Type: Illustration, Graphic Design, Art Direction
About: I was reached out by a local indie band, Ramen Fog, to create an art commission for their newest album cover and tote bag merch drop. The band was looking for a quirkly illustration inspired by Camosun Bog, a local nature reserve in Vancouver, BC that held sentimental value for the band.
Brainstorming Process: The visual direction went through a few trial rounds before we found common ground. What helped tremendously was physically visiting Camosun Bog and making observations of different quirks I would not have noticed through a quick, internet search. Details such as the wooden boardwalk, the super tall trees, vibrant moss and playful variety of textures really stuck out to me and helped to shape the overall feel of the drawing.
Drawing Process: Based off the notes that I observed on site, I began crafting my own scene with many of the key elements featured above. Like all my illustrations, I draw first within Procreate in black and white.
Art Direction: Overall, the band was looking for a fun, quirky and relatable illustration. For the colour palette, I chose the main colours out of an existing corner of nature. I found extracting colours in this way to be more cohesive and an organic way to align with the theme. I then transported these colours into the Procreate. Lastly, I imported the final into Illustrator to vectorize and prepare for print.
Final Production: For the final production, the illustration was prepared and printed as tote-bag merchandise that was displayed and sold at their last few shows! Overall, this project taught me about the importance of field research, clarifying illustration styles and preparing illustration for print!