Dull vs. Vibrant
Skateboard Design Project
Create two skateboard graphics using any creative tools you'd like. The first part of the assignment will be to think about, investigate, and define the project's theme as a class. You will then begin the design process with the goal of creating designs that will make your personal interpretation of the theme. You will then be responsible for creating a unique way to display your skateboard for the winter art show.
Our class choose the theme of Dull vs. Vibrant
Through my skateboards I wanted to represent the contrast between a dull life and a vibrant life. I choose to use the connecting theme of a heart, the center of our lives.
First Sketches
I then moved my ideas into true illustrations using Adobe Fresco.
I originally picked out regular sized skateboards in plans of doing a gel transfer, however, after some consideration I re-sized and re-drew my illustrations, switching to mini-boards, now using a laser cutter to engrave my boards.
Here are my first tests using the laser cutter. I was testing out what speed and power I wanted to use.
After running multiple tests, I settled on the chosen speed and power and began my cuts.
After seeing the final engraves, I knew my vibrant board was missing something, vibrancy! I decided to hand paint the flowers and some other accessories on the board.
And for the final reveal...drum roll please...here are the results!
My thought process...
The theme of Dull vs. Vibrant immediately made me want to create illustrations demonstrating the feelings behind living a dull life vs. a vibrant life. Centering my skateboards around a human heart, I wanted to portray how the heart is the source behind how we live, dully or vibrantly. The heart strongly connects to our emotions and plays a role in our decisions. I chose to design my skateboards using a laser cut to fully enhance the feeling presented by the dull board and hand paint the laser cut on my vibrant board to provide color and light to the board. My dull skateboard offers darkness, damage, and death themes, while my vibrant skateboard demonstrates a lively, energetic, and full-of-life board.
Final Presented Boards
Overall, I am very happy with how my boards turned out and I had a great time creating this project!
