IF - Heart

'Heart'

I really wanted to create an illustration that tells a story and shows my influences from Disney character designers and animators.  They use a variety of mediums so well to create deceptively simple-looking but powerful character designs.  

IF - Pointy

Pointy

I wanted to experiment with a crisper, cleaner illustration style, as opposed to my usual, slightly messy approach.  I also wanted to simplify my message as I have a tendency to over complicate.  So here is my submission for illustration friday 'Pointy'.

My Sketchbook

It's been a couple of months since I posted anything and I haven't done any illustration projects since college finished but that doesn't mean I haven't been drawing.

So here are a few pages from my sketchbook.

Self-Portrait

My Window

Umbrella Plant

Mug

Jar and Glass

Peace Lily

Glass on table

I think it's important to keep drawing from life, even if (like me) it is just around the house.  I also think it's interesting to see the difference in how I draw and what I use, depending on my mood.  

Development Work

I think its always interesting to see how illustrators get to their final illustrations, and I find it really helpful to understand an illustrators process.

Here are some sketches, drawings and scribbles that show the development of my college project from concept to final.

Location Sketches

The first stage was to gather as much information on the subject.  Through observational drawing, research, reading.  The more information the better, obviously!

People Sketching

Monoprints

Ink drawings

Thumbnail ideas

Map research and sketches

Front Cover Options

Colour trial of monoprint

Final illustration

Final Map illustration

College Project

This is the finished illustrations and layouts for end of first year college project.  My project was on the Canonmills area of Edinburgh.  It is an area of Edinburgh that isn't as well known, so I created a magazine feature called 'Unseen City' that would highlight parts of a city that isn't so obvious to visit.  I'm especially pleased with the map illustration because I had never done one before.

Front Cover

Double Page Spread

Garlic

It is the role of the illustrator to make something that is quite ordinary, a bit more visually interesting. So, here are some sexy garlic bulbs.

Life Drawing

I've been doing some extra curricular life drawing classes recently.  Not exactly a class as there is no teacher.  But you still learn a lot.  Anyway, here are a few of my sketches coloured digitally.

Female 

Male