Recent Event: Early 2011 Updates

Wow! It's almost two months late but, I wish you a happy and fulfilling 2011!

So sorry I have not been able to upload any work this year. The first few days were deceptively slow, but suddenly I found myself engulfed in a vortex of activities. Though the torrent has not eased up, I'm determined not to slack on my blog any longer.

Works of Faith is a new blog I just created specially for my faith-related graphic designs and illustrations. I plan to upload several of my earlier works over time. The image below is part of a banner design I recently made for a group of church locations in Port Harcourt. So, check it out.

My sister just got married and it was a real buzz. Congrats Oye and Tunde! Wish you both the very best marital bliss. I made a banner design for the venue of the engagement ceremony. It was a bit of a rush, but it did the trick.

I am currently working with the NDI and the NETCIV to develop campaign sticker and poster designs with messages aimed at encouraging Nigerians to go out and vote in April. Hopefully, I will upload the works when I'm done. So, spread the word... VOTE!

In The Comics Hut, I am busy working with my team to repackage the single Cowrie Comics and Living Scrolls titles into 3-in-1 volumes. This is really a Herculian task but it creates an opportunity to rework the graphics in several titles.

Hurray! My portfolio for works done in 2010 is finally available for download or perusal on-line. Though not exhaustive, the included artworks aptly capture my 2010 activities in my illustration and design studio.

I am also laying the foundation of some personal projects I have been thinking about over the years. More of that later. Cheers!

Recent Work: Portrait Commission (5)

At last I am through with the three-in-one portrait painting. This painting was challenging to work on since I did it in vector using vibrant colours. But it was also enjoyable due to the interesting faces I was to paint.

The main difficulty was handling the hundreds of shapes as they overlap each other. This was made less troublesome by introducing layers for each major part of the painting (as shown below). I went for a painterly feel. It's easy painting smooth images in vectors, but this soon becomes boring to look at. This way, every time I look at the artwork, I have something new to see. The overlapping colour transparencies always yield a combination of beautiful colours.

The reference photo I used is shown above and below is the final painting. The portrait shows a textured background that was created in Adobe Photoshop using the cardboard cutout filter and converted to vector using CorelTRACE. All in all, I had a blast and believe the result is well worth the effort.

Recent Work: Portrait Commission (4)

At last, I am through with the first of the portraits I have been working on for over a month. I had two false starts but eventually figured out how best to go about it.

The posted work was painted in CorelDRAW 12 using layers just as in Photoshop. This made it easier to handle the many complex shapes overlapping one another. There are over 12000 shapes in the painting and it will be produced as a large scale giclee print on archival canvas.

I hope to be done with the rest soon.

Recent Work: House-Warming Gift

Welcome to 2010! I believe this year is pregnant with blessings for as many as are bold enough to reach out for something better.

I find myself rejoicing with two relatives and two friends for the same reasons- They have built their own houses! WOW, that's no small feat! Here is a poster I designed as gift items. I had copies printed, mounted and framed.

Recent Event: Final Yearbook Illustration

At last the GTS, Citibank Nigeria Ltd project is over. A funny feeling comes over me as I take time to decompress from the tight schedule I have been under these past five weeks. I feel really relieved to have put it behind me. Below is the initial design for the CD cover for the project; I later went for something simpler. And next is the portrait of the GTS boss Mr. Nanji.

 

It was a learning experience. Now it's time to wrap up some loose ends for the year 2009.

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration (7)

This is the last illustration for the corporate yearbook featuring members of the GTS Support team.

Below are the line art, line art with background and the finished painting.

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration (6)

This post features the paintings of the overall boss and three regional heads for the yearbook.

 

Also posted is the final composite illustration. This composite illustration is vector graphics rendered in CorelDRAW 12.

 

I am still working on the final painting for the GTS Support team. There are so many faces, but I hope to finish on Thursday.

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration (4) and (5)

This post combines the Electronic Banking team

and the CitiService team illustrations.

Below are stages in the development of the painting.

1) The background props for both teams.

2) The line art showing both props and portrait lines.

3) The painting in progress

4) The finished portraits without the background

5) The completed painting

6) The Electronic Banking team illustration

7) The CitiService team illustration

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration (3)

I just finished the third illustration in this series of corporate yearbook artworks I have been working on for the past three weeks. I had extra fun on this one due to the period costumes and theme. Above are the team members of the Cash Team, and below are the concept sketch, ink drawing and final painting.

In the final version (not uploaded here) I changed the credit cards to dollar bills designed as playing cards.

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration (2)

I just finished the second illustration for the corporate yearbook. There are four more to go and my body is screaming for respite. Anyway, I enjoyed working on this version. The composition allows the faces more focus than the first illustration. Below is the picture for members of the Trade Team. 

Below is the line art. I drew the globe, sign board, paint buckets and magic stars in CorelDRAW and imported them into Photoshop, where the whole painting was done. 

 

Above is the work-in-progress shot and below is the final painting.

  

Recent Work: Yearbook Illustration

I just concluded a painting for a corporate yearbook. The painting features members of a team in a caricature composition. Below is a picture of the SFS Team members.

 

I did some facial studies of some of the team members. I was trying to decide on the illustration style to use.

 

Here is the line art of the painting.

The final painting.

 

The balloon colour is reworked to reflect the company's colours. This is the final, final version.

A close up of the faces.

 

Recent Work: Portrait Commission (3)

This is a portrait painting I just completed. The painting was done in Photoshop.