WAM Architectural Illustration  -   Watercolors and Sketches

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8.5 x 11 Ground Level Views

CACU Office Building-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 1997-Gould Evans.jpg
Dain Rausher-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-July 2002-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Excelsior Springs Museum Exterior-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-December 1998-Duncan.jpg
FBI Jacksonville-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-October 2009-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Fort Bliss-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-August 2008-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Idaho Recreation Center-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 1996-TSMG.jpg
Indoor Speedway-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 1997-Devine deFlon Yeager.jpg
KCOI Entry-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 2003-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
KCOI-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 2003-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Lawrence Public Library-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-October 2006-GLPM.jpg
National Parks Service-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-September 2002-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
VA Peoria-8x11 Watercolor with Ink Outline-July 2008-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Woodbridge House-11x8 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 2006-i3.jpg

Grounded for Good!

"A ground level view walks you right into the space"

The most experiential and dynamic perspective is a ground level view.  It offers the most telling opportunity to explain height and scale to our human dimensions,   and through close proximity better explains choice of materials  and perceived patterns/textures through color.   The downside is that the further the point of interest is away the flatter and the less interesting the project.  Plan element  beyond 100' are harder to perceive by our standing 5'6" average eye height   and must rely on  more vertical element (people, vegetation and built forms) to perceive the use of that location.

To further the dynamic perspective, it is important to have a foreground,middle and background elements.  This furthers the illusion of depth and can literally walk one into the rendering.   What happens in the  first 60 feet is the most dynamic area in the horizontal plane.  If the horizontal plane is underdeveloped or unimportant, a worms eye view can increase the dynamic perspective and removes this area from the viewers perception.

In choosing a perspective, I create several perspective viewpoint based on your requirements to best access the strength and weakness of each view and find that which you want to emphasis.

11 x 17 Ground Level Views

ADP-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-July 2002-Treanor.jpg
ALA Insurance-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-January 2001-BNIM.jpg
Bashor Library-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-February 2004-GLPM.jpg
Benedictine Acedemic Center-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-January 2008-Treanor.jpg
Butler County Courthouse-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-January 2000-Treanor.jpg
Elementary School-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-February 2001-GLPM.jpg
Ellis Apartments-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-January 1998-Wiedeman.jpg
Fiedler Hall-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-March 2002-PGAV.jpg
Frisco Retirement-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-April 2001-Treanor.jpg
Greek Tudor-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-July 2010-Treanor.jpg
Hashinger-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-August 2005-Treanor.jpg
Justin Hall-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-April 2007-BNIM.jpg
K State Culinary-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-April 2008-BNIM.jpg
KU Child Care-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 1999-Rafael.jpg
KU Union-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-May 2001-Gould Evans.jpg
Kansas State Hospitality Housing-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-January 2004-Treanor.jpg
Langston Hughes-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-June 1998-GLPM.jpg
Lawrence Museum of Natural History-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-October 2004-Treanor.jpg
Louisburg Library-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-September 2008-Treanor.jpg
Marriot-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-March 1999-Hedeen.jpg
Office Bank-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-September 1996-Treanor.jpg
Ohio Goveners Visitor Center-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-February 2008-Schooley Caudwell.jpg
Oklahoma-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-Janauary 2003-PGAV.jpg
Primo Restuarante-11x8.5 Watercolor with Ink Outline-February 2002-Ingalls Williams.jpg
Prosoco-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-October 1998-Treanor.jpg
Reitger Hall-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-September 2003-Treanor.jpg
Riverside Municipal-11x5 Watercolor with Ink Outline-October 2004-Hoefer Wysocki.jpg
Scott Davis Student Health-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-July 2002- Pittsburgh State.jpg
Skeet Shoot-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-May 2001-Bucher Willis Ratcliff.jpg
TKE-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-September 2000-Treanor.jpg
Warrensburg-11x17 Watercolor with Ink Outline-August 1999-Rafael.jpg
About Me Typical Illustration Process Planning & Budgeting Quotes & Contracts

avatar

Hi, some call me 'WAM' but Bill works just as well.

William (Bill) A. McBride
WAM Architectural Illustration
18 West 59th Street
Kansas City, MO 64113
office: 816-523-2345
cell: 816-806-1732
email: bill@wamiam.com

"When you speak with me, you are discussing your project with the owner, an architect, and an illustrator. Whatever your illustration needs, my experience and approach can make a difference to your next project . Call me at 816-523-2345"


Completed 1000's of illustrations for 100's of clients

Proprietor of WAM Architectual Illustration since 1993

Interned with International Architects Atelier (licensed in 1992).

Graduated from KU’s School of Architecture in 1988 (Bachelor of Architecture)

Step One - Perspective

This four part process starts with establishing a perspective view by using either a computer model provided or a basic model built by me.  Through discussions, I can provide you with additional viewpoints that you may feel better enhance your design.  Occasionally,  I work from photo's or build the perspective by hand but that limits the final view to that one choice.

Step Two - Line Drawing

This selected perspective will be further revealed through a basic line drawing, developing the context (activities, season, location background & foregrounds),  entourage (landscaping, people, site elements) and  design elements (details, materials,  lights).  As a supporting tool before watercoloring, color scheme and time of day  can influence the way I apply line gesture.

Step Three - Color Study

This is an optional step.  The color study is typically done for those that want to better see the design colors that have been either chosen, suggested or left to me to decide  before going on to the final watercolor.

Step Four - Watercolor

With all steps approved,  I make your final watercolor by printing the line drawing on watercolor paper mounted on gater board.  The line drawing can be screened for those that want a softer appearance or printed at 100% to reinforce edges and visible under the transparent watercolor medium.  There is a final review and comments period before providing the finished design.

 

General Budgeting

B&W Line - $200-$600

B&W Value - $350-$800

Color Study  - $200-$1200

8.5 x 11 Watercolor - $1000-$2000

11 x 17 Watercolor - $1500-$3500

 

Rendering Size

While each illustration varies in actual dimension, largely based on final chosen view, most illustrations are approximately 8.5" x 11" or 11" x 17".   Larger size renderings are possible but usually unnecessary because an enlarged reproduction of the original will typically meet most presentation requirements.

 

Cost Savings

Providing a computer model can save up to 15-30% of the cost of the rendering.

The smaller the size of the finished  illustration, the lower the overall cost.

Ground level views are usually less expensive then Aerials or Interiors.

 

Request a quote

Call me at 816-523-2345 or send your project information, including your phone number, to bill@wamiam.com. Tell me about your vision for the final product, your deadlines, and your client’s objectives.  With the specifics,  I can provide you a more accurate not-to-exceed fee.

 

Request a quote

Call me at 816-523-2345 or send your project information, including your phone number, to bill@wamiam.com. Tell me about your vision for the final product, your deadlines, and your client’s objectives.  With the specifics,  I can provide you a more accurate not-to-exceed fee for the work.

 

Reimbursables

Reimbursable expenses are costs of printing (offset, bubblejet, laser, photocopying, etc. including paper), mounting, delivery, packaging, framing, film, photo developing and any other means necessary for the completion of a rendering.  These costs, billed at my cost,  are additional to the illustration not-to-exceed fee. A typical watercolor averages $50.



Sales Tax

All businesses operating in Missouri are subject to Sales Tax  (7.25% as of July 2010) unless they are either tax exempt or charging sales tax themselves to their clients. Tax exempt entities are required to provide proof of exemption.  This tax is additional to the not-to-exceed fee.

 

Copyright

WAM retains the copyright to all renderings produced, including those shown on this website. Payment for services grants you and your client unlimited use of the rendering  for general business purposes.

 

 

© All images on this website are copyrighted