Before joining the co-op I only dabbled very lightly in what could be considered illustration. Then since joining I took the opportunity to explore the medium first with Doctor Who, then animals, and then portraits. I’ve now completed my first client-based project by illustrating an entire article for a magazine. I know that this isn’t the venue to discuss client-based work but I wanted to discuss how the co-op has become a very viable means of furthering my professional career. Also, I ended up using a modified version of my family portrait that I created when I did all those portraits on here.
You can see the article over at my website, johnwjensen.com.
Also, if you’re really interested I captured via time-lapse the entire process of illustrating the above illustration. See it here!
John, I would say that would be considered illustration. Congrats on your first client-based illustration project. It turned out really cool.
I watched the time-lapse video as well. What did you use to film the process? I know that there are specific programs that will do that, but am curious what you’re using.
Also, a special request. I’ve tried multiple ways of getting a nice grain texture in my illustrations but haven’t found a great solution. While watching the video you did a number of them that seemed to be a softer texture vs what’s shown in the image above. Would you be willing to go through some basic steps on how you create those textures in illustrator? Similar to how you did the demo of your home hot-stamping lab? I’d appreciate it.
The texture you’re seeing in the above image looks all funky because of the image reduction. In order to see what the texture looks like you need to click on it to see it at full size or even better check out all the illustration on my site at http://johnwjensen.com/civics-101. I think that’s what you mean because all the texture is done the same.
The app I used to capture it was ScreenNinja, available on the mac app store.
I went through a lot of different methods of texturing when I finally landed on this. I tried using bitmap images, halftones, etc. but what I needed was something more subtle. I saw this tutorial: http://vectips.com/tutorials/create-grainy-textures/ but I used a slightly different technique, I can explain in more detail later.
Yeah, I’ve been doing the same. Downloaded some additional software from a tip I got from Keenan. But haven’t yet settled on a great, solid technique. I’ll check out the link you posted there. Thanks!
You’re right, the one on your site looks way better!
I’d be interested in knowing what software he recommended.
It was from MisterRetro, called Permanent Press. I haven’t messed around with it much yet. But it gives you ways to create printed effects in photoshop.
http://www.misterretro.com/filters/permanent-press
Nicely done. Reminds me of Parko Polo’s style.
Cool, I hadn’t seen his work before. Thanks for sharing.