Essential Question: What techniques can I use to successfully translate my sketch to a digital image using Illustrator

Today we will look at some of the sketches and discuss what’s working well and why their tattoo design is successful. We will talk about how these examples used line weight successfully and how they also balance out their work by using negative space. We will also continue to bring our sketches into Adobe Illustrator to create a digital version of our drawings.

Negative Space:

Negative space is the space around and between the object(s). Using negative space gives a piece “compositional balance”, meaning that the image feels more stable visually. Negative space can also add a focal point to your drawing and attracts your viewers’ eyes. When you create compositional balance it means that no part of the structure of your design overpowers another.

Sketch Examples:

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Creating a new Illustrator file & the Pen Tool

Review making a new Illustrator file:

Create new file:

Set up file type to be the correct size and orientation:

Where to find the pen tool:

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Sketch Examples:

Today We Will:

• Talk about our classmates’ sketches and why they were successful
• Discuss negative space and compositional balance
• Bring our sketches into Illustrator and continue to create a digital version.
• Write a blog post about our progress while answering the following questions:
  • Describe the ideas and intentions behind the decisions you’ve made with your tattoo designs?
  • What has been easy and what has been difficult?
  • How will continue to improve your design in the next class?

Today’s essential question: How can I use line weight to create an interesting tattoo?

Today we will sketch out our ideas for our own tattoo designs. We will use different types of line weight to help make our designs more interesting. Your sketch must be created in a 5×10 size, in either landscape or portrait orientation. The orientation must make sense with what you’re drawing. Remember that these will later be layered on top of your arm, so when creating your design think about how the placement will effect what you may want to draw.

Line Weight

Line weight refers to the variation in strength, thickness, and darkness of your line. Using line weight can add emphasis to an area of your design or it can also add volume and dimension. Using variations of line weight will help make your drawing more interesting.

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Sketch Examples:

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• How are these sketches utilizing line in a successful way?
• What are some ways the artist could add more variation to their lines? How would adding variation in line weight make them more successful?

Today we will:

• Discuss the differences in line weight and how they can be used to help make our sketches better
• Talk about what a good sketch looks like vs what a bad one looks like
• Start to sketch out our tattoo designs on a 5×10 piece of paper
  • Remember to choose the appropriate orientation for your sketch
• Make a blog post that answers the following questions:
  • What are you finding easy about designing a tattoo?
  • What are some problems or difficulties you are having?
  • Which artist did you choose to be inspired by and what have you sketched so far that has been influenced by them?
  • How will you continue your sketch and what is your plan for you final design?

Today’s essential question: How can I create an original tattoo in the style of another tattoo artist? 

Today we will discuss different tattoo artists and how we can plan to design and create our own digital tattoos in Adobe Illustrator and AfterEffects. We will create a blog post about one of the tattoo artists and how they will inspire our own artwork.

Project Requirements:

• Part 1: Create a tattoo illustration inspired by the style of a tattoo artist using Adobe Illustrator.
  • Size: 5in x 10in
  • Unified Color Scheme
  • Contrast draws attention to focal point
  • Balance of Positive & Negative Space
  • Line weight
  • Well thought out placement and design
  • No words should be used in your tattoo

• Part 2: An animation projecting the tattoo onto your arm using motion tracking in Adobe AfterEffects
  • 10-15 seconds long
  • High quality craftsmanship
    • good quality video and animation

Tattoo Artists:

Kandace Layne

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Brittany Randell

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Rit Kit Tattoo

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Goldy_z

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Scott Campbell

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Sasha Unisex

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Brian Woo (dr_woo)

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Tim Hendricks

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Today We Will:

• Look at different tattoo artists to inspire our own project
• Pick one artist to write a blog post answering the following questions:
  • What do you like about the artist?
  • What do you wish was different about their work?
  • How do they use line weight and contrast in their work?
  • How do they use positive and negative space?
  • Does color impact the designs they make? If so how? If not how would using color improve the tattoos?
• Start to sketch our own tattoos to illustrate in Adobe Illustrator

I’m a Grad Student at Rochester Institute of Technology, getting my Masters in Arts Education. I also got my BFA from RIT in New Media Design, where I discovered my passion for UI/UX, as well as web design, animation, motion graphics, and prototyping. I love making things that move and engage.

I grew up right here in Rochester, so you can often find me going to some of my favorite places to visit like the MAG, Record Archive, and the pier at Charolette Beach. Oh, and of course eating garbage plates at Henrietta Hots.

Besides design and teaching, I also love to play soccer, snowboard, play on RIT’s quidditch team, watch movies with friends, and travel.

You can see more of my work on my portfolio website: https://rachelmanhardt.com/

This summer I studied abroad in the Galapagos Islands and Quito, Ecuador. My friends and I got to see many different landscapes and animals including Giant Tortoises, Blue Footed Boobies, Marine Iguanas, and Sea Lions. We even got to swim with sea turtles and sharks! Besides the wildlife we got to explore the different cities we lived in, try amazing new foods, experience the Ecuadorian culture, and meet many awesome people. (I have lots of photos and stories so feel free to ask)

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Oh, and this is my 17 year old cat Zoe. I got her for Christmas in Kindergarten. She’s awesome.