LaForte Classes

Perhaps some of my students feel this way?

Today’s quick sketch. There’s some tweaks in the perspective, but it was all freehanded and didn’t set hard vanishing points for control. For a tighter sketch, ...set the horizon line and vps from the get-go! Graphite lead, black ink, markers, prismacolor pencils, touches of white-out paint. Total time: 30-45min? Tough to gauge as I pause a lot to field questions or talk about specific points

Psychology in design. Yes, it matters

A fellow Cranbrook cohort making a big difference in his community

Many of you know I love Simon’s work and have shared his work with my classes at times. This looks Amaze-bots!!!

Love this so much! Take some time out to enjoy little moments!

If you’re in need of other resources for your research

Let’s hope things go a little smoother than this next week! :)

I was telling my students about the incredible talent of my friend Jeremy Bear on one of our last in-person sessions a few days before this crisis kicked in. Today he posted this process sequence and I couldn't have asked for a better learning example of progressively flushing out and forward your concept. From rough to refined. It's the same process whether it's an industrial design concept sketch, architecture and interiors, or an illustration for any number of industries. Thanks for sharing your work with us Jeremy Bear. You're the KING!

Just received word from President Conoley. We will not have any classes this week. Classes will resume on March 23rd online/remotely and for the duration of the semester.

Nurbs or Polys? Whatever works for your design!

Much of what I’ve described about the process of sketching and the difference between drawing on paper vs tablet glass

Yesterday’s demo. Automotive trade show design on blue Canson or Strathmore art paper. This demo is less about the design and more of just applying perspective ...and rendering principals/rules to form/plane logic. The paper is pretty deep already, so markers below 40-50% grey have almost no effect, though can still be used for blending. Read the value of your base material and then apply markers from that level and deeper. Lighter surface values come from using white and/or lighter colored pencils and white paint for light bursts and shine glares. Always remember to push the contrast, it always pays off, and be sure to obey the basic rules of perspective. Lastly, or firstly, clean linemanship is a fundamental technique. If you struggle to create clean lines, use straight-edges and French/sweep curves and ellipse guides. With a couple more hours of focused attention, I think this could be a pretty good scene, and maybe even a design concept would emerge, though it would help to start with that first! Remember to have fun. If you’re not having fun designing, you’re probably doing something wrong! See more

What is that?! Love it!

This is a great example of just letting go and you might just find something truly new. Don’t under value the importance of play in your discovery

Timeless and never requires a battery