Personal Project: Pirate Birthday Invitation Design

I can't believe it; I've finished, I've actually finished it!

Brief: To design an invitation to celebrate a five year old boy's birthday, who wants to host a pirate-themed party.

You can see my process on my previous post here. Be warned, it is very detailed as I wrote it as I was researching and designing this.

Personal Project: Birthday Invitation Process

WARNING: Very detailed!

I have decided to come up with my own little project to keep me occupied over the summer, and this time I aim to design a children's birthday invitation. After much thought I have created the following brief:

To design an invitation to celebrate a five year old boy's birthday, who wants to host a pirate-themed party.

With the brief done I can now start my researching process.

Moodboard
Even though I know the theme of the party I want to take a look at other children's invitations so that I could pick out some of the aspects they have e.g. what kind of wording they use, how the illustrations are set out etc.

Image sources: http://theplaygroundph.tumblr.com/post/54599950750/ethans-mom-asked-me-to-design-a-safari-themed (2) http://www.behance.net/gallery/Childrens-Party-Invitations/7243961 (2) http://www.behance.net/gallery/Party-Invitations-and-Thank-Yous/5029201 (2) http://www.behance.net/gallery/AHOI/9145117 http://www.zazzle.co.uk/pirate_and_mermaid_invitations-161898138254790990 http://www.zazzle.co.uk/boy_and_girl_pirate_invitations-161852976881709458 http://www.zazzle.co.uk/jungle_safari_photo_birthday_invitations-161268921838798133 http://www.zazzle.co.uk/old_macdonald_eieio_farm_barnyard_birthday_invite-161670174034418123 http://www.zazzle.co.uk/pirate_boy_birthday_invitations-161301535145411190 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Camilles-Birthday-Invitations/1255209 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Kids-Birthday-Invitation-Party-Kit-Vintage-Retro/9829079 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Football-Shirt-Invites/2601131 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Wesleys-First-Birthday-Invitation/8513167 http://www.behance.net/gallery/High-Tea-Party-Stationery/8769561 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Birthday-Invite-for-Tvisha/4573945 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Minnie-Mouse-Birthday-Invitation/5835769 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Birthday-Invitations/8490621 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Baby-Bobber-Birthday-Invite/5292731 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Vans-1st-Birthday-Invitation-Design/9416387 http://www.behance.net/gallery/Invitation-for-1st-Birthday-Party/5237913 http://www.ballisticblue.com/number_five_invitations/9708fa8d01584757bd1a2a23f0b9fc5e/ http://www.ballisticblue.com/wizzy_wizard_invitations/67f46d0e9e1f4e73862c06684858ce52/3/ http://www.partyrama.co.uk/pp/Invitations/Boys_Invites/Dear_Zoo_Theme_Party_Invitations_-_Pack_of_10.html 

Inspirational Artists/Illustrators

I'm going to take a break from my mini project - which I'm hoping to complete today! - and write about my current inspirational artists. This is mostly because I'm really into illustration and drawing lately and looking at my inspirations really makes me, well, inspired!

First off is Angela Rizza, who I have talked about waaaaay back during one of my university projects. She is still an inspiration to me because I've fallen in love with the intricate detail in her lines, and I feel that there is a similarity between our styles as we both love lineart/inking and prefer to colour it on Photoshop rather than doing the lines on there as well. It's so amazing to finally find someone who does the same thing you did a few years ago, having given up on the idea because I was so depressed that I was the only one.

Update

Hello!
Just going to give you all an update on what I'm doing: absolutely nothing. Well, that's not entirely true because I have been browsing around for inspiration all work but in terms of projects I haven't really completed any.

I've been in a bit of a design rut because I have been mainly focusing on art rather than design, having just completed my Cherry Blossom Painting. I think it's really relaxing to go back into drawing again especially because I have time to do it, so design has taken a back seat.

However today I had the idea of creating some birthday invitation designs, and right now I'm trying to decide on a theme. Hopefully I'll be able to complete this mini project by the end of the week! Although it'll all depend on whether or not I overcomplicate things...

Here's my to-do list then for this week (and perhaps next week as well):

• Art Trade with Annie
• Birthday invitation design
• Portrait painting - digital or traditional

Trying not to make the list too long or it'll be near impossible to complete!

See you around!

Under the Blossom Tree II

Been up since 5.30am thinking about this piece when I thought, "What the heck, I might as well finish it!"

Et voila, here is the final piece.

This was more of an exercise to see how much I've improved in terms of drawing and painting, as I decided to redo an old favourite of mine which you can see on my deviantART page here.

Here's both versions placed side by side so that we could see the improvement:

It's crazy how much my style has changed! I've moved away even more from the anime/manga style (in 2010 I was beginning to move away from it) and I have improved in my anatomy. I think my choice of colours for the skin is more realistic as well.

Here's a WIP:

Guess that's all for today! Thanks for reading.