I wanted to challenge myself in designing holiday cards this year. The first holiday that came around is the Chinese new year, or lunar new year. This year is the year of the Rooster, and some say it as the Fire Rooster at that. The following are a few designs that I cranked out. I finally used my SurfacePro 4. I had issues getting the right brush settings and then realized that there is going to be a longer learning curve for me to adequately apply the surface to my workflow.
SurfacePro4
Got a SurfacePro 4 as a Christmas gift! Really looking forward in implementing the tablet applications into my design workflow.
I have been wanting to make my own ruling pen out of cans for a while now. I finally got to it and I enjoy the freedom and spontaneity of how the ink reacts tot he paper and motion. Another homage to Pokemon.
Day039 Hydrographics Blastoise
Pokemon Go just dropped and the future is here.
Day038 Hydrographics Magikarp
Day037 Hydrographics Tortuga
With these letters I clipped the Coronado bridge as a fill and palm trees in the background to complement the nautical aesthetic to the letters.
Day036 Hydrographics Adrift
Hi liters are one of my favorite tools to use for lettering. The angled chisel tip allows thick to thin variation with consistent line width. I would lay down pages and pages of the words before I scanned in the sketch to render in illustartor.
Day035 Hydrographics Ahoy!
I've taken a liking to brush lettering. All I have are some dried out markers so it was difficult to get the letters the way I wanted them initially. I have also taken a liking to the flare tool in illustrator as a quick way to add shines.
Day034 Hydrographics Carry On
I took a month off the challenge to work on a freelance t-shirt design. When i got back to it I wanted to come back strong. I have been inspired by neon lights and 80's design lately and applied these to this design.
Day033 Hydrographics Nautical
Often when experimenting with new styles in which I don't learn the basics it can end up messy.
Day032 Hydrographics Loose Ends
Mixed media: The letters were formed by using a masking fluid pen which would dry up and harden. I then applied the water color over the letters then rubbed the masking fluid off.
Day031 Hydrographics Just Keep Swimming
Finally got my tablet to work. I experimented with the brush tool and the pressure sensitivity to come up with this.
Day030 Hydrographics Rock the Boat
Day029 Hydrographics Octo
Environmental interactive type. Here i placed some rendered type under the La Jolla Scripps Pier. Rendered in illustrator and photoshop.
Day028 Hydrographics Scripps Pier
I wanted to replicate a topographical map of the deep sea with the letters here. Vectored in illustrator.
Day027 Hydrographics Deep Sea
Vectored sketch then placed on a photo I took of the Golden Gate Bridge. Here is my first time adding shading to overlapping areas.