Shadow Life: Draw a Common Object with Shadows- Introduction to Illustrator

Shadow Life Project

Project Summary:

Draw an object by hand and then trace it in Illustrator.

• This project is still under construction! Please forgive spelling errors, broken links and other formatting problems.

• Draw a common everyday object - it all begins with pencil and paper. Then, scan it into Illustrator and trace it using the Pen Tool and the Mesh Tool.

• The idea is to make the object look as realistic as possible, while still allowing for an individualistic "abstract" feel.

• Shadows are a major component of the realism aspect of this project, and are not easy to make.

Learn These Tools & Concepts:

Selection and Direct Selection Tools

Light and Shadow

Corner Points

Mesh Tool

Pen Tool

Requirements:

Find a Real Object ~ example pencil sharpener

• Choose something simple: a pepper shaker, a shoe, an insect, hat, a toy, etc. Keep it Simple - Too much detail will drive you crazy.

• Place the object on a table with the light coming from one direction, and using paper and pencil, do some basic sketches of the object.

• Be sure to consider the effect of light and shadow in your drawings! Remember this project is called "Shadow Life!" Give life to your shadows.

• Your drawings will be graded using this rubric

kleenex box drawing • You don't have to be Rembrandt - just to do a good job.

• Xtra Credit - Draw two views of the object; for example, one from the top looking down and one from an eye-level view, any direction that gives the object a good shadow.

The Project Happens in 3 Parts:

Part #1: Sketch Your Object ~

Begin with Paper and Pencil

• Grab a paper and pencil and do some basic sketches of your object.

• Be sure to consider the effect of light and shadow in your drawings!

• Color your drawings with colored pencils (if necessary).

• You don't have to be Rembrandt - just to do a good job.

• Your drawings will be graded using this rubric.

Part #2: Move to the Computer ~

Scan your Sketch into the Computer

• Scan your drawing and open it in Photoshop. ~

• Then begin outlining your work with the Illustrator tools that you will be introduced to during the course of this project.

Last Part: The Final Product ~

Render your Images with Software

• All of your work must be an original creation.

• If you trace copied images from the internet they must be modified by at least 90%, meaning that the color, size and name should be changed to be unrecognizable from the original content.

• Present your work to the class!

• ALWAYS save your projects using the following naming convention:
LASTNAME-FIRSTNAME-PROJECTNAME

• DO NOT name your project any other way - Improperly named projects will not receive credit and you will be sad.

• NEVER leave your work on the desktop or depend on a flash drive - instead, save your work in a folder you can find later - preferably on a virtual drive where it can be backed up.

Other People's Work:

These are examples created by students following this project.

example example example example example example 5 example example common object example example t portrait example example example example shadow life example example