Buick Cutaway Line Illustration
Randal created this line illustration of the side view of a Buick to illustrate an computer controlled automotive fuel system. The work was commissioned by a Chicago area ad agency in the 1980′s.
Randal was commissioned by Rich Nickel Design to create an aerial perspective cutaway illustration of a client printing facility. The client was Quantum Graphics, located in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Randal first worked from architectural blueprint drawings to construct a 3D perspective wireframe of the building and the interior components that were to be revealed in the cutaway. Here is the final 3D wireframe aerial perspective model.
Quantum Graphics 3D Wireframe
Once this view was approved by Quantum and Rich Nickel Design, Randal converted the 3D model to 2D line art and began rendering it using a combination of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop software tools.
Quantum Graphics - Aerial Perspective Cutaway
The final digital file was supplied to the designer, and used as a 4-color fold out spread in a Quantum Graphics company capabilities brochure. The designer also created a translucent overlay that contained leader lines and captions describing the different areas of this printing plant facility.
Isometric Line Drawing of Tugboat
Randal Birkey completed this isometric line drawing of a tugboat as a part of a series of illustrations for a ship and barge manufacturing company. This cutaway reveals the bulkheads and inner structure of the tugboat.
Randal Birkey put together this self-promotional ad for the 1997 Black Book.
It features:
1997 Black Book Ad
Randal Birkey put together this self-promotional ad for the 1998 Black Book.
It features:
1998 Black Book Ad
555 W. Jackson Blvd - Isometric Building Cutaway
Randal Birkey created this pen and ink line drawing in an isometric layout in order to show an office building floor plan in a three dimensional yet true to scale fashion. This image was used for self-promotion as a architectural illustration portfolio piece in the 1980′s.
The original art was produced using Rapid-o-graph ink pens on smooth, 20″ x 30″ cold press illustration board.
As a part of developing a technical illustration business in the 1980′s, Randal Birkey did many illustrations as “self-promotion.” These projects were designed to push skills and abilities further, and to show prospective customers what could be done.
This pen and ink line art illustration of a Renault Elf Formula One racing car was carefully constructed by the illustrator using a scale model as a reference. The right front and rear tires were shown transparently to reveal the brake systems. The top body panel was rendered transparent to reveal the driver cockpit area. The top rear body panels were also shown transparently to reveal engine intake and exhaust components.
Randal went on to finish this illustration in color and it was used on a number of his self-promotion ads during the 1980′s and early 1990′s.
Renault Elf Racing Car - line art
Renault Elf Racing Car - Color
Randal Birkey was commissioned to produce a series of architectural illustrations of the renovation project of “Symphony Center,” the home of the world renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Orchestra Hall, as it is also known, was undergoing an extensive renovation, as well as being connected to another building around the corner from Michigan Avenue. Together, this new combined complex was to be called “Symphony Center,” and would house not only the auditorium, but also all the practice rooms, backstage production and staging areas, and the headquarter offices for the organization.
This illustration was produced by Randal working from the architectural blueprints, in a Mac based 3D perspective wireframe application. Once the view and level of line detail was reached, the line work was transferred to a 2D drawing program called Fractal Painter.
In the Painter software, all the watercolor and color pencil texturing was added. A Wacom tablet was required for the kind of control needed for the digital “brushes.” The application and tablet ran on an Apple Macintosh computer.
Additional illustrations were completed including: a cutaway elevation, lobby view, floor plan, and auditorium views. These illustrations were all used in a high-end printed piece that went to CSO supporters to communicate the renovation project details, and also as a fund-raising tool.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall - Symphony Center
Arlington Park Race Track - exploded view isometric diagram
The Arlington Park Racetrack experienced a major fire in 1985 that destroyed most of the main grandstand and clubhouse building. A new building was designed and constructed in 1989, and the ad agency was hired to produce new map and floor plan handouts for racetrack patrons to use in navigating the campus.
Randal Birkey was contracted by Dimeo, Rosen & Partners to produce an “exploded view” diagram of the new grandstand building, showing what was on each floor and locating major exits, restrooms, etc.
Randal worked from technical architectural blueprint scale drawings to create an isometric diagram in Adobe Illustrator.
Arlington Million - Race Logo
Randal also recreated and cleaned up the Arlington Million race logo in Adobe Photoshop for the same ad agency.
Contact Randal Birkey for all your cutaway and exploded view architectural illustration needs.
Randal did this vector digital illustration in Adobe Illustrator for Ameritech’s “Signals” magazine in the 1980′s. It demonstrates how their wireless technology can penetrate walls and windows in buildings giving customers better cell signal reception.
Ameritech Signals Magazine - Diagram