Stop & Post August 2009

[Burpee]

I started a plane last night but I ran into the same problem that I do most times. How does everyone decide what part to make first and how much of it?

The plane I'm recreating looks to be made of riveted sheets of metal. I don't know if I should make each piece that looks riveted a separate piece or if I should make an entire background/silhouette of the body and place lines that look like rivets ontop of it.

I think I spend so much time trying to figure out how to construct my work as much as actually doing it. Is there a way to speed up the process by using 'rules of thumb'? (not to be confused with Mike's 'thumbnail').

Here's how far I've gotten. I went the 'entire silhouette' route but not sure it's the way to do it.

[Soquili]

Hi Nancy,

Looks like a P-40 Warhawk with Flying Tiger paint job.

May I recommend doing the entire silhouette/outline. You can fill in more or less detail as you see fit as you work on the image.

[HayTay]

Nancy,

It looks like what you're doing is working so far. You're off to a great start.

I don't know of any 'rules of thumb' but I tend to start with the largest and darkest area shapes first then build detail and lighter areas on top until I'm satisfied with what I've done. Everyone probably wonders why I'm addicted to doing so many tutorials from various sources. Well, the answer is, it continues to give me a lot of insight on how graphic artists, on a professional level, use their program of choice to build up a complex graphic, like your airplane, from simple shapes. When I quit learning new techniques from the available tutorials, then I guess I'll stop trying to do them.

I, for one, can't wait to see your completed plane.

Thanks for the sneak peek,
Harry

[Burpee]

Thank you both for the responses. I knew I should have done the whole silhouette I could have copied it in place then sliced out portions. Now I have to do the under-belly and cockpit separately.

I'm quite please with the nose and paint job so far. Looks very much like the photo I took. There were 2 of these at the show. One had a compartment (that I have not made yet) on the side open so you could see the works inside. I'm trying to recreate the other one...it had a shinier paint job.

When I get this done I'll post the photo too.

[angelize]

Very cool plane Nancy. I've been playing with an inlaid wood text effect this is what I've got so far.

[Burpee]

Your wood looks so real. Excellent.

[Ron Duke]

Nancy,
My preference is to do a background for the main body with few exceptions. Not knowing what the photo looks like I'll have to imagine that I would draw the wings separate from the fuselage as this would make coloring and shading much easier for me.

What you've done so far looks awesome!

[Burpee]

Thank you Ron. It's slow going for me with this as I'm having a very hard time making out the understructure of the plane. I hate to leave all the flaps and bulges off of it as it would look unrealistic.

[jvila]

hello burpee,
I always start drawing the contour to be able to intersect or clip view any piece inside it, that gives me the oportunity to not draw every border because the main cntour serves as a container.
Next I pay attention to draw from bottom to front and avoid sending shapes backwards, that is to say, I'm lazy every click I can save is welcome.
The other tip is to use just the creative days, many days every shape looks difficult and other days it flows without problem.
I hope it is useful.
Best regards

[jvila]

another detail.
I choose evry shape according its color, transparency or light direction