Illustrations

Drawing and illustration, allow to achieve very ambitious goals that very often determine the sale of a product, just think of the cover of a book or packaging, often purchased precisely because they are very attractive and engaging. Illustration also allows one to be able to represent what one is unable to achieve through photographic means, and consequently knowing and mastering these techniques further enriches a visual artifact.

The tools of the trade

The tools of the trade, is a series of illustrated objects that are meant to represent a profession in an iconic and recognizable way. In this case, I chose to depict the electrician's trade. After identifying the most representative tools of this profession, I obtained the actual objects to observe them up close. I analyzed their shapes and proportions to capture the essential elements that make them immediately recognizable. Next, I made a series of preliminary sketches, trying to simplify the shapes without losing fidelity to the main details. Once the sketches were completed, I scanned them and imported them into Adobe Illustrator, where I proceeded with vector drawing. This process allowed me to obtain stylized but precise illustrations capable of clearly communicating the essence of the tools and, consequently, of the electrician's profession.

Digitally finished pencil illustration for a wine label produced by the Veranda restaurant, shown in the image. Created to promote the wine and the restaurant.

Merlot Veranda

Merlot Veranda is an illustration executed in pencil, for the graphic design of a wine bottle label. In the field of graphic design, illustration plays a very important role, as it allows for the strong expression of various stylistic choices that enable the visual language of a well-defined audience to be in tune.

In the case of a wine bottle, the target audience is an adult audience of fairly refined tastes. For this reason, I desciso to lean toward a hatching style reminiscent of old copperplate engravings, evoking a sense of timeless elegance and craftsmanship. This type of mark not only gives character and depth to the image, but also dialogues very well with the texture of the papers used for the wine label.

In fact, virgin papers are very popular in the wine industry because they contribute to making the final product even more authentic and sophisticated. This combination of graphic technique, hand drawing and carefully chosen textured papers give the label a distinctive personality, capable of immediately conveying feelings of quality and refinement.

Oil-on-canvas portraits made by my former high school students at the American School of Saigon, with an overview of the origin and spread of oil painting that enriches understanding.

Oil Painting: Portraits

Oil painting developed in the Netherlands in the 15th century, although there is evidence of its use in earlier times, especially in the Mediterranean area. However, before then, there are no significant traces of artists who left emblematic works executed with this technique. It was in the Netherlands that oil painting was perfected and stabilized through the experiments of masters such as Jan van Eyck, who did not invent the technique, but made it more effective and refined.

Pigments and earth colors

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Lithographic print

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Progress in a sixth-grade student's drawing: evolving chiaroscuro, proportions, and attention to detail.

Case study, grade 6

Teaching visual arts presents many challenges, as it requires students to develop not only technical skills but also aesthetic sensitivity, observational ability, and an understanding of space and form. For this reason, it is essential that the learning process is built on solid foundations, starting with simple and targeted exercises and gradually introducing new difficulties and more complex contexts.

In this specific case, it is clear how the student progressively improves, refining not only their strokes and shading but also their ability to manage perspective and proportions. Each exercise represents a step forward in building their artistic awareness, allowing them to gain greater confidence and precision in execution.

I chose to present this case study because I consider the growth path of this middle school student exemplary. Thanks to consistent effort, they have made significant progress throughout the school year.

Middle School

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High School

Satirical illustration

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Illustrated poster: easter in the city

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