This was one of my favorite illustration projects for it combined a fun to visualize tropical theme with a traditional drawing method that I had never attempted before. The proposed Costa Rican Resort was being designed with a style similar to Balinese architecture - thatched roofs, wood framing, lush landscaping and an “off the beaten path” character.
I began with pencil and ink line sketches for each of the five renderings to establish the composition and elements within the scene. The final colored illustrations were drawn on tracing paper with a Pilot Fineliner pen and then colored directly on the original artwork with Chartpak AD markers. I failed to scan the line drawings or made record copies before coloring them - a risky move as any error in coloring would have ruined the original line drawing forcing me to start all over again!. Below are the five drawings and a brief explanation about each scene.
Cottage Exterior
The composition of this scene reinforced the “indoor-outdoor” design of the cottage. I used very new (wet) Chartpak AD markers on both sides of the tracing paper to create the watercolor-like appearance of the lush landscaping. As the wet marker dried, it "blobbed", causing it to look like a painting. All of my drawings were produced without any people in them to strengthen the remote and exclusive character of the resort, as if you the viewer were the only guest at the resort.
Rain Forest Retreat
I developed several sketches in both pencil and pen to explore different elements within this “hidden” rain forest destination. Surrounded by dark landscaping, the stone path crosses a water feature and leads the visitor to the terrace. I brightened the area surrounding the shelter with light colored flowers and thinned the landscaping to draw attention to the forest destination.
Infinity Pool Terrace
I created a foreground table setting with wine glasses as if to invite the viewer to sit and enjoy the vista. People are absent from the scene as if the viewer was the only guest at this private resort. I introduced a roof structure at the top of the image to frame the view and emphasized the water, sky and lush tropical plantings. Notice a slight shadow in the foreground as if the scene was bathed in late afternoon sunlight.
Cottage Interior
This 10"x14" cottage interior perspective emphasized the indoor-outdoor relationship with an open window and large indoor potted plants contrasted against the exterior landscaping. I again added two wine glasses and an overall wood and stone look to the architecture.
Reception Lobby
This was my least successful drawing as it seemed too symmetrical and lacked a hierarchy of elements within the composition. I created a strong sun lit floor and lofty feeling to the interior space. The one-point perspective might have been far better if the vanishing point had not been so centered. Lesson learned: not every drawing you create in a series will be 100% perfect. There is always one that is less successful than the others!
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