The Assignments:
*You may choose 1 from the 5 provided options.
*The sketch you bring for the first day of class should be 7.7"x11.2" for book cover images (standard cover size fit to a 9x12 page) and 10"x10" for the children's book assignment, with a 1/4 inch bleed margin around all sides. (Rule your borders with a straight edge).
*We suggest that you first do thumbnail sketches,then shoot or gather your reference, then do you final sketch (the one we with critique in class) to the above specifications.
Think about this as a true sketch for an art director.You will likely be changing this sketch after the first round faculty critique, but please bring a complete and thought out sketch to start with. If you are doing an elaborate background - be sure to collect reference for that along with your central figure reference.
If you work digitally - please print out you sketch for the critique wall.
Your final painting size can be larger, but for uniformity during the first critique, the first sketch should maintain these dimensions.
*In addition to the stories, attached to this message are some excellent examples of photo reference from Donato's work and the corresponding sketches to assist you in your reference gathering/shooting process.
If you have questions or experience difficulty opening the files, let us know.
We are very privileged and exited to have a selection of book cover assignments from Irene Gallo, and a children's book assignment from Jane Yolen.
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Wizard of Oz
Re-imagine this classic as a science fiction film. Far future or steampunk.
Design as a book cover or an interior illustration.
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Princess of Mars
Book cover
Design image either for an action sequence or a scene focusing on John Carter and the princess, Dejah Thoris.
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Firstborn
Space Opera
(Short story attached. For the purposes of the class, we’ll treat it as a book cover assignment.)
Dennison is the second son of a great military commander. He is constantly trying (and failing) to live up to his older brother’s reputation for also being a great military commander. Throughout the course of the story he undergoes various training and eventually emerges as a successful leader.
A basic “portrait of hero” cover would work well here. He is in a white commander’s uniform. He watches the battles on holograms onboard a battleship. That could be part of the image. Or, just him and the spaceship as background.
The story is attached. There is a major plot point that could spoil the story if shown clearly, although there may be ways to subtly hint at it.
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Beserker Lord
Epic Fantasy
Interior Illustration
The scene is of a polar bear attacking the main character (Aath Ulber) and a young man (Draken) on an iceberg. The two characters have been living on a stolen ship after a cataclysm has completely altered the geography of their world, so they are in the midst of a desperate struggle for survival. They have come to the iceberg looking for fresh water, and find a bear that is as stranded and desperate as they are.
Character descriptions:
Aaath Ulber is huge, 7.5 feet tall. He has red hair with a receding hairline, pale blue eyes, a bit of gray in his beard, and a heavy ridge of bone running up the center of his forehead with two small horny protrusions on his temples. He also has overlarge canines and a heavy jaw.
Aaath Ulber is wearing armor, but it isn't quite like any that you've seen before. His armor consists of a round breastplate, with smaller "round targets" on each wrist, (the targets are attached to what we would call slave bands) and again on each upper arm to protect the shoulder. Beyond that, he has leather underneath the targets, with plates of mail sewn on them that protect his neck, beneath his arms, and which then come down around his waist to cover his hips and groin. Beyond that, he wears heavy sandals. Over his armor he wears a little half-cape. No helm. Aath Ulber has a war hammer.
Draken, on the other hand, is much smaller at 5ft 10 inches. Draken has dark blue eyes and brown hair. He looks more like a poet or a dreamer than a warrior. He has almost no beard at all yet, just a hint of one beginning to grow. Draken is wearing simple peasant’s pants and a short-sleeved tunic. The pants only come down a little below his knee, since it is summer, and he was wearing sandals. Draken has a knife he uses for eating.
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"Tooth Fairy" BY JANE YOLEN ( new unpublished manuscript)
Children's Book Cover or Interior Spread
Square Format
Attached is a children's story by Jane Yolen about the Tooth Fairy.
Aside from the pink wings described, try to stray from your first impulse fairy character. Attempt to create an atypical tooth fairy that stands out as original and new.
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Additional, Open Ended Option:
The Lady of the Lake
Personal Portfolio Image
For this assignment, create your take on the Lady of the Lake; any interpretation of the Arthurian Legend. Focus on a central female figure within the composition.
The sketch should fit on 9x12 piece of paper( for critique wall uniformity), but can be horizontal or vertical in orientation.
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