Illustrator, Graphic Designer & Freehand Nostalgist

Click image for detail view.

Here I downloaded a few images and converted them into 1 colour traces. These images were used to create the “explosion” in the top left. A pencil sketch gave me an idea of what i wanted in the design, but not being able to predict the exact content was a compositional challenge. A trick i was taught is to squint your eyes too see a blur in front of you. This will help determine which are the strong/bold shapes that jump out at you. Using this technique you can proceed to soften dominating shapes with colour & scale…and visa versa, create more dominating shapes with colour & scale. (PULSE/Musica magazine)

From Wacom website
“Sleek, attractive design combined with wireless technology make Wacom′s Wireless Pen Tablet the perfect tool for people working digitally. Whether you are drawing, writing, navigating or editing images or videos, Wacom′s Wireless Pen Tablet simplifies your personal workspace by eliminating unwanted cables and providing unlimited freedom to work or create!

For a natural feel the Wireless Pen Tablet offers a 2,000 dpi resolution and comes with an ergonomic pen. This pen is battery-free and equipped with 512 levels of pressure-sensitivity for optimum control in all applications. Two programmable ExpressKeys on the Wireless Pen Tablet and customisable side switches on the pen provide fast navigation possibilities and allow comfortable user-specific settings. Take your time while working with the tablet, as the integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to 25 hours of continuous cable-free operation. An active A5 area provides a comfortable working space. The Wireless Pen Tablet is the ideal input device, not only for advanced Mac users but for all computer users.”
This was one of the best investments i made as an illustrator.

Above is another illustration done for Mind//Shift. My process here started with finding references of the 2 figures, the activist with the microphone, the arm wrestling and the crowd marching. I did an old school pencil trace of the references, scanned them into Photoshop and created the composition. I turned up the contrast to get a gritty bitmap which i imported into illustrator. Here i did a trace, added colour to the shapes and exported as eps back to Photoshop where i did post production, adding a slight blur to soften the vectors and some grain to push that gritty feel further.

Here is another example of the power of simple tools in your vector program.

Freehand has been discontinued and illustrator is integrating some FH workings into there CS3 package. Personally i have a mouse in both programs and still use FH because of familiarity, but inevitably will phase it out. If, like me, you in your migration process, here is a nifty tip for FH, and im sure you will find the principle works in Illustrator too.

mmm…can i create an illustration using only my circle tool? About 5 years ago while using Freehand alot i did this exercise. Often great results come from restrictions. I will share one of the techniques i discovered during this exercise shortly.

Rabid

I remember doing an exercise at art school called “blind contours” basically the lecturer gave you an object that could fit in the palm of your hand, which you had to proceed to draw with your eyes closed. This helped me let go of the fear of making mistakes, it helped let go of the mechanism that tells me what i think is there and helped me “Feel” with my eyes. I think this is a valuable tool for those starting out.

One of the deciding factors when i left my cubicle to become a freelancer was the fact that i had an obsession with pushing my ideas and techniques within the scope of digital art.

I have a severe caffiene addiction like most designers, so when i came across an illustration competition by Vida e caffe where the prize was free coffee and some cash and free coffee.

As a child i was exposed to Time magazine and when i was commissioned by Mind Shift (A similar publication) it brought alot of nostalgia to my work. This piece depicts the two economies in South Africa, the “Have’s” and “Have not’s” and governments struggle to bring them together.

Here is an illustration inspired by the work of Arthur DePins recently published in SHAPE magazine. One of the most important principles to me as an illustrator is to learn from the talent of others to unlock potential, push skill and craft talent.
www.arthurdepins.com