Amazing Animal: Monarch Butterfly
Background
The objective of this project was to selected an animal and craft four different versions of it using both traditional and digital techniques.
Reference Photo and Encyclopedia Drawing
This is the photo I referenced for all four variations of my butterfly (left) and my photorealistic encyclopedia drawing (right). The encyclopedia drawing is supposed to be life-like, so I included all details like the white dots and shading in the wings.
Logo
The logo I created is meant to be simplistic but still convey the complexities that a butterfly offers. This logo needs to preform well in various forms such as business cards, apparel, and marketing collateral.
Process
I sketched many different versions of a butterfly using different design concepts and principles. I sketched some that didn't even make much sense because sometimes that's how the best ideas come. I refined by best version (first below) by taking out some details to make it more simplistic.
Gesture
For the gesture drawing, I used a variety of materials to loosely draw the essence of the animal. Using India Ink, charcoal, pen, crayon, and Sharpie I used my whole arm instead of my fine motor skills to loosely draw a butterfly.
Process
Using a variety of mediums, I loosely drew the animal repeatedly while switching materials (ink, Sharpie, etc.) and methods (continuous line, gestalt, etc.). Each iteration was under 45 seconds and resemble the monarch reference photo in some way.
Transformation
For the transformation aspect of the project, I had to think about ideas that relate to a butterfly but are not explicitly implied when thinking or talking about one. Using puns, research, and other knowledge of butterflies I transformed my butterfly into a balloon animal using graphite. Given that butterflies fly and seemingly hover in the air, it was fitting to use that air aspect to my advantage.
Process
Thinking of different aspects that relate to butterflies I thought of travel, air, flowers, etc. I refined my first image of the butterfly full of balloons into a balloon animal since it was a stronger concept.
