DG212 - Exploratory Sketching // Portfolio

DG121 - Exploratory Sketching // Portfolio Students - Marjolein Kors s Number - s105901 Assignor - Martijn van de Wiel University of Technology Eindhoven Semester B Quartal 4 2013

Week 1: Exploration vs Communication Week 2: Figure Drawing Week 3: Setting the Scene Week 4: Products and Perspective (1) Week 5: Products and Perspective (2) Week 6: Applied Sketching

Content

Introduction & Basic Explanation of the Materials and Techniques.

Week 1: Exploration vs Communication Class 1/7 — April 25th 2013 -

Figures & Faces - Proportions, Compositions, Expressions, characteristics.

Week 2: Figure Drawing Class 2/7 — May 2nd 2013 -

Act Out, Frame and Sketch a Scene & Explore and Communicate Design Ideas.

Week 3: Setting the Scene Class 3/7 — May 16th 2013 -

Geometric Objects in Different Perspectives & Mentally Rotating Objects.

Week 4: Products and Perspective (1) Class 4/7 — May 23th 2013 -

Cylindrical Objects in Different Perspectives & Mentally Rotating Objects.

Week 5: Products and Perspective (2) Class 5/7 — Self taught -

Combining the Techniques, Materials, Knowledge and Skills.

Week 6: Applied Sketching Class 6/7 — June 6th 2013 -

Reflection - Exploratory Sketching Throughout the bachelor I tried to enroll myself for this assignment, but so did many others. Gladly, now having priority the possibility was there to actually work on and as I hoped to finally further develop my sketching skills. In advance my inability to communicate the image as it is in my mind had really frustrated me. Not due to an unable to sketch but simply while I lacked the ability to make it complete thus render, indicate movement, include people, communicate interaction and all that kind of aspects. Resulting that sketching became something for communicating towards myself and to the few ones capable of understanding the underlying meaning. Combined with the fact that I’m dyslectic what makes the ability to visually explain an idea quite handy I guess it’s obvious were the need to develop this comes from.

Some time ago I did tried to progress in sketching and rendering through following tutorials, from Scott Robertson*. What turned out to be more difficult and time consuming than though.

Resulting that I hadn’t gotten the possibility to even start rendering, which I especially wanted to learn. Looking back having this basis most likely did provided me with an advantage regarding to sketching perspective. Thus I was able to despite the scare amount of time at the end still further developed my rendering skill.

Rendering Now it’s hard to image why I experienced rendering to be so complex and difficult. Maybe, while knowing from myself that in order to use a skill it first needs to be thoroughly understood. Consciously studying it in reality and practicing it in class has dropped the proverbial penny. If I now have a moment of not knowing how to apply the shading, gradient or light I stimulate myself to simply analyze the shape and compare it to ones in the real world.

Communicating: Process & Result Now knowing, having experienced and being aware of the fact that the exploration and the communication phase both require a different way of sketching, usage of techniques and materials it has become possible to at the same time communicate process and final idea, without it becoming a chaos. Doing so it’s the challenge to create an as calm as possible image with a clear focus on what needs to be communicated. This by annihilating the noise and emphasizing the things that are of importance. Resulting in not only a clear communication of the idea but also having the process included makes it easier to tell your story, explain your consideration and unconsciously communicate that you’ve made well considered choices.

Thereby this awareness made me realize that this idea of also showing your process instead of only the end result connects to a prior learned design technique: Co-reflection. One through which you’re able to involve a user and its feedback on a more useful way by not only showing the results but rather by quickly guiding that person through your process. Resulting that the person can come on your level and thus is able to understand your thoughts, process and

result. Only while that technique is specifically focused on involving users I hadn’t been able to successfully use it for communicating an idea. Things like controlling the focus, making the separation clear between process and results and above all preventing it from turning in to a chaos were difficult. So overall this assignment has provided me with the possibility to do do so and experiment further.

Sketching skills Practically, this assignment improved my sketching skills just as I hoped. Also now having a basis I notice that I’m more likely to just do and experiment in sketching. Still there is a lot of improvement possible, neither am I at the level I would love to be but I do now feel confidence of the ability to continue my progress though a lot of practice.

Throughout I practiced with all kinds of theories, techniques and materials and different tricks and tips where shared. Which all can read in the blog**.

One of the interesting things is that unknowingly, a fellow student noticed it, a personal style is already arising. Which is especially visible in my figures. Something what I originally couldn’t even sketch at all and now am able to combine with different expressions, postures and perspectives.

* **

http://marjoleinkors.nl/Work/b2.1/portfolio2.1/sketchingdrawing/ sketchingdrawing.html http://marjoleinkorsid.wordpress.com/