Jim Leggitt / Drawing Shortcuts

Hand Drawing Over a SketchUp Model Scene

I believe that creative professionals should take design communication to a higher level of visualization by integrating hand drawing and traditional coloring techniques with 3D computer model views. I've noticed that more and more architects who have built Google SketchUp models are only presenting exported model views to clients. These models can be very effective in presentations but often lack the "soft touch" sketch character, artistic hierarchy and hand-crafted authenticity.

This urban design study was developed for Farooq Ameen of City Design Studio LLC, in which I generated numerous hybrid drawings from Sketchup models showing the character of different neighborhood streets and architecture within a proposed development. I constructed a Google SketchUp “stage set model” for each study area, determined an eye-level perspective view and proceeded to create a presentation rendering for Farooq. My step-by-step approach is outlined below:

Step 1 - SketchUp “Stage Set” Model. The model I constructed for this specific office park had only the architectural walls visible within the eye level scene. This overhead view of the model reveals how little was constructed beyond the street, vehicular drop off and immediate building facades.

Step 2 - Distant Mountain. Because the site was located against a mountain range, I constructed a simple SketchUp vertical face with a mountain silhouette at the far edge of the model. Only a portion of the mountain would eventually be visible in the final scene.

Step 3 - Final SketchUp Scene. I determined a preferred view from beneath the building overhand and slightly above eye level in order to see more of the ground plane in the circle drive. Shadows were carefully adjusted to darken the foreground and highlight the drop off area.

Step 4 - Exported and Modified Image. I exported  5000 pixel wide jpeg (equal to 11” x 17” x 300dpi) and lightened the image in Adobe Photoshop. I printed the lightened scene on matte finish presentation paper with the purpose of adding color back onto the print using markers and colored pencils.

Step 5 - Hand Coloring. Using Chartpak AD markers and Prismacolor pencils, I added color to the people, building facades, ground plane and background. Highlights and textures were applied with Prismacolor pencils. Using a Black rolling ball ink pen, I outlined the trees, people, windows and paving patterns with casual linework - avoiding the use of a straight edge to reinforce the casual character of the drawing.

Step 6 - Color Drawing Scan. I scanned the final colored image at 300 dpi and imported it into Adobe Photoshop where I adjusted the contrast levels. A high resolution jpeg was sent to my very appreciative client.

Drawing Detail.

Look for other interesting articles on my blog, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and read my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition. 

 

 

 

The 2010 Blog Collection , a 116-page catalog of my best blog posts from 2010 is now available on Blurb!  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963744

 

SketchUp Digital Watercolor - Science Atrium

I’m fascinated with new design visualization techniques and have created a new method of altering a Google SketchUp model scene by transforming it into what appears to be a watercolor painting! I call this process “digital watercolor” and it is quite easy for you to create with three basic software programs; 1) Google SketchUp, 2) Shaderlight, and 3) Adobe Photoshop.

This project was for a museum addition in which I was asked to visualize an atrium space devoted to science  education. My challenge was to illustrate a large gathering of museum visitors during a science demonstration. My step-by-step process is outlined below.

Step 1 - SketchUp Model. The museum architect generated the base Google SketchUp model and I composed the interior perspective adding people, furniture and a large projected image on an overhead screen.

 

Step 2 - Exported SketchUp Edges. I saved a jpeg of only the SketchUp linework (edges) at a high resolution. The image would eventually be added as a layer to the photorealistic rendering from step 3.

Step 3 - Shaderlight Rendering. Using the SketchUp plugin software named Shaderlight, I placed lighting elements into the SketchUp model and rendered the scene. The photorealistic characteristics of Shaderlight generated the overhead spot lighting effects and indirect illumination of the space. I placed extra spotlights above the table in order to highlight the teacher and his work surface.

  

Step 4 - Composite Image. The linework exported from SketchUp and the Shaderlight rendering was combined in Adobe Photoshop in order to add the detail (ceiling, wall and window patterns) into the scene. I lightened the composited image in Photoshop and printed the overall scene onto 11”x17” heavy weight matte finish Epson paper using a large format ink jet printer.

Step 5 - Hand Coloring. Using Chartpak AD markers and Prismacolor pencils, I added color to the people, walls, flooring and background. Notice that I drew objects on the table surface to resemble a science experiment. I added hightlights to the scene with a white Prismacolor pencil.

Step 6 - Color Drawing Scan. The completed color drawing (marker and pencils) looked quite dull with minimal contrast. This was normal for the process as I would eventually add contrast back to the image at the last filtering step. I scanned the colored print at 300 dpi and imported it into Adobe Photoshop.

Step 7 - Digital Watercolor. I applied the watercolor effect to the image using the watercolor filter in Adobe Photoshop. I finally adjusted the contrast levels to increase the blacks and whites in the image. I saved the 300 dpi file and eventually emailed the completed digital watercolor to the very pleased museum client!

Digital Watercolor Detail.

Look for other interesting articles on my blog, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and read my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition. 

 

 

 

The 2010 Blog Collection , a 116-page catalog of my best blog posts from 2010 is now available on Blurb!  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963744

 

Nevada Gold Mill Revisited: American Flat

I recently visited the ruins of an industrial mill complex constructed in 1922 to process local gold and silver ore. The site, named American Flat is located on land within the Virginia City Historic Landmark and the Virginia City Historic District near Gold Hill, Nevada. The mill utilized cyanide vat leaching in what was then described as the largest concrete mill in the United States. During the short life of the mill, approximately $7.5 million worth of silver and gold was produced. That number would be approximately $1 billion in today's dollars!

Since the mill was permanently closed in 1926, this seven-acre site has been used as a place to hold parties, post graffiti, and conduct paintball wars despite physical safety hazards from falling concrete, underground mill sumps filled with water, and holes in the concrete flooring. The current owners of the property have voiced their desire to allow controlled (and safe) visitor access to the mill due to its historic significance in the mining industry.

Company administrative buildings and worker tent village during the consruction in 1922.

View of the multi-story mill building under construction and today.

The completed mill building was covered with a sloped roof. All weather protection had been removed when the mill closed and only the skeletal remains of the deteriorating concrete structures remain.

The cavernous interior of the structure resembles an ancient roman ruin with stairways and tunnels throughout the massive building. The walls and crumbling columns are covered with graffiti which creates a sense of awe, danger, beauty and sadness. Notice the large holes in the ceiling where the conrete has caved in.

 

The circular cyanide vats were constructed with lumber held in place with steel bands. I can only speculate that the vats were built upon ribbed concrete pads to allow access beneath them for maintenance. 

 

All that remains of the cyanide vats are the crumbling foundation structures, The western landscape is slowly reclaiming the mill site and the combination of plants and circular graphic patterns create an abstract collage of natural and manmade objects.

 

Wooden cyanide vats under construction. 

The entire mill building and cyanide vats were covered with a steel roof structure (as seen in the bottom photograph). The mill closed in 1926 due to a severe drop in the price of gold and silver. All of the wood, steel frame and exterior skin was eventually removed and recycled to build other mills in the region. As I walked silently around the enormous property, I could almost imagine the incredible noise and smells of the mill when it was in full operation! 

 

Look for other interesting articles on my blog, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and read my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition. 

 

 

 

The 2010 Blog Collection , a 116-page catalog of my best blog posts from 2010 is now available on Blurb!  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963744

 

 

Urban Ruin: What is This?

Here is a fun departure from my typical blog post.....I photographed this site and challenge you to identify what was the original purpose of these structures.  I will reveal the answer and show you the rest of the site in a blog post on March 9, 2012. Enjoy!

Basic Overlay and Trace Concept Drawing

In the conceptual design phase of a project, architects typically explore different geometries and architectural massing using 3D computer models. With the introduction of Google SketchUp over ten years ago, designers can quickly study the building in perspective, understand shading, verify dimensions and have confident information about the geometry of their design. What they often overlook when studying design is the addition of color studies, entourage, landscaping, people and other site elements that bring the design to life and add scale and character to the scene. 

An easy way to build upon a 3D computer model is to simply print a view on letter or tabloid size paper, tape a sheet of tracing paper over the print and draw all of those elements that are missing in the computer model!  Here is a basic sketch study for a large church that allowed the client to better understand the overall design intent.

Wireframe Computer Model. This computer model was constructed with just enough massing and paving pattern to understand the geometry and massing. I printed the scene on 11”x17” paper and taped a sheet of tracing paper over the print. Note: I selected an aerial view of the model to visualize more of the ground surfaces, especially the different levels of the building.

Overlay and Trace Drawing. I used a combination of a Pentel Sign Pen and a finer tipped Pilot Razor Point pen to sketch the building, paving patterns, people, trees and cars. I added Chartpak AD markers to enhance the landscaping and paving. Due to the conceptual nature of the design, I limited the drawing detail to emphasize the “design-in-progress”. Even though our team had a 3D computer model, the building design was constantly evolving. Notice how the outer curve of the roof was changed from the model to the sketch!

Final Colored Sketch. The drawing was annotated with various notes to label building areas and materials. This quickly drawn sketch successfully communicated the overall design concept to the client and allowed our team to gain valuable client feedback and confidence in the design. We produced two different views of the building for the presentation.

Second Conceptual View. This additional view was developed at the same time to better understand the glass enclosed escalators for the parking structure and the pedestrian bridges leading to the main building entrance. Compare the minimally detailed computer model with the hand drawing and ask yourself which image has more information about the design and sense of place. Simple and quickly generated hand drawings reveal more of a complete picture of a proposed design and are valuable tools in the design visualization process!

Look for other interestingarticles on my blog, visit my website www.drawingshortcuts.com and read my new book Drawing Shortcuts Second Edition. 

 

 

 

The 2010 Blog Collection , a 116-page catalog of my best blog posts from 2010 is now available on Blurb!  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1963744