Watch Out!
The Start-Up
I just finished up another project, and this one pushed me out of my comfort zone! However, I am pleased with the new skills I have developed. My objective for this project was to learn how to create a vector base watch that looked photorealistic. I got right to sketching, getting out a couple of different watches I had in my jewelry box to help generate ideas.
I sketched out different components of my swatch as well as other watch details that I noticed either in my owl watch ring, my pocket watch necklace, or other watch pictures I looked at online.
Going Digital
I had asked some friends what watch I should do and one of them said they liked the idea I had sketch of the moon phase watch. It wasn't what I had originally thought of doing, but I though it could be fun. I started by doing some research on what moon phase watches were out there. I discovered quickly there were not many. So I collected a variety of different images and used them as a mood board.
I started with the dial of the watch, creating the moon phase markers, the hands, and crown. I was happy with this first draft. I then started to create the wrist bands. I found these to be one of the most complicated parts, but I was happy with the vector leather texture I created for for the blue band.
I honestly thought I had been doing okay at this point since friends didn't have much to say about it however after going to a mentor, I thought about changing my approach. I had purposefully made the lugs a simpler shape however he mentioned that the more details are added the less noticeable the imperfections. So I kind of started over. I deleted, added, and tweaked some things. However, I became discourage and wasn't motivated to do this watch anymore.
So, after one week on the moon phase watch, I started completely over and did what I had originally wanted to do- my swatch. I took a couple of pictures, looking at where the reflections, highlights, and shadows were. I picked one and then when back to the Adobe Illustrator. I took a slightly different approach. I created some colour samples which really helped me know where colours changed. Not only that, but I also observed why they would change colours. What it the lighting? The change in shape? I made me think about why I was applying a gradient or a gaussian blur to a certain area. It made me watch out and look at things I had looked before but never really but never really seen.
Unfortunately, I again didn't receive to much feedback on my new watch. However, the little feedback I did get did help me out in finishing my vector drawing. I had some colour issues that I had to fix as well as some shape problems, specifically regarding the case and bezel. I had also forgotten about the crown until that was pointed out to me. As I worked on those things I also was able to improve other things as well. I added the shadows cast by the hands, the wristband loops, and paid specific attention to the highlights found within the bezel and dial window.
Finishing
After working on the moon phase watch for one week and my swatch for another week, I can confidently say that I learned new skills and techniques in making a vector base drawing look photorealistic. Although I feel I could do more to continue to make my swatch photorealistic, I gave myself a two week period to accomplish this project and I am sticking to it. Even though I feel there could be more done to it, I am satisfied with the current result and feel I was able to accomplish most of my objective of learning how to create a vector base watch that looked photorealistic.
