Week 2: Tools

A new week, a new topic. This week let's try...

TOOLS.

So, this is a pretty wide area. Let's define it a bit.
What exactly are tools? For the parameters of this week, what are we counting as "tools"? Let's ask the Oxford dictionary on my laptop!

tool |toōl|
noun
1 a device or implement, esp. one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function : gardening tools.
• a thing used in an occupation or pursuit : computers are an essential tool | the ability to write clearly is a tool of the trade.
• a person used or exploited by another : the beautiful Estella is Miss Havisham's tool.
• Computing a piece of software that carries out a particular function, typically creating or modifying another program.
2 a distinct design in the tooling of a book.
• a small stamp or roller used to make such a design.
3 vulgar slang a man's penis.
• informal a dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person.

I think for simplicity's sake we can rule out definition 2. And for sanity's sake I'm ruling out definition 3. So that leaves the first definition, and specifically I think "a thing used in an occupation or pursuit" is appropriate.

Simply put, tools are something that enables you to perform a function. This is anything, from a wrench to a chainsaw to a... shotgun?

THIS... IS MY BOOMSTICK.

Ok, well maybe let's leave the guns for another week shall we? I'd suggest manual and power tools, but as ever it is up to you. Remember that tools exist in all time periods, so if you are feeling something medieval or futuristic it's all on the table.

IKUZE Toys!

I'm excited to begin this project with everyone and hope I can keep up!

I have not played with toys in so long and don't have any lying around at present. I was going to just post some sketches or inked work ("polished" props you say? haha), but running with the light and fun theme took a natural course into postcards.

When I was a kid, a family friend's baby owned one of these. Though I was too old to really play with it, I did like pushing the beads along their individual loopy courses. I think I was drawn to the colors and shapes.





Who didn't love Legos growing up? I think I owned the pirate set! It even came with a little red parrot.

My officemate and I would hide this toy soldier for the other to find. I'd open a drawer to grab a pen and there he'd be. Once he was camouflaged in my bamboo plant. Oh the ways we entertained ourselves.

Week 1: Progress

Things I learned this week: It takes longer than you think to draw props.

Good Molly: It's Sunday. You need to get cracking on your props. I know you've had a busy week but you can't fail your own self-project on week one. That is just sad.


Bad Molly: Psh. How hard can 5 props be? I'll do them in my sleep. I draw people all the time, they must be WAY more complicated.


~3 hours later~


Bad Molly: What the hell? Why are props so complicated!?


Good Molly: I told you this would happen. Now you're tired and out of time and you rushed through it. I hope you've learned your lesson.


Bad Molly: *grumble*

Here are my week one attempts for the toys project.

Rocking horse! Horse legs? Tough to draw!

Rubber duck!

Jack-In-The-Box: closed edition.

Simple toy car.

Doll house: eat your heart out, Joss Whedon.

I'd like to color these and do an open version of the jack-in-the-box, but we'll have to wait and see. There are more prop topics to explore! And hopefully future, wiser Molly won't leave it until the last minute. Eheh.

Oh, another thing I focused on when making my props was to really try to make them toy-like. Which seems self explanatory, but I think it's easy for a doll house or a toy car to look like a real house or real car. I approached that challenge by giving my doll house a base and emphasizing the design on the car, pushing it towards fun and less towards realism. I tried to stay conscious of this in all of my toys.

Week 1: Toys

For the first week I thought it would be fun to try something with a lot of options, so the first theme is...  

TOYS.

So, it can be five different toys or five of the same. Toys are cute and goofy and there are about a million types to choose from. If anyone has more suggestions for future themes let me know I'm happy to oblige! 

First Post

Testing this out to make sure it will work the way I want for the project.

The idea: There is not enough emphasis on prop and asset design in formal art education! So I decided it was time for a little self-directed study.

The goal: I'm going to set a theme, and each week develop five props based on that theme. The props could all be the same object (five lamps, five cars, etc) or the props could be 5 from a similar place (five carnival foods, 5 office supplies etc.) Each week I'll try to polish them as best as I can and if there is time the "extra credit" goal is to do a turn around for one object.

To friends who are thinking of doing this with me: There is no pressure! Do what you want to do, if you want to design outside the theme, just say what theme you were thinking about! While posting every week would be the most fun, just post when you can! Drawing is supposed to be FUN, not a chore!