Baller Dull vs. Vibrant Skateboard Project

Dull vs. Vibrant

Skateboard Project

Objective

You will create two skateboard graphics using any creative tools you'd like. The first part of the assignment will be to think about, investigate, and define the project's theme as a class. We will further discuss these topics in class. You will then begin the design process with the goal of creating designs that will make your personal interpretation of the theme. You will then be responsible for creating a unique way to display your skateboard for the winter art show.

Goals

• Gain cultural/creative knowledge and perspective with your research

• Make good use of time and stay on task

• Have good craftsmanship (illustration, building, and mounting of boards)

• Be sure to follow the instructions

• Be creative, have original thoughts, use your imagination, and be inventive

• Gain technical competence and skill with materials and media (digital and hands-on creation and building)

First, I went and sketched out my general idea of how I wanted to do this project. I wanted to do this project in the sub division of Life vs. Death while implementing the Dull vs vibrant theme.

I decided to do my drawing based off of the hands in "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo

Soon after I went straight to Fresco and began expanding on my general idea, I made a basic drawings heavily basing the designs off Life vs Death.

After spending a couple days going through many versions of the design. I had decided that I was happy with the skeleton hand design, but the living hand needed a lot of work. I also decided that the Life side was lacking in Vibrance and so I redesigned a brighter, more basic background that still made the board look great and tying the entire project together. I settles on these two versions, which captivated the idea I had. The next step was to bring my idea to life.

I settled on the tedious, yet practical choice of doing the gel transfer process. Then I began to peel back the paper to reveal the background of each design. Unfortunately, white does not transfer over during a gel transfer meaning that I would need to paint the hands, so this was just the beginning of my project...

After nearly 7 hours of peeling back paper, the gel transfer was complete, yet again, fortune would not have my side as this came with a couple spots of error. As seen below, little flakes of the background peeled up in certain areas and were near impossible to fix.

These little setbacks did not keep me down as I then began to work on painting the hands. I applied three layers of white acrylic paint.

I then went on to add details to the hands using black paint markers.

Finally, I went on to apply the coating to the board to protect the paint. I put on 5 layers of clear, high-gloss coating.

At last, the skateboard project was complete! Though it did not end up as good as I anticipated, I am still very happy with it. The gel transfer process was a time consuming nightmare that still had issues, If I had the ability to try this project again, I would have avoided doing the gel transfer. Nonetheless, the project looks very good I and I cannot wait to slap some grip tape and wheel on these and give them a ride.