Power-drill illustration

01 / In the beginning, there were illustrations.

The scope of the assignment.

For Infographie DIN1110, we were learning to airbrush in Photoshop. The assignment: create a photorealistic illustration entirely by hand.

Apparently, back in the prehistoric days of magazine production, drawing a photorealistic image was "easier and more reliable" than taking an actual photograph. We were learning this technique because we'd supposedly be expected to use it in the industry. (Spoiler: I never used it for work, and then image generation became a thing… the ONLY thing…)

Anyway, I chose a DeWalt because I love their style. The shapes, the yellow and black… very me. What else was I gonna pick? Shoes...? Not really my thing.

I mixed details from two models (the DCD776 and DCD985M2, I think) because I wanted that metal clip and yellow battery. Not an exact replica of either, but my own little DeWalt hybrid.

02 / One week · October 2013

An entire week. My idea of fun.

It was assigned as a Fall Reading Week project. Naturally, I spent my entire break on it.

Then again, I've been a weird kid for a loooong time. At five, I loved "playing" with Microsoft Bob. By eight, my favourite "toy" was already Photoshop.

A whole week "off"—minus the unfortunate interruptions of my part-time job. School and my apartment weren't going to pay for themselves. Waking up early, barely eating, going to bed late. Just me, Photoshop, and this drill. I've had to power (drill… hue hue hue) through plenty of assignments I didn't feel like doing, but this? This was fun.

03 / Layer by layer

The making of the thing.

First came the flat blocks of colour. Then the endless airbrushing: shadows, textures, highlights, reflections. I already knew how to use textures and blending modes, but that wasn't the point of the assignment. So I drew my own textures too. Every detail, made from scratch. I did use existing images for reference, though. That was part of the instructions. Still, I hope you'll forgive me.

The flat-colour version and finished illustration are here, side by side. Same drill. An entire week of work between them.

Some (most) people didn't believe I'd drawn it. I expected that, and ngl, it made me very proud. I had kept all my Photoshop layers separate, so I could show proof of every stroke and how I made it all come together.

Every shape, every highlight, every tiny detail. Proof of a week well spent. Indoors.

04 / Success and validation

A+. Aw yes, that's the good stuff.

You might have guessed it already: I'm a hoarder. Though I much prefer the word collector.

I still have an unreasonable amount of old schoolwork tucked away in neatly organised boxes, including the original grading sheet for this assignment. Of course I kept it.

20/20. An A+. A "Wow!" and a "Bravo!" thrown in for good measure.

That. shit. is. a. drug. to. me.

Validation through school grades. Cringe, I know. There's probably a fascinating psychological explanation for why a few words and a number on a piece of paper mean so much to me.

I'm guessing it's a completionist/gamer thing. Just like how I need all the achievements in every game I play, even if that game is shit and I hate playing it lol.