Need advice related to illustration/rendering

[hbryant]

I got my BA in Digital Arts which is generally an over view of graphic design, web design, video production, and 3D animation. With all that great schooling under my belt, I’m still looking for work in a field where I can put some of my art skills to use. I also draw, paint, and photograph. During my job search I came across companies that do 3D architectural rendering which followed along similar lines with my senior project. (I love modeling things realistically in 3D.) Unfortunately there are no companies in my area that do that. Instead I came across one company that does architectural illustrations by hand. This sparked my interest also since I love to draw and paint. I am very interested in the career, but I have a lot of questions about architectural illustration.

 

First off, do you think a degree in architecture is needed to do illustrations?

Do companies generally rely on their architects to do the illustration also or do they rely on freelance illustrators?

What steps could I take to do architectural illustrations professionally?

 

Any advice anyone can give me would be very helpful since I’m pretty clueless about the industry.

[IC]

Hi Heather,

In answer to your questions;

No, you don't need a degree in architecture to do illustration work but some architectural/technical knowledge is essential as 2d drawings aren't always very clear to a layman.

 

Some architectural firms have their own illustrators but not all and you'll find it's mainly developers who require the illustration work anyway. The architect is often just the one who organises the work.

 

It's not easy to get into such a specialised market but you could approach big architects firms with a view to working for them.

Try to get some decent portfolio work under your belt.

 

Hope this helps.

[mbr]

Get some plans and sections, then start building!

 

Then buy some architecture magazines, like Arch Record, Dwell, Arch Digest, Interior Design, Met Home, and others, that show you the buildings, the plans, etc. Look through Barnes and Noble's arch books, look at their plans, etc.

 

You need to familiarize your self with the terminology (like what o.c. means - On Center) and details. It's not hard, but it helps to have an idea what a mullions looks like.

 

Most important it practice. You've got the education, now you just have to apply it. You could probably contact a local architect, offer free services in exchange for knowledge. I'd bet a bunch would jump at it, as almost every architect I know would love to have nice images, but they can't afford them.

 

Good luck.

[Ernest Burden III]

You could probably contact a local architect, offer free services in exchange for knowledge.

 

I have to jump on that one--I do not agree with that. Charge what your service is worth. Do not offer a 'freebie'. More important to have a few samples that show what you can do and have a reasonable fee to do the work. It is hard to get started, but giving away work isn't the way to do it. An exception might be working with a friend who is just starting out in design. But not for the general public.

 

A good way to get materials from which to produce samples would be architectural design competitions. You can enter either with your own design skills or work with another former student and you will have a real project with real criteria and a real deadline. That would be a great way to see what you can do.

 

You must know archi-speak.

 

Here is a degree in architecture in one neat volume:

book by Frank Ching If I could have only one book on architecture that would be it.

 

You can always rely on us for further advice. Pleas post anything you feel shows your skills, whether digital or in the traditional artwork area.

[Frosty]

Ching is STILL the first book you buy in architecture school.

 

One of my profs, who recently passed away, went to school with him. He told me a story once about how they would have competitions by drawing parrallel horizontal lines freehand... the goal was to see who could get the closest without touching.

[vizwhiz]

hi There Heather

 

have you considered doing architectural renderings by hand "digitally"?

using FotoChop or Painter etc softwares you can blend both the freedom

 

of the hand look and feel (and tactile feedback)

 

while using digital softwares to create arch compositions

which are so much easier to edit (cut copy paste) and revise

 

than having to start over on another "original" hand version

 

i have a friend (yes even i have friends) who has been doing arch illustrations

for at least 35 years and about 5 years ago started to do "digital" renderings

 

awesome, and amazing is an understatement to say the least

but all of the Traditional knowledge, effort and practice is what counts

 

knowing and doing

 

"The ultimate Tool is the sieve in The Mind's Eye."

 

if only had half the Talent that i wish i had (i wish)

i would be a "old-style" hand "digital" arch illustrator

 

maybe Next Life Time

 

check out DennisB he has some excellent Tutorials

there was a Thread a while back about Traditional illustrator resources

 

if i can recollect correctly

 

good luck and post up some works-in-progress

the critiques and comments here are so helpful

 

a lot of work nowadays can be sent & transfered over the Internet

so proximity does not have to be a limiting factor that it used to be

 

you may want to consider getting a Tablet with a hand-held stylus

This may make it a lot easier to do 3d hand work instead of using a

 

mouse

 

Thanks

 

Randy