Practice Makes Perfect: Calligraphy / Hand Lettering

Once again, it's been a little while since I've last updated my blog! Since beginning my job at a great little design company in Leicestershire, I have a whole new respect and understanding for all those 9 to 5 (or longer) workers out there! I feel your pain! I know your tiredness and it's taken me a little while to get into the swing of things.

In any case I'm not complaining - I realise how lucky I am for going straight into a job after finishing university and it's already provided me with so much more insight and knowledge in the world of graphic design.

In my spare time, I've taken to practicing my illustration skills in the form of typography and calligraphy! I even took a small morning course to get to grips with the correct way to write calligraphy this weekend, which was great fun! Now I've just got to stay in practice!

It shouldn't be hard - I absolutely LOVE it!

Muesli out of Museli: Typography project experiment

Apologies for lack of blogging recently, Christmas was crazy busy and I've only just got back into the swing of things with uni work! (Sorta...)

For one of my projects which is typography based I've been trying out some words using the food they're mentioning! Here's my experiments with 'Muesli' made of Muesli! :)

'MIRAGE' Textiles Pattern (2 part series) - NOW AVAILABLE!

Woo, I'm excited about this pattern!
Lovely, simple pattern to make and looks great!

I've named the pattern 'Mirage' and it's part of a 2 part series.
The other half, you can find on Society6 also!

To see the rest of the collection of this design, follow this link:
http://society6.com/Elmerchant/MIRAGE-02_Print?show=promoters#user_list

AND THERE'S FREE SHIPPING UNTIL SUNDAY!!!

Promote, and share with all your friends! :) 

New "Rust" Collection on Society6!

I'm really happy that I've recently discovered Society6! It gives me a chance to put my designs onto things I've wanted to for a long time, but have had no way of physically doing it. Although I'd prefer to be making everything myself, for the time being this is the best possible solution I can see! And it does have it's positives with people being able to promote and comment on your designs! 

So without further ado...

Available on all kinds of products! 

You can find the website here: http://society6.com/Elmerchant/Rust-aKd_Print

Effect Test: Watercolour Painting In Illustrator

Continuing with some effects tests in Illustrator I wanted to do another watercolour image.

I used a random face off google for the black features, but then tried adding in tone and depth with different colours and shaped strokes with the built in brush tools.

This was inspired partly by one of my favourite artists, Marion Bolognesi, however I still have a way to go before I reach the standard of art that she produces!

Illustrator Brushes: Making A Watercolour Effect

Inspired by some fashion illustrations I saw,  I decided to try to make some images for a friends poster using the brushes on Adobe Illustrator. I wanted a watercolour effect and tried building up some subtle contour and shading using different brush styles and colours.

The only thing I found, which I didn't like was the fact that the colours weren't that vibrant when you used them with the 'watercolour' effect. Understandably, watercolour isn't meant to be eye-popping anyways but I think it could have enhanced it slightly.

I suppose I could always actually paint an image to get the desired effect, but that's going to be for another time...

Pattern Sneek Peek!

Inspired by some simplistic art work I found online, I've recently been creating a pattern for a competition. I don't want to give too much away as of yet though but here's a little preview of some colour options...

Procrastination: Zombie Maker

Yesterday I almost sat down to do some summer project research until I realised that I could have more fun by turning my friend Nik into a zombie. I'd done something similar for a Zine I created for coursework this year, which he really liked and so when he said this I set about turning him into one (but more gruesome and gory than I've done before)

It's sad to say that this is the first bit of art I've created this summer for fun, rather than for someone else. Suppose I had to start somewhere! 

- Original Photograph -

- Zombie Nik - 

NEW PROJECT: Company Branding / Logo Design (Initial ideas)

FINALLY! I have a new project to work on at my internship and it's a branding one involving everything you can think of... logo, posters, website, shop graphics... the lot!

I've done all the preliminary research about industry competition and started putting a client presentation together so when the project is finished (I don't think i'll be here long enough to finish everything) - bits can be dropped in easily as there's already a template available. 

Today is the first day I've begun making some logos for the new company, who are calling themselves 'Coral'. I think the first obvious steps of designing the logo would be to do what I've done and go straight to working with coral shells and sea coral. 

With the first shell I think I am going to try to figure out a way to use this as a 'C' for the start of the company name 'Coral'.

-A Closeup of two of the shells-

-A closeup of two pieces of sea coral-

I have also tried to use a kind of hibiscus flower native to the company's startup country - Jamaica. I'm not too sure how I feel about these yet though...

- Close up of flower-

This is just the start. More to come soon...

Moroccan Patterning: Repeat Pattern/Texture (Final Option)

The final option I created for the Moroccan food van I was asked to design for (at my internship) was a repeat pattern I made using a pattern I found and a texture that I created. This actually turned out to be my favourite result of them all, and annoyingly it only took me about 1 minute to create as I was messing around with some Photoshop effects for some ideas, and this happened! 

Yet again, it's another case of a happy accident when it comes to me creating patterns!

I kinda hope the client picks this pattern to cover his van!

It's definitely the best, in my opinion!

Moroccan Patterning: Continued

As a continuation of my post from yesterday, here are some examples of colour schemes I began playing around with after deciding on my pattern. Moroccan colours are generally quite earthy and golden, but their flag also has green in it. I tried to consider this when choosing my colours.

1. Red and Gold (simple but effective)

2. Green and Gold.

I developed the flowers a little further here by adding in some detail to their centres

3. Red, Green and Gold.

My favourite of the three. Bold, rich and lively.

I also played around with some other shapes and textures to try to create a mosaic/tiled effect.

Below is an example of what I mean.

I also tried creating a simple texture in Photoshop, which I'm aware the boss doesn't favour using (and which I'll post soon), but to be honest is my favourite design of them all... We'll soon see what the client thinks when he takes my mock-ups to him to view.

Competition Time!

To try to keep myself in practice/my hand in the door sort-of speak, I am going to be trying to enter some design competitions over the summer and I recently found a new website (http://www.creativeallies.com) where this was possible!

The piece above was something I created using a similar pattern that I have previously displayed on this blog (but altered slightly to fit the competitions brief) as it seemed to tick most of the boxes that it was asking for. It is a commemorative piece of art designed for the music artist Woodkid to celebrate the release of his debut album, The Golden Age! 

Soon, I think there will be a chance for people to vote for their favourite entries so I am excited to get the link posted out as soon as thats possible! Fingers crossed my design can gain some good numbers!

My Trip To Switzerland: Video Footage!

So my last post was about the awesome time I had in Switzerland over a weekend in early May... and this... well... I've finally finished putting together and editing the video footage that I captured into a pretty cool montage for your viewing pleasure! 

I hope you enjoy!

My Weekend Trip To Switzerland

This weekend I traveled to Switzerland with my mum, aunt and aunts next door neighbour (lol) to visit my cousin who is currently working out there! As I have no work to post at the moment, I thought I would post some of the photos that have inspired me ready for my next art venture, which I am a little bit excited about to be honest! Here goes...

Day 1:

What an awesome way to start the first day in Switzerland! After leaving the airport we all walked around Lake Geneva, and I ended up spending most of my money on chocolates for people (although I'm not sure who yet, haha) and took some amazing photos! We then retreated back to my cousins house - fully equipped with a bomb shelter (?!) and got cosy for the night. Considering it wasn't a terribly busy day, the walking and the flight definitely tired me out! 

Day 2:

The second day absolutely ruined me after 4 hours of walking at different inclines around the open air Swiss museum! I Kinda forgot that 'walking around' in Switzerland generally doesn't include a level surface. It was a great day though and awesome to meet up with my friend, Joy Paton, outside of Leicester though. The views there, which included lush greenery and snow capped mountains, were absolutely incredible - as were the ones at the lakeside where we ate dinner. Absolutely mind blowing! That evening we spent watching the Eurovision song contest (more like forced to) and just chilling out. It was a well deserved rest!

Day 3:

This day was another brilliant day... possibly the best yet! We took an exciting tram and cable car ride to the top of a mountain, which slowly ascended into the snowy peaks where we ate dinner amongst the clouds and memories of the fun I had snowboarding came flooding back. It was incredible to go from standing on green pastures, to standing on snow within a matter of minutes! This was followed up by a visit to the ridiculously cute village of Gruyeres where after a challenging climb up the hill, we were greeted with cobbled roads, traditional Swiss horn players, a lovely castle and more incredible views! The castle gave me some awesome ideas for some art work, which I am eager to get on with as soon as I get back to my desk in Leicester! :)

Day 4:

The final day brought with it a mix of emotion - sad to leave such a beautiful place, but happy that my legs would get a well earned break and I could rest properly back in my own bed! This day consisted of a short trip across the lake, from Oushy in Lausanne (Switzerland) to Evian in France! As the day we went was a bank holiday however, not a lot of things were open but it gave us just enough time to eat lunch, have a short walk around and buy some souvenirs! It felt crazy to be crossing a lake into a different country as opposed to the usual sea-trips you would associate such things with! The day however, was very enjoyable and the hills in France were a patch on those we had been walking the day before! It has been a thoroughly enjoyable weekend! Another place I can cross off my 'to visit' list! 

Book Illustration: Brave New World

As part of our illustration module at the beginning of the year we were asked to make 3 images and a cover to use to accompany the book, Brave New World. 

The book itself if quite messed up, and reminds me almost of George Orwell's 1984 - but opposite. I've tried to make the images represent this twisted, backwards reality with a series of abstract portraits to tell the story. 

Book Cover

The night before the final deadline I decided to re-draw two of the above images (Cover and decapitated head). Looking back on the work because it was done a few months ago, I'd like to think I could do a better job of them if I tried again however they sadly weren't going to be worth enough marks to warrant a complete re-design.

Stencilled Informational Card Pack: Fish Facts

After hours of cutting and many plasters, blisters plus a finger that hasn't regained feeling yet, my informational card pack - based on fish - is finally done! I'm pretty happy with these despite a few alignment mistakes, but it's not that noticeable! :) Check it out!

Box containing the cards

Cards inside the box

The whole range of cards on display

Front and back design of cards

Back is cut to look like fish scales

American Propaganda (Uncle Sam) Exhibition Model

It's the project that's caused me the most stress and confusion but I think I've finally got it! 

(Well.. I'm happy with what I've done now so it's tough shit if it's still wrong)

The aim was to create an exhibition based on something you'd written about previously in the year and so I chose the Uncle Sam propaganda posters by James Montgommery Flagg. 

There is a poster and a postcard to go along with the model, but here is what I've come up with.

Entrance / Exit view

The red lines connect the work to each other and stem from the main 'I Want You' poster.

(Which is technically/historically correct as they all followed in suit after the first one was so successful)

Side View 01

Side View 02

Finished Zine: View on Issuu

Finally finished my Zine and handed it in last Thursday, which was a big relief! 

I thought it'd be cool to share what I made on here!

My Zine is based on a typical lifestyle magazine, but for the dead housewife!

So a little bit of a twist on the norm.

Anyways.....

Check out AFTERLIFESTYLE ZINE here!!!

And let me know what you think! That'd be awesome! 

Informational Project: No Pain, No Gain

I haven't blogged in a while due to the sheer amount of work I've been trying to finish (or in some cases put off till last minute) but one in particular has been a real pain.. literally.

For an informational project based on Fish I've been stencilling and cutting out cards (like trump cards) with the picture of them on the front and a scaly reverse. It's been pretty time consuming and finally, now that I've lost all sensation in the tip of my right index finger, along with some skin on my middle finger and thumb... I'm almost done!

Here's a little glimpse of what I'm up to and why my hands are in such bad condition at the moment. 

Please excuse the bad quality photos, I don't have time to take fancy ones!

I've been using masking tape on my hands to protect my skin and reduce the pain in my fingers!

A small preview of the back of the cards