Playing at Illustrator

Yesterday I got lost down the rabbit hole that often happens when I ask the question 'hmmm I wonder how you do that in Illustrator?'

I didn't study Illustration at University, instead going for the widest umbrella possible aka 'Fine Art' where we were basically left to our own devices and could come up with any old crap work we liked.

Looking back now I can see that studying Illustration would have been a much better option for me, as most of what I came up with during those years was illustration. I used to draw and paint images all over furniture, walls, paper...anything I could get my hands on really. The tutors would always squawk 'but what does it mean' and I would always default with 'but I just like the way it looks'. I still have that mantra to be honest.

Anyway....university and all its adventures is for another day, back with the story...

So yes, as a self-taught illustrator I have learnt most design packages on a 'I-need-to-know-that-bit-right-now' basis. I'm pretty good at Photoshop (although new things making themselves apparent to me and I'm suddenly like 'AH MAN...why did I not know that sooner?!) and in the last year or so have mastered more of Illustrator.

I always start my drawings by sketching them out with a pencil (there is no substitute for a trusty HB) then usually develop and split them into their colours for printing like this too. Photoshop and Illustrator are mainly a means-to-an-end tidy up and to make them super black for exposing.

Well yesterday I set myself the task of drawing it completely on Illustrator and after so internet tutorial trawling (I love you internet) here is the result...

A snowy house! What do you think?

Underneath is the original sketch, it's for a super exciting charity print that I'm been working on recently, I'll share more details when I can.

I don't think I'll ever stop drawing the way I always do, as I think it's important to actually make a touched-by-me mark on your work, but working this way will be helpful, especially when splitting the colours down for printing - see how easy it is?

Turquoise....

...and Purple!

I'd also definitely recommend checking out Lynda.com to anyone wanting to teach themselves any package. They have 1000's of step by step video tutorials, laid out in series such as 'The basics of Web Design on Dreamweaver' or 'How to draw in Illustrator' It costs a monthly subscription but it's well worth it.

The Little Peach xx

We are Not on the High Street!

We are over-the-moon excited to announce that we are now stocked on the wonderfully unique Not on the High Street a web based market place that specialises in wonderful gifts you won't find in any big shops!

It's a really big step for us and we hope that it will be a happy step! It took quiet a while to upload all of our beloved products up on their so I'd really love to hear your opinion on how everything looks!

And just in time for the big launch of our NOTHS shop, I've designed a new baby birth plate - a whimsical woodland scene that is available in both blue and pick shades.

It's proving a popular design as we've already had a few orders for it, I think it must be happy Mrs Hedgehog's smile!

I always send out the plates wrapped in their own little box with is decorated with some bakers twine and a 'Welcome Little One' Tag. I can also add a note to the parents if you want to send if as a gift!

I've also been doing a few as Christening/Baptism gifts which works really well to include the Church name and date.

I can also do a completely custom design for you if you'd like, here's a little peak at a plate for a little one who's not even born yet! It includes family pets to make it really unique...

...I especially liked drawing chickens playing football! You can contact me at Sally@thelittlepeach.co.uk if you'd like a custom design :D

The Little Peach xx

Good Design Revolution!

As I've shown you here before, as part of my other job of working in a school, I often get asked to produce class reference sheets. Now, I'm not sure about you but a lot of the work sheets that flopped onto my desk at school failed to inspire me, with their word document, clip-art thrown together nature.
Bad design can make dull even the most exciting topic so I decided to have a bash at getting them to actually read and take in the information the teachers are trying to express.

The first one is a help guide on making a inspirational sketchbook, to try and get students to open up and try new ways of conveying their thoughts.

I like to include lots of little drawings and font styles, encouraging the students to explore the sheet and engage with the information within it.

And I designed it to fold up into a little pocket sized reference guide for the students to take away and store in the front of their own sketchbooks.

Next up was explaining to the students how to help their ideas flow from and original stand point...Mindmaps!

Now, it took me a good full hour researching to realise that mind maps is the new (overtly PC if you ask me) way of saying 'Brain storms' and to help the students see how ideas can generate other ideas I did a mind map on the subject of 'Holidays'

On the back of the worksheet I gave them a 'blank brain' to help them start there very own mind map!

The final help sheet I have made recently is one that I was extra enthusiastic to make (for my own evangelical reasons)...A Guide To Screen Printing!

 
The students learn how to screen print using the stencil method (where you cut the image you want out of a piece of card and stick it to the screen for a temporary method of printing your image) so the inside of the guide is a step-by-step photographic reference for all you need to know.

What do you think? Shouldn't school work sheets be a bit more exciting? Perhaps I should right to the people who make the textbooks?! We could start a 'Good design starts in school' revolution!