Using ILLUSTRATION for that special occasion!

Consider using illustration to celebrate and promote your special event! Case in point, here's an illustration I did some years ago to celebrate my high school class reunion. The cartoon mimics the traditional setting for our Senior class photo, taken every year outside in front of the entrance to our high school. I simply went back and changed the number on the banner to match this year's 35th reunion date...which we'll be celebrating tomorrow!

 

Illustration is sometimes about a play off of words.

When illustrating about a particular subject matter, I look for keywords or phrases in the copy that I can play off of when trying to create a fun illustration that ties into the article. Such is the case when creating a simple, fun piece of artwork about a child's 'loooooong day of reading.' Giraffe = Long...taadaa!

Illustration brings attention to your project!

I love what I do, and if I could sit around and create for the pure joy of it, I would! BUT...a guy has to make a living, and that means promoting one's self. Reminding existing and potential clients that I'm out here and I'm eager to work for them and create with them! __Wish me luck :-) Thanks!!!!

Baboon Butt Doodle

Took time out to do a little freeflow doodling yesterday. It's a good exercise and a relaxing break...but
the results can sometimes, most times, be disturbing :-) Taunting a superhero with the baboon butt. Go figure :-)

Have fun with illustration!

When illustrating about 'fast animals on the safari'...I wanted to take a different approach, away from the obvious. Something unexpected, something fun! __I know from working around, and drawing for, preschoolers that one of their favorite animals is the cheetah, and while they like it when I doodle out a cheetah stretched out and running...they always giggle when I doodle that same 'fast cheetah' running upright, like humans! __Being a Track & Field fan, I envisioned the cheetah running hurdles, but since there are no hurdles in the safari...why not have the cheetah hurdling over the tall grasses as he is in pursuit of a swift gazelle? Better yet, have him, the cheetah, wearing a true track uniform and spikes! I played the gazelle more straight forward with slight exaggeration and expression, thus keeping the main focus on the cheetah. ___The key here is....HAVE FUN WITH IT!

Illustration that's open to interpretation.

Many of the illustrations I create are done to accompany a written article or story. When this is the case the content (text) of the article makes the exlanation, or meaning,  of the illustration pretty self-explanatory. But when that same illustration is left to stand alone on its own, without any copy or explanation, I am often fascinated by the wide variety of interpretations the same illustration can ellicit. From good to bad, hilarious to hellfire, sigh to deeply intellectual, etc.
The illustration below is a good example of this. __ Trust me, it was created in the spirit of fun..but, without saying more, I'll leave it up to your imagination to decide the meaning, if any, behind this lovely image.  I'll never tell :-)

 

Creating Kid Friendly Characters

The manic, overly exaggerated characters I've been creating of late do not always work or transfer over to the children's market. so when creating a caterpillar character for a children's piece, I back off and soften the character. Still trying to maintain an inviting, non-threatening, friendly character with personality...and pants :-)