Summary
For this project, I wanted to create a series of paintings that could be presented in multiple formats and worked cohesively as a collection.
I selected seven objects from the Spencer Museum of Art’s Stewart Gallery Collection and focused on items that had varied textures, colors, and material compositions. Together, the paintings could be used to create a brochure, make information cards, or for marketing purposes.
The item illustrations are the core of the project, and it was important that the unique attributes of each item, such as if it was glazed, bronze, or textured, were apparent in the illustration. To best accomplish this, I saw the collection in person and took note of what stood out the most about each object, and then photographed them so that I could have reference when I was painting them. This process gave me a better understanding of each objects construction and how they look in different lighting than a single photo alone might have.
To make the illustrations, I used acrylic paint and colored pencil on a single sheet of watercolor paper so it was easier to mix colors among all the items. After the painting was done, I scanned them and separated them all so that they could be moved freely for the rest of the project.
Brochure Design
The brochure is designed to be folded into a 6″ x 6″ square and can be printed on an 11″ x 17″ sheet of paper. The painting of the building on the front lines up, and it is then opened to reveal the interior spread.
For the back of brochure, there is information about the gallery hours, address and contact information, and a painted map to show parking options and surrounding streets.
In the inside, each illustration is numbered and connects to a corresponding description. Since this is an example project I included my own contact information below, but the space would be well suited for donor information, a QR code linking to the gallery web page, or dates for the exhibit’s duration.
Information Cards
The slideshow above has the designed information cards that highlight each specific item. The print size is 4″ x 6″ so that they could be printed as standard postcards. The combined image layout is the same size, so it could be used as the back so that viewers could see how the object fits in with the rest of the collection.
(This was an individual project and not sponsored by/connected to the Museum)