I have enjoyed this class because it has forced me to determine how to solve visual problems in my artwork due to the very individual nature of this class and its projects. The first problem I faced in this class was relearning all the tools in each program. The landscape vector project was very helpful for this. I had the vision of what I wanted my landscape to look like but I had to figure out how to actually create it using the tools provided. So I looked up other projects similar to mine on pinterest and I studied how they combined and stacked shapes to make the style I wanted. Through this I was able to figure out which techniques worked best for my project and I was then able to create my landscape successfully .

 

The second big challenge for me was the self portrait project. Previous to this project I had only thought about adobe illustrator as the pen tool and filled in shapes. While this style has appeal I really enjoy more of a hand drawn and colored look. The only problem is that I had no idea how to accomplish this look. Fortunately there was a great tutorial on masonart.org that taught me some basic techniques that I had never thought about before. This tutorial opened my eyes to the many possibilities that illustrator offered to me. Now I was able to use this new knowledge to create a project that I would never have dreamed I could have done before this class.

 

The final big challenge for me was the final open project. I really enjoyed all the different styles of cartoons that I encountered while searching for inspiration on pinterest. The only problem was that while I was I could draw simple cartoons I had trouble giving them personality. They were always just a happy or sad face. This was not good enough for the project I had in mind. So in order to solve this problem I looked at tons of character design references and sketches on pinterest and drew inspiration and direction from how other artists were able to create personality though their cartoons expressions and body language. I then took time practicing this in my sketchbook at home. After some practice, I was able to get enough personality into my cartoons that I felt I was ready for this project. I was really happy with how this project came out and feel like while I have a lot more to improve this project is the beginning of improving my cartoons and giving them emotion and personality.