The “Advanced Composite Drawing” method involves the integration of hand drawing, 3D computer modeling, digital painting and photography. This hybrid approach to visualization has gained popularity in recent years with professional illustrators and design students.
The example below is one that I created for a proposal to win a new project for an educational campus. My visualization process involved several key steps:
Step 1: SketchUp Stage Set Model. As you can see from this overhead view of the Google SketchUp model, I constructed the exterior courtyard with only the building walls that were directly visible in the scene. Once the model was under construction, I established the view and then completed detailing the model in only the areas that were visible in the scene. I was careful not to build more of the SketchUp model than was necessary to complete the rendering.
Step 2: SketchUp Model Scene with Entourage. I added transparent SketchUp people and 3D trees to the model. By making them semi-transparent, I could draw over them in the later stage of the drawing’s development. The scene was established using a 35mm focal length and a 2-point perspective.
Step 3: Add Photographic Entourage. I inserted a number of plants and people from RPC files (Rich Photorealistic Content) by Archvision. I modified all of the new entourage in Photoshop, giving them a 50% transparency in order to sketch over them in the final step of the composite drawing.
Step 4: Print and Add Hand Drawing. The final image was plotted in color onto matte finish presentation paper and hand colored with Prismacolor pencils and a few light Chartpak AD markers. White colored pencils highlighted the window mullions and water while darker pencils added texture to the stone.
Look for other interesting articles on my blog, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and read my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition.
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