IllustrationClass.com

Most artists I meet tend to view doing anything free as a “Bad Thing” or use the term “Spec Work” as if the only valid work you could ever do is the kind that pays you. This in my opinion is very short sighted and frankly speaking just terrible marketing in general.

I look at these type of projects as a venue of possibilities. It allows me to share my art and creativity with a new audience and introduce them to my work and creativity. Not only that it allows me to execute ideas and art that I may never be asked to create for a paying gig so it’s good for flexing the creative muscle as well.

This tutorial will walk you through my entire process for creating a poster illustration for an art show in Mexico.


(Tutorial Includes Notes in both ‘English’ and ‘Español’.)

Keywords: Evergreen, Tattoo, Tribal, Face, Green

File Size: 13 MB

1. Dangerdom wrote: November 8, 2007 at 1:21 pm

   Awesome tutorial. Illustrates a good way to get simple variation to add interest with blending techniques.

   I have a quick question about the step between 26 an 27. Could you detail how you created the “Opacity Mask”? Is there a blur in there or just a black to white gradient? For some reason I can never select the clip option in the transparency palette. I may not be quite understanding the process you’re using to create the compound paths.

   Thanks!
   -Dom-

2. admin wrote: November 10, 2007 at 3:51 am

   I have to admit out of all the features in CS3 Illustrator “Opacity Masks” are the most un-intuitive and clunky methods you have to stumble your way through when using the program.

   You’d think since Adobe owns Photoshop and they’ve adapted elements from that into AI that they’d also take a cue in regards to other things that in Photoshop are far more intuitive such as masking (opacity or otherwise) and the ability to blend from a solid color to transparent. But I digress they don’t.

   I’ll cover opacity masks in more detail in an up coming tutorial,

3. buildyo wrote: November 10, 2007 at 3:01 pm

   Thankyou for your tutorials.
   Could you please explain how you do Step 7 and 8. Do you use the convert anchor point tool to pull out the handles from the previously placed dots? Also, Is there a trick to push one handle back into the point without altering the other one?

4. admin wrote: November 10, 2007 at 6:33 pm

   Believe it or not I avoid using most of Illustrators path editing tools because it’s too slow having to constantly change out tools too edit, select and then the point control is horrible.

   So instead I use a great plugin for Illustrator called Xtreampath. It adds a bunch of very useful and intuitive editing tools into the AI toolbox and they make editing paths easy. Just check out their site to watch video examples.

   Well worth the price in my opinion based on the time it saves in the long run.

5. Kordump wrote: November 14, 2007 at 6:17 pm

   Pro bono projects are the worst. People tend to make silly demands they would never make if were paying by the hour. Recently worked on a small photo-book and ended up proofing text because my friend assumed it was my job to make sure the copy she mailed me was errar-free. will never do it again unless it comes with enourmous amouts of exposure to new markets.

   If I want to make art it will be under the “client: self” categorie.

6. ArtArtman wrote: August 8, 2009 at 10:41 pm

   Hey Von,
   I really appreciate your tutorials. I have been thinking of this kind of design (tribal) printed on t-shirts. A worn tattoo that is not permanent. Some color, some just black.
   Anyway, keep up the good work.

   Art

7. sharon wrote: August 11, 2011 at 7:02 pm

   Wow, I registered just to comment. This is almost *exactly* what I’ve been trying to do and my doodles/designs are so similar (wish I could show you). I’ve been thinking a lot lately about negative space in designs .. and working to scan designs and vectorize them in Illustrator. Thanks so much for the tutorial, very inspirational.

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