collaboration

Sunday, April 8, 2012


1. final mixed media banner illustration 2. final line art


There is no challenge more challenging
than the challenge to improve yourself. 


Michael F. Staley

Remember back a few weeks ago when I posted about the thrillingly, breathlessly, challenging & tres exciting illustration project that I was working on. A custom banner illustration for new friend & fellow designer, artist, crafty gal Sarah Hart. We met through gmail. Sarah bought a print of mine at most excellent Halifax stockist Inkwell Modern & emailed me to tell me she loved my work, told me about herself, her skills & wondered if might consider a barter or trade. Having a web site designed has been top of my mind for ages now so ... hooray ! we organized a trade.

In the end both my new web site & Sarah's illustration are collaborations. When the time arrived for Sarah to tell me what she was looking for from me - les Creative Brief - I must say I don't think I've ever received anything more thorough, crystal clear + inspiring - the tres rare, grand trifecta of any Creative Brief. Excellent art direction ! (and let me tell ya I've been art directed by many). She provided lots of notes & ideas, suggested colour palettes, & best of all a whole roster of reference & inspiration images of other art/illustrations that she loved all and I just happened to love also - the project became instantly thrilling & super challenging because of course I wanted to stun both she & myself with it's final glorious outcome.

The final line art (above) actually came super quickly - a direct result I'm sure of her amazing creative direction & clear communication. At this point in the project I was still breathing easy. It's when I began the actual conversion to colour, painting & collage that I began to slightly panic - just so many options to consider & because I create these images by hand, not digitally, it's not so easy to change something. I started with 2 small colour studies to try & get the hang of what the ratio of painting to collage would be. Sarah, continuing on the her path of most excellent client & seemed thrilled, cheering me on at every step & stage - another dream customer trait - uh huh !

In the end I'm happy with how it all turned out. I'm sure Sarah will tweak, change & alter many aspects of it digitally. I was able to give her something she couldn't create herself knowing full well she will use my final art as a stepping off point for her own creation. When she's finished with our illustration I suspect it will look different than what I've shown you here & I'm sure it will be much better & stronger, I can't wait to see what she does with it.

I think that's what a good collaboration must be - having little or no attachment with the final outcome. Having been a graphic designer for many years helps tremendously with that lack of attachment because in the end - it's her illustration - I've creating it for her, not for me. But ... the process - that's the part that was for me. The very best thing about this project - why it thrilled me from the get go - is not only is it another great portfolio piece but it's pointed me down a slightly new & sparkly, colourful, whimsical, nature inspired road that has me full of fantastic new ideas ... it's been a dream project.

I did the illustration large & in three sections giving me lost more size & room for detail. The left illustration, the right & the center typographic diamond then assembled them digitally.



10 comments:

  1. gorgeous...tres gorgeous
    gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous

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  2. I am blown away. its gorgeous - I love the color palette, the joyous revelry of nature -its you super sized. It so good I feel a twinge of envy -and I know you know that is the highest of praise. I want to go to my studio right now! its better than Katie Daisy.

    And the new blog look is light and airy. I thinks its lovely. Ive been thinking of re-doing my blog to go on my website -we'll see. You inspire me. Happy Easter, superstar.xoxox


    (btw:http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=556208149ee340172ee647cbd&id=2f4462720b&e=001896a4580) the newsletter

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  3. blushin' am I.
    Merci ! Merci !

    Katy Daisy was/is a huge, huge inspiration as is Anna Bond of Rifle paper & you too Chickory !! I was thinking you should offer a gouache e-course I would love to know how to work the paint like you do. Thanks also for the kick ass Ande Cook newsletter

    http://www.katiedaisy.net/
    http://riflemade.squarespace.com/
    http://www.andecookstudio.com/

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  4. OMG.... truly, truly stunning indeed.
    tail wags,
    ~moose (wearing bunny ears today)

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  5. It's brilliant, Susan. I'm in awe of it and think you should continue designing these. Uh huh Wowza! LOVE the bright colors, your flowers - overflowing with beauty! :)

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  6. Lovely as always.

    I'm getting used to the new layout.

    Hey, did you get a dump of snow last night too ?

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  7. thanks y'all - & yes Sybil we awoke to a wild, wintry blizzard - blue sky sunshine & much melting currently xo S + gang

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  8. Whimsical is the perfect description for this banner, love the colours and especially the little grasshopper!

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  9. As usual, I am playing catch-up on your blog! This piece is AWESOME!!!!
    You are a ROCKET headed for the sun!!! WOW!! I know your friend is ECSTATIC!!!

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  10. That is totally awesome - you must be thrilled. I can't stop looking at it :)

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