If you're like me, and have always wondered how to make a repeat pattern, check out this awesome tutorial from Skillshare. It doesn't get simpler than this! https://youtu.be/rs2CDLiSSr0
It all starts with analogue
I sometimes think that the problem with being being a designer now, in contrast to years ago is that we have so many tools available to us, particularly digital tools and applications. A few days ago I started a new set of designs for a logo project. Rather than start on paper, I went straight to screen. Not long after starting I hit a snag. My ideas felt a bit lacklustre and void of feeling; they lacked the mark of a maker.
The following day I started roughing out ideas for a poster concept, for another client. With a pencil in hand, I noted key words in my clients preamble, applied those to some thumbnail layouts which were created so quickly my annotations were illegible, then went to screen. That afternoon I'd created a polished concept and sent through a draft for client consideration.
On the day after, I reopened the logo file for my other client. Still, I felt stuck, so I went outside to rake up the last of the leaves from autumn. (The logo job was for a garden nursery, so I considered my procrastination as being more like research). Later that afternoon I grabbed some brush markers and started doodling. Before long I had a few filled up a few pages full of black scribble, it all looked like a mess, but a few sparks of potential logo images could be found among it all. After scanning these and converting them to vector, that night I had many potential iterations.
Moral of the story: start analogue before going digital. Free yourself before restricting yourself to the constraints of software and a mouse/trackpad. Ideas happen faster when the travel straight from your head to hand, to paper. I tell my students this all the time, but I need to remind myself of this too. Sometimes taking the time to explore before you do the 'real' work can end up being a big timesaver.
The mark you can make with a pencil or brush pen is unique to you, unlike those brush presets in your software apps. Offering a genuine, honest mark, generally equals a happy client. As a designer, it makes the process more rewarding too.
Autumn
The morning brings a refreshing cool. Beads of dew adorn slender blades of grass, replenished after the intensity of summer.
Golden light streams through leaves, tentatively holding onto the branches that have sustained them.
Warmth sets upon my face.
The coming days brings gradual change.
Brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red and crimson. A remarkable display, as leaves dance upon a gentle breeze.
Finally reaching a stunning crescendo.
Illustration above by Mal Webster - Watercolour and pencil
An icy treat!
I haven't posted here for while, but thought I'd share this little gouache illustration I made yesterday. There's nothing quite like an icy treat on a scorching hot day!
Happy New Year
Rather than setting any new year resolutions for 2015 that I'd inevitably break, I decided to start a new creative project a few days ago that I could seamlessly continue with into the new year. The image below is an example of an unfinished piece of work from the project. Last year I seemed to experience a few bouts of creative block, but this little project seems to have freed me up a little... It has certainly felt that way over the last few days and I'll have more to share about it soon. For now though, happy new year. I'm going to make sure that 2015 is a healthy and creative one. I hope that yours will be too.
Cheers,
Mal.
