Friday, May 11, 2018

END OF COURSE - SEND ME YOUR WORK!


Hi Gang!

So it is now the end of the course and I need you to send me your final work.

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE SUNDAY (May 13th) 10:00 PM (No Exceptions)
I will be posting grades before the end of Monday.

Please send the following:

-The Stage
-The Facade
-The Two Towers
-The Travel Poster (World’s Fair)

-Your FINAL Assignment (Original or Rework of one of the assignments)

Also, if you did any reworking of any of the previous assignments you are welcome to include them for extra marks. It has been a great class and thank you for your insight and participation. 

I will be posting FINAL Marks on Monday May 14th.

Cheers,

Professor Donatucci
(Mr. Bob)

PS. Bonus for submitting early

PPS. Feel free to connect with me in the future. I am always available to provide you with feedback or advice as you venture into the digital entertainment world. I can be found through email, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

David Robert Donatucci

  • spqrmonkey@gmail.com
  • @DavidRDonatucci  (Twitter)
  • @lostcityofgold (Instagram)
  • David Robert Donatucci (Facebook)

ALSO....as promised....here is a list of films and books that I called out during the course in case any of you are interested in further exploring architecture and how it can be a part of your life. Keep in mind that I list these films below as exceptional in art direction or production design.  Enjoy. And feel free to reach out to me if you exhaust this list. Have a great summer! Mr. Bob.


Films

Terry Gilliam
  • Brazil (1985)
  • The Adventures of Baron Munchhausen (1988)
  • The Fisher King (1991)
  • 12 Monkeys (1995)
  • The Brothers Grim (2005)
  • The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
Ridley Scott
  • Blade Runner (1982)
  • Legend (1985)
  • Gladiator (2000)
Coen Brothers
  • Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
  • Barton Fink (1991)
Tim Burton
  • Batman (1989)
  • Edward Scissorhands (1990)
  • Sweeney Todd (2007)
Hayao Miyazaki
  • Castle in the Sky
  • Princess Mononoke
  • Howl's Moving Castle
  • Spirited Away
Anime
  • Akira (1988)
  • Ghost in the Shell (1995)
  • Metropolis (2001)
  • Steamboy (2004)
Hitchcock
  • Rear Window (1954)
  • Vertigo (1958)
  • North by Northwest (1959)

Honourable Mentions
  • The Fifth Element (1987)
  • Contact (1997)
  • Gattaca (1997)
  • Dark City (1998)
  • What Dreams May Come (1998)
  • The Matrix (1999)
  • Amelie (2001)
  • Moulin Rouge (2001)
  • Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
  • Inception (2010)
  • Hugo (2011)
  • Upside Down (2012)
  • The Great Gatsby (2013)
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
  • Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Classics
  • Citizen Kane (1941)
  • Lost Horizon (1937)
  • Metropolis (1927)
  • The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
  • Metropolis (1927)
  • Intolerance (1916)
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1912)


Friday, April 20, 2018

FINALE - The PORTFOLIO

THE FINALE


Week 13


It has been a long and wonderful course. You have created a number of works that demonstrate a solid understanding of architecture. Now it is time to review your assignments and choose one to finalize. 

Review your past assignments and consider improving it to a high level of gallery quality. Then consider how you would supplement this idea with additional architectural drawings to exhibit a fully comprehensible vision.


Conceptual

The end is near and now you must bring one of your assignments to a level of quality and sophistication that it is worthy of a place in your portfolio. You should use one of your pieces as an anchor piece and further develop other aspects of the architectural idea. I recommend that you tackle this as a "set" of drawings that tells a story of history, structure, material, proportion, scale and drama. Use Light and Color. The Layout of the drawings should also be carefully considered as a work of art in and of itself.



ASSIGNMENT

The PORTFOLIO SET


Practical

·          * Create a Series of Drawings that work together as a whole to communicate a complete architectural idea.

·          Create a set (3-5) gallery quality drawings depicting a place (real or imagined) 

           * Fully rendered and in COLOR with supporting PLANS, SECTIONS, ELEVATIONS and DETAILS 

Put together a STRATEGY that outlines a clear ROAD MAP to what you intend to present as a final SET of images

         IMPORTANT: Please bring sketches of your idea next class Tuesday April 24 for approval and feedback

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The World's Fair - FANTASY

THE FAIR


Week 11


Introduction to Fantasy Architecture and Exploration of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair
Slides of Architecture and Drawings that explore Turn of the Century Ideas of the Future and Technology

Student will create drawings of study and exploration that further examine the idea of the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair as an idea of travel and exotic wanderlust. Chose a location (Real or Imagined) and present it as a place of wonder.  Classic Vintage Travel posters have been a device that lures a viewer into a new and exciting world away from home. Expand upon the awe of architectural monument by showing me a particular view, detail or vista that truly represents your wonderful moment in architectural history (Real or Imagined)

Materials - 18" x 24" white paper,[Displayed VERTICAL] HB, 2B, 4B graphite pencils, kneaded eraser. Ink or Marker Optional 
COLOR is required. DIGITAL is also available to you....HOWEVER.....You MUST create a final piece that is exhibition gallery quality and IT MUST BE 18" x 24" (Allow yourself enough time to PRINT in COLOR before Pinup in class) THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS THIS TIME (It would not be fair to your colleges)


Conceptual

This week’s lecture revolved around the 1893 Columbia Exposition (1893 Chicago Worlds Fair) and offered what the worlds best might look like. Technology and Flair were the driving forces of this marvelous display of architecture, art and culture.

It is easy to see that this was a pivotal moment in american history and provides a number of muses to ponder. From electricity and light as a motivating idea or concepts of optimism or national pride to inspire the age. The Chicago World's Fair ignited a era with new thoughts on terra-forming, spray painting, materials, exhibits pavilions, transportation, eateries, aquariums. weapons, machinery and ships....to name a few.


Architecture can be born of an idea, a heritage, or a technology.


Consider the notion of travel and how people choose a destination. The dream vacation or themes of the "happiest place on earth" or the "adventure awaits" or where "history and culture meet.


ASSIGNMENT

The FAIR


Practical

·          * Create a Travel Poster

·          Create one (1) gallery quality drawing depicting a historical place of wonder (real or imagined) .

           * Fully rendered and in COLOR

The choice is yours but be VERY careful to feature ARCHITECTURE as your focal point.
These may appear to be easy to do.....don't be fooled....this will required a solid effort. 
This kind of image demands a very sincere effort towards scale, proportion, staging and tone.

         IMPORTANT: Please provide sketches of your idea before Thursday Apr. 12 for approval and feedback

        (Include studies as well as plans or sections to further illustrate the complexities of your idea)
     
         Homework
         Complete:                               Assignment “FAIR”                                       1 drawing - rendered in color
  Research:                               Document a Famous City                           Select a city Europe, Asia or North America
                                                                                                                    (Assemble images and set the stage)


EXAMPLES: (REVIEW THESE SAMPLES CAREFULLY AND NOTE THE USE OF ARCHITECTURE) 














































Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The Empty Space - Architectural "STAGE"

THE EMPTY SPACE


Student will explore the notion of “place” and design a stage set for a unique character.
Materials - 18" x 24" white paper, HB, 2B, 4B graphite pencils, kneaded eraser. Ink Marker Optional. Digital Optional.

Conceptual

This lecture will explore the notion of “place”. One of the foundations of architecture is how structure defines a site. Context is the identification of a real world geographic site (virtual or otherwise) for which architectural elements can establish an environment. Simply making buildings isn’t architecture. For architecture in games or film to be believable they must have context that is relatable to the human scale. Identifying space through the use of architectural elements space is enclosed, framed, positioned, adorned, and embellished with respect to focus, angles, openings, and light will ensure an expression of “place”. Architecture tells a story in how it identifies space so that it suggests ritual, ceremony, hierarchy, order, or transformation.
In games often a designer will reference a real world location. The artist must research the site and create a “place”

ASSIGNMENT 

The Stage

Practical

·          Create a drawing that identifies an architectural idea of “place”
·          Examine real world reference
·          Identify a space for Conflict (A Fight, )
·          Establish space for an Intro and an Outro
·          Define your “place” as  Interior or Exterior with composition, form, and proportions
·          Explore Depth and devices to encourage a sense of atmosphere
·          Provide sketches of loose pages to show design process

CHOOSE a MUSE:
·          Sherlock Holmes
·          Shakespeare
·          Pinochio
·          Lawrence of Arabia
·          Sam Spade
·          Scarecrow, Tin Man, or Cowardly Lion
·          Witch form Hansel and Gretel
·          Elvis

EXPLORE:
·          Inspiration of the Stage
·          Stage Type: Open or Closed
·          Greebles
·          Lighting
·          Color

        This assignment needs to be well designed and well rendered. It must be architectural and display architecture that is particular to muse and time period for the muse. It needs no figures but should convey clearly a sense of scale and "mise-en-scene (look up this term and apply it) Your stage should tell a story about for who this stage exists. I should be able to look at it and say "That's for so-and-so"

Homework             

Complete:     Assignment  -  “The Stage”    1 Drawing (Perspective) + support ideation or diagrams  (Plan, Section)



Examples of STAGE: