Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Using Google Sketchup




The finished poster shown above utilized a Google Sketchup model as a base for my watercolor painting. I described the modeling process in the post below:
I have been asked to deliver a presentation for the Creative Artisans Guild section at the St. Louis Artists' Guild at 7 pm Thurs, March 12, 2009. I plan to show slides of my architectural illustration work and demonstrate how I use Google Sketchup to create illustrations of unbuilt projects for architects and designers. Currently I am developing the art for the 2009 Art On The Square poster. Although I can't reveal the finished art until after the preview event for festival prepurchase patrons I can show the work I have completed in Sketchup that serves as reference for the painting.The first step: Google Earth photo of Belleville, IL historic square is imported into a Sketchup file.


Step 2: On a separate layer I modeled 100 art fair tents and a massing model of an adjacent building.






Detail: Zoom in on the model progress.






Next step: Model the fountain and begin adding scale figures from the library of components that includes people, transportation, architectural elements, landscaping, etc.




Next Step: Add flags, more people and other adjacent buildings.



This aerial view shows the massing of county courthouse.





This view zooms in on the fair and I feel like I am close to what I need to begin painting some some small color sketches which will I share in a future post. I hope to see you at the St. Louis Artists' Guild. -ma