A few of you have asked for a breakdown of my working processes, so here it goes.

Step 1: The client called and asked me for some ideas, I met with him and thumb-nailed this (1 of 4) sketch of a middle aged mom making a big print. The sketch is digital, using Sketchbook Pro. The concept (for the most part) was approved on site.

Step 2: I tighten the sketch in Sketchbook Pro and send the file to the client for final approval. (Or for changes as the case may be.)

Step 3: I take the sketch into Illustrator, (for this particular illustration) and using a custom variable brush, pen and tablet, vectorized over top of my sketch which is on a layer set to 20% opacity. I keep the “inking” on one layer and my “color” on another layer. In this piece I also created a layer for the photo print so that I could drop that down in value. I also added a visual cue (the arrow) to connect the camera to print concept. I created a “print big” graphic also in illustrator and dropped in the branding to finish it off.

That is basically it. The client liked the “print big” graphic so much they have adopted it for a number of advertisng graphics they are developing for the first quarter of this year.