Creating Worlds

A Process Journal

This past week, I completed another instalment in a series of illustrated ‘havens’, so to speak. For this piece, it was dedicated to my cousin Eric and his bride Nicole; and the results could not have been more distinctly satisfying. Although the technical process was largely the same, the subject matter was very different this time around. Eric and Nicole’s interests varied from an abundance of Asian cuisine, a few TV drama personalities to travelling the world together. Below is how I arrived at the final result.

I began by digitally sketching out how the elements could fit together. Since cities were a big theme, I decided to have them standing as opposed to previous iterations to create a composition of contrasting scale between the letters and the rest of the elements.

After some deliberation on figuring out the viewing angle, I mocked up the 3D extrusion in Photoshop. I imagined the letters as giant structures on a platform with the ampersand as a unifying symbol.

After beginning work on the linear, I realized this was potentially the most detailed work I’ve done in a while. Some discipline was in order since including a sky and ocean in this world created additional logistical challenges that required serious planning. Perhaps the biggest lesson was to always work swiftly and broadly in the preliminary stages, avoiding the tendency to zoom in on details. In other words, perfectionism as a response to fear of drawing the unfamiliar was something to be heavily avoided.

My desk with various visual reference sprawled over top.

The final drawing, scanned and adjusted.

Colouring. The innumerable colour choices must be whittled down to simple palettes and applied quickly across the piece. The way I see it, Photoshop’s seemingly endless possibilities must be reduced into a traditional painter’s mentality; making the process far more efficient and organic.

Clearly, I was in the midst of learning these hard lessons by focussing too heavily on accurate colours in the “N”.

Tonally, there were far too many midtones and the letters were losing their central focus.

By turning the sunset into a sunrise (much more appropriate for a wedding anyway), the focus was returning onto the foreground. However, after applying more waves to the water in graphite, the piece was looking far too muddled. “Cutting the fat” of the piece was in order.

And once again, after several touch-ups and adjustment layers…..

From left to right, roughly: A four-storey Asian food emporium with Akiko’s, the venue of the couple’s first date, Sherlock and Don Draper, a Helipad with private helicopter, golf course, Great Barrier Reef below sea, a vineyard, The Lam Deluxe Casino, Hawaiian beach with pier and palm tress, and lastly Brady, Nicole’s golden doodle as 24/7 Skype sesh.

Me getting cozy with the mic.

To close out, I was asked to present the final piece at the wedding in Napa this past weekend. To Nicole and Eric, it was a joy to create this for the both of you. May it bring good memories and laughter in the years to come.

Until next time,

-J