Illustration - Alternative Travel

Thomas Gomes "Alternative Travel" 2013

I've had this idea for a couple of weeks now and ended up scribbling it in my sketchbook of; a boat being pulled along by a balloon, almost like an alternative to sails.

Anyway, so I had this idea sitting in my sketchbook and came across it yesterday, I really liked it and wanted to develop it into a full, completed illustration.  I did what I usually do, making a pencil version on thick paper and then overlaying it with black ink before scanning it into the computer and editing it in photoshop.  I did have a problem with the ocean.  I wanted to have a texture which complimented the rest of the illustration, but also linked in well with the ocean.  I found a photo texture I had taken a couple of years ago of some rocks and added it into the illustration using the "Overlay" layer mode.  I'm very pleased with the result and would be happy with any feedback people could offer.

If you would like to use this image then please use the "Contact Me" panel on the right side of the blog.  Also, if you would like this illustration on a t-shirt, laptop skin or as a print on canvas then go to my Society6 page here.

Stock Image - Feet

Thomas Gomes "Feet" (Stock Image) 2013

So I was working on a logo design for my Dad's reflexology business and wanted to create a pair of feet as a background or even as the logo for the business.

Ultimately he wanted to go for a different logo design but I still really loved the look of these feet.  Originally the feet were just black and white with a blank background but, seeing as I was putting the design up on my blog, I wanted to edit the illustration in my style.

I consider this sort of illustration as a "Stock Image" in that it can have several uses in various situations and doesn't have a specific meaning or idea to convey.  For example, if you wanted an image for a leaflet about caring for your feet or, like my Dad, you wanted to have a design of some kind for reflexology.  The illustration is designed to be used by different people with different needs.

If you are interested in using this image please use the "Contact Me" box on the right of the blog.

Also, just a general update, I'm going to be returning to my illustration degree course at the end of September so it might be a little bit quiet on this blog for a while.  However I do intend to update the blog as much as possible with the work I have made on my course.

Illustration - Outer Space

Thomas Gomes "Outer Space" 2013

Thanks to my brother I have been able to get another illustration done!  This illustration started life as a doodle my brother did while he was at work, he gave it to me to do it professionally.

As with my other illustrations I started with an initial pencil sketch which I inked and then scanned into the computer.  Next, using photoshop, I added the colour layer, shading and highlight as well as a couple of paper textures. 

The lighting was a bit of a problem with this illustration.  My brother wanted the drawing to have radial light coming from the sun and the earth.  With the sun it was easy, gradually decreasing the saturation and opacity of the yellow colour until it faded out.  However, when I tried it with the earth, it didn't work.  Instead I've worked backwards having the lighting, less saturated colour closer to the black outline which gradually gets more saturated but more transparent as it fades away.

Interested in getting this artwork as a print, laptop case or t-shirt?  Go HERE for my society6 page!