31st January 2010, 06:22 AM
Hi Pippyn...I agree with Chiz. I think it is also really important to look at old reports and publications (just look you don't have to read them!!) to try and get a sense of how archaeological illustration has developed and the range of possibilities. I think one of the problems with computer aided illustration is that it is very easy to fall into the 'Arial' trap of believing that there is one and only one format for illustration. Not the case. Quite often (as Chiz rightly says) illustration can add soul as well as clarity to a report and sometimes that is better achieved by a 'old-fashioned' type format.
I personally am not a great fan of using too many colours in archaeological illustration and I think one of the worst excesses of computer aided illustration is the belief that all 256 colours in your palette and a multitude of midtones should all make individual appearances somewhere in a report. So I would add to Chiz's good advice: its important to learn about stipple and shading and shadow. And the best way to do that is through practice. It needn't be expensive either. One of the best archaeological illustrators I ever came across produced all of his work using black Bic fineline biro pens.....
I personally am not a great fan of using too many colours in archaeological illustration and I think one of the worst excesses of computer aided illustration is the belief that all 256 colours in your palette and a multitude of midtones should all make individual appearances somewhere in a report. So I would add to Chiz's good advice: its important to learn about stipple and shading and shadow. And the best way to do that is through practice. It needn't be expensive either. One of the best archaeological illustrators I ever came across produced all of his work using black Bic fineline biro pens.....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...