This was an exercise in improving the value (Black and white contrast) in my drawings. I found an interesting collection of models covered in black greasepaint. The light would reflect off the black grease to a give extreme white reflections. Perfect for drastic light and dark values. I like to give myself exercises or projects in my sketchbook. I’ve heard from multiple designers and artists in a variety of different medias from graphic design to painting that everything stems from drawing. So work at it.
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At my last job, I always had my sketchbook in my bookbag to draw during my lunchbreaks. Part of my job was searching through stock photos to find decent usable materials. I came across this photo and just had to draw it for some reason.
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I had so much fun with last month’s World Collabs contest that I could not wait for the next feature to be released. For anyone unfamiliar to the Abduzeedo World Collabs, it is a competition where one designer is asked to submit a design concept and contestants take the artwork and use the elements to create something unique. This month’s designer was a new name for me, but his work is definitely worth checking out. João Oliveira is a portuguese graphic designer and illustrator, born in 1986 and based in Porto.
For more information read the interview with Abduzeedo or visit his website.
The lovely fellows at Abduzeedo launched a new monthly contest for designers looking to explore the methods of some of their favourite designers. Designers are asked to submit an original incomplete design piece, and it’s up to the participants to complete the work. The contest is open to anyone and this third installment featured none other than Canadian Colour-Wheeler and design broadcaster, James White of Signalnoise.
I tried to approach this design as if James and I were working on this together. During his weekly broadcasts, he often addresses his inspiration being toys and characters from his favourite childhood cartoons, comics and videogames so that was going to be my approach. I wanted to feature something very common from the early 80’s that could work well with the rainbow flare style James uses.
I guess picking Voltron or Heman would have been more accurate to something James would draw inspiration from, but where’s the fun in that? My Little Pony, let’s roll out.
Be part of the creative-chat every Thursday at 3pm EST on the Signalnoise Broadcast.
To participate in the World Collabs contests, visit Abduzeedo.com.
This is an old project from a few years back when I was in design school. I really had a lot of fun with it. The assignment was to create a magazine ad for a local theatre house in the style of cubism.
I had never made any sort of attempt at cubism before and wasn’t quite sure how to approach it. After doing a bit of homework, I was off creating my first piece of cubism ever.
Looking at my reference shots, I figured the Madhatter would get the most appeal out of the cubist style. I began by drawing random straight, interconnecting lines over a reference shot of the Madhatter. After I was happy with the mess of connecting shapes, I used some transfer paper to place the lines on a fresh sheet of paper. I scanned the lines and printed them on some fresh paper and began rendering with Prismacolor pencils.
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This is a poster design I submitted for the Applied Arts Young Blood Awards Issue this year. I am pretty sure the nominees have already been notified so I guess that means “better luck next year, Mat”.
I began this piece when I was half way through reading George Orwell’s classic 1984. I don’t want to get too into an essay about it, but the theme in the novel is about Big Brother keeping the working class where they need them. They only exist because Big Brother allows them. I really enjoyed this book and it inspired this poster.
I created a giant Goliath monitoring the city while the man in main focus contemplates his plan to infiltrate the system.
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Frustration, oh the frustration in airbrushing a goalie mask. I painted my first goalie mask 2 years ago and I’ve painted a few more since then but let me tell you, it is a tedious process. I enjoy it, but I don’t promote it. It’s more of a hobby for me. I really just enjoy doing it for friends and my own goalie mask.
There is just too much effort that goes into making a good looking helmet that won’t be destroyed with one slap shot. Constant sanding to make sure every inch can grip the paint, mixing and layering your colours. Add the challenge of painting on a 3d object with a wavy shape and then hoping you don’t muck it up at any point and you’re done.
This helmet was for a friend that I met playing local pickup hockey. He asked for a mayan statue on both sides and some space on the chin for a future team logo. I drew up the sketch as a guide after I prepped the helmet for work. I don’t normally go into that much detail on a sketch, but I was waiting to receive his helmet and had time to draw. It’s always a great idea to map out where you’re going before you start a project, you’ll save so much time and hassle that way. I was a massive culprit of designing on the fly when I was student in college.
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