath it. Although the face doesn't quite show, I learned a lot about creating one with illustrator without a reference to look at, which helped with my later vectors.
Third, I chose my Native American illustration and fixed it so that the typography lacked the previous mistakes that were pointed out. I really appreciate this poster mainly because of the detailed graphite drawing that I worked on. Even alone, I think it is quite a good-looking illustration. For the poster as a whole, I am quite happy with the balance of the composition and juxtaposition of vectored text with a rustic drawing.
Finally, I am using my book cover as my final work. I was able to take the vectoring skills I used in the World Record and create a detailed finished work much more quickly than before. The concept is solid to me and definitely illustrates a main conflict in the book.
Illustration was a blast to be in and be a part of. I'm actually sad that it is ending, and would have liked more projects that forced me to go back to watercolor or graphite drawing. I learned a lot from my professor and from my classmates. I'm definitely going to be using the illustration room for personal works in the future though. It's a great space to work in. The only frustrations that I have had is not ever really knowing what specifically to target or what previous works of mine were "worth." Critiques offered ambiguous, but helpful criticism that only confused me more. If I knew much earlier on what of mine was good and bad, and what specifically distinguished that...I feel that my work could have changed for the better even more. It's crazy to only have one set of grades to go on.... Rusty, what do you want! xP Guess I'll have to find out in Viz II next semester.... Same time and place....maybe it will really feel like Illustration still hasn't ended. :)
