Final Illustration

Final Illustration

digital media: Photoshop
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This is the final for the illustration portion of the poster. I've added a few small details, as well as some volume using shadow. I wanted the character to be a bear, but also to look like someone who was wearing a bear suit. The flap in the front and the tip at the back of his head was to simulate a hooded sweatshirt with ears. Also, thanks to my colleague Patrick (concept artist) for suggesting to add the layered semi-transparent snowflakes at the base of the gradating background. It helped break up the monotony of a basic gradation, and gave it some interest.

For more information on the "mini Mardi Gras" charity event please visit:
www.minimardigras.ca

Colour Me Purple

Colour Me Purple

digital media: Photoshop
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digital media: Photoshop
click on thumbnail to view larger image

I wanted the poster to be vibrant without it having to be too colourful, so to not distract from the intended purpose which is the information. Orson is a bear. The name "Orson" is a play on the French word for bear, "ourson". It was between that or "René", which at the time sounded like it would fit well for a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras. Ok back to the bear. I went in colouring having a classic brown bear in mind. But after the first colouring pass I felt it was a bit too...normal. I thought of other colours and settled on a desaturated violet. I thought that other, more vibrant colours would make him look too much like one of the "Care Bears". I felt the violet version had more character and presence, but had a bit of doubt on whether or not he would read as a bear. Asking for advice from a colleague (concept artist), I was reassured that violet was the direction to go. Thanks Carolyn!

For more information on the "mini Mardi Gras" charity event please visit:
www.minimardigras.ca

Pencil Pushers Unite

Pencil Pushers Unite

digital media: Photoshop
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Based on the original thumbnail sketch I would usually redraw the illustration (cleaner and more detailed) traditionally using graphite on paper. Scan it. Retouch the lines in photoshop. And start colouring. For this piece I wanted something very clean, without having to use vectors. Personally I find vectors too clean, and my vision was for a traditional 2D cell shaded look. So I decided to go digital for the redraw. Not to say that you can't get a clean look from traditional methods, such as inking. But truthfully, my inking skills are not good enough to allow me to work as fast as my deadline permitted. The snowflakes are in fact vector illustrations, which I have previously created for a past project. Helped shave a lot of valuable time off my schedule.

For more information on the "mini Mardi Gras" charity event please visit:
www.minimardigras.ca

First Draft

First Draft

graphite on paper/digital media
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*Disclaimer: Logos were not designed by myself (mini Mardi Gras, Hagen, Telus or Transhing).

This was the first draft submission for the "mini Mardi Gras" poster composition and text layout. The poster met with a few challenges to overcome. 12"X18" final size, but mainly having to work on a bilingual (French & English) poster. Having both languages takes up more real estate, especially with a poster which isn't that big. I decided to split the text down the middle and to keep it at the bottom. Depending on the height that the poster is posted on a wall, I placed the text at the bottom to insure legibility.

For more information on the "mini Mardi Gras" charity event please visit:
www.minimardigras.ca

The Life of Orson

The Life of Orson

graphite on paper
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graphite on paper
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The next few posts will be dedicated to the poster I'm currently working on for a non profit charity fundraiser, in support of "The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. It's a worthy cause which will help out many of the kids who are in need, especially at a scary time in their young lives. Hopefully the work that the fund raising organization is doing will help ease their time spent in the hospital, as well as their recovery outside of it.

The images I've posted are the character design sketches for a mascot, created for the organization's upcoming event. I pretty much had free reign for this project concerning the subject matter. The briefing I was given was that the event will be themed as a "mini Mardi Gras" for children...in February. My first question was "Isn't Mardi Gras a mature theme?". Apparently it dates back to Ancient Rome as "Lupercalia", which I won't be getting into. So with the knowledge that Mardi Gras was not all dirty, I was ready to work on the poster. Inspired by the upcoming 2010 Olympics mascots as well as my nephew, I made my first sketches while on break in a "Texture & Shading course" at work. Yes, they made us do algebra...

My goal was to keep the shapes simple, playful and cartoony to appeal to children and their moms. I didn't want to play too much on the Mardi Gras aspect, because of the discordant color schemes related to the traditional costumes worn during the festival. I felt that it wouldn't appeal to the toddler age group, and wanted to keep a bright cartoon look. I wanted to avoid puting a mask on the character, because I wanted children and parents to relate to Orson (that's his name). I felt that since it would be a character that they've never seen before, it would be harder to get that connection if the face was obstructed. What I finally decided to do was to play up the fact that the event would take place in February. Thought of a few poses which would show character and playfulness, I came up with the idea of having Orson trying to catch snowflakes with his tongue. And it went from there.

For more information on the "mini Mardi Gras" charity event please visit:
www.minimardigras.ca