[Artistic Enigma]

I'm not sure if any of you will be able to help me out on this, but I thought it was worth asking. Let me explain: At the moment I'm a "General Fine Arts Major" (BFA) at a state university. Mainly, I want to do science fiction and fantasy book Illustration after I graduate (children's book Illustration also interests me a bit). Unfortunately the above major is the closest thing this college has to Illustration. Because of a few positive factors such as the cost and location of this college, I'm pretty sure I will finish out my undergraduate career here. So in order to create a degree that allows me to work on my Illustration portfolio, I'm planning on taking some independent study classes. I'm friends with a nice professor who will let me take these under him (he's also a good artist, and he does teach the one real Illustration class my college offers).

Now my question to you (especially any of you who actually got to major in Illustration at an art college) is how should I structure these independent study courses? If I could, I would like to take one each semester from now until I graduate. That would be 5 different semester (15 weeks each) classes worth of work. I'm figuring perhaps 5 "big" projects per class (though I'm really not sure). What are your suggested "topics" for each of the five classes? What sequence would you put these in? And, if you are feeling even more helpful, what projects do you think would be most beneficial for each of these topics?

Keep in mind the aim of all of this is to create a better (digital) Illustration portfolio. Feel free to look at my portfolio on my site and gear your suggestions toward areas you think I need to improve in. Any help you could give me would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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[AndyT]

I can only say what I read ... I just visit forums and read stuff there though.

The poses you draw look kinda stiff.
There are too many details that make the images look busy ...
and the forms are not as well defined as they could be.
The people and objects look pasted on a backgrounds somehow.
In many areas colors are too saturated and not related in the pictures.

Life drawing should help. Not sure about visualisation skills ...
but I guess practicing understanding why you see what you see
(in photos or reality) helps.

I'd look at the websites of ateliers and art colleges what they make their students do.
Just some examples ...
http://www.artcenter.edu/home/index7b.html
http://www.panturastudios.com/main.php
http://www.angelartacademy.com/
http://www.wattsatelier.com/home.html (RON LEMEN RULEZ!!!)

To me it looks as if the guys from ateliers have the best foundation.
The industrial design guys rule too.
It's probably a good idea to steal a little there ...

Maybe look at the stuff by KChen, FredFlickStone (Ron Lemen) and Kincept there.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=42
You might have to set the "showing threads" option to "from the beginning".

Some of your images are better than others ...
I read somewhere that your portfolio is as good as your weakest piece though.

Hope this helps somehow ...
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http://www.conceptworld.org

[Artistic Enigma]

Hmm thanks AndyT, I guess that's not quite what I was looking for, but thanks for the thought and effort you put into your reply. And your critiques on my portfolio are right on. I am, of course, going to be taking many more art courses than just these independent study ones. All of the standard ones such as: Figure Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Color Theory etc. What I need is help creating a structure for these Independent Illustration courses. This is what I've come up with so far, as you can see I could really use some help here. Suggestions? Please tell me if you have a better idea for these courses and projects. I know what I have down so far is rather unoriginal and blah.

Course I: Basic Fantasy Book Illustration

Project 1: Pick a fantasy book and illustrate a key scene.

Project 2: Use the same book from the first project and illustrate a different key scene.

Project 3: Pick a new fantasy book and illustrate a key scene.

Project 4: Using the book from project 3, illustrate another key scene.

Project 5: Pick one of the two books used for the above projects and create an entirely new composition for use as the book's cover.


Course II: Basic Science-Fiction Book Illustration

Project 1: Pick a fantasy book and illustrate a key scene.

Project 2: Use the same book from the first project and illustrate a different key scene.

Project 3: Pick a new fantasy book and illustrate a key scene.

Project 4: Using the book from project 3, illustrate another key scene.

Project 5: Pick one of the two books used for the above projects and create an entirely new composition for use as the book's cover.


Course III: Children's Book Illustration

Project 1: Simple children's story (picture book) outline and concepts for 5 images (one will be the cover). Create Image 1.

Project 2: Image 2.

Project 3: Image 3.

Project 4: Image 4.

Project 5: Finish Image 5 (the cover). Compile into book form.


Course IV: Advanced Fantasy Book Illustration

Project 1:

Project 2:

Project 3:

Project 4:

Project 5:


Course V: Advanced Science-Fiction Book Illustration

Project 1:

Project 2:

Project 3:

Project 4:

Project 5:
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[AndyT]

I see. I guess I can't help.
Hope there will be more helpful replies.

One thing I remember from an artist-wanted add is that continuity of style might be important.
If you want to work in a team for example ... or maybe some publishers require that!?

Something like "Pick a fantasy book and illustrate a key scene in the style of artist XY"!?
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http://www.conceptworld.org