I Make the Pretty

A semi-regularly updated creative blog

[imakethepretty]

Inktober Day 3 - Bait

[imakethepretty]

Inktober Day 2 - Mindless

[imakethepretty]

Inktober Day 1 - Ring.

[robowaffle]

Christmas Card 2018!

[imakethepretty]

Christmas Card 2017

[imakethepretty]

Christmas Card 2016

[imakethepretty]

Wedding Invites!

It’s all in the past now, but I figured it was a fun exercise for my wedding. Here we have the wedding invites.

Image Order: Outside of card, inside, and insert! 

Software: Illustrator

Finish Medium: Printed on Cold-press Watercolor Paper

Inspiration/Reference: Early 20th Century signage, mixed with contemporary styles. Some icons from the noun project.

[imakethepretty]

Faceted Wallpapers!

I developed a Photoshop file where I could plunk any photo I like, and through 4 adjustment layers it creates images like what you see here. I have a folder with 50+ images. My system selects a new background from the folder at random every 5 minutes.

Helps my system feel more organic. More, I dunno... Alive?

Software: Photoshop + Random Photography

Inspiration/Reference: Stained Glass and Low-Poly “Faceted” Portaits

[imakethepretty]

Quick project to create a cell phone case I could use with my iphone X.

Inspired by Mondrian, and built in Illustrator.

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Mondrian’s Compositions

[avatarsofcatan]

I’m actually in the process of coloring now!

First set I focused on was the Red Lotus player pieces… I mean, why not start with chaos? From left to right we have:

watercolor ground coat

two layers of different red watercolor pencils

a damp watercolor brush pass.

If the colors looks inconsistent and you can see varying levels of wood grain? Perfect. That’s what I’m going for. I don’t want bright and shiny so much as old and wooden. Like the set was made some time ago. :)

After all was said and done I took a pic of the whole set (Colonies, Cities, and roads)! After they they have a day or so to dry I’m going to coat them with a uv matte spray resin. To both protect them and the player from colors leeching off the pieces. :) 

[imakethepretty]

Some progress I made in coloring one of the player sets for my custom set of Settlers of Catan, based on the Red Lotus group from the series “The Legend of Korra.”

Software: Illustrator

Hardware: Glowforge

Materials: Laser-Friendly 1/2in ply, Sealed and painted with Watercolors, then sealed again.

Inspiration/Reference: Settlers of Catan board game, Designs from Legend of Korra & Avatar the Last Airbender

[avatarsofcatan]

My first successful cuts. 😊

[imakethepretty]

Another ongoing side project, where I designed a custom version of “Settlers of Catan” based on the animated tv series, “Avatar: The Last Air Bender” and “Avatar: The Legend of Korra.”

Software: Illustrator

Hardware: Glowforge

Materials: Laser-Friendly 1/2in ply

Inspiration/Reference: Settlers of Catan board game, Designs from Legend of Korra & Avatar the Last Airbender

[poke-dot]

[imakethepretty]

Eevee is one of my favs from way back when I stumbled through a Japanese cartridge I played at the age of... 12 I think. Gah, that was so long ago. Ah well, I still enjoy just how well this cute ball of fluff was rendered (tumblr downsampling aside).

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Pokemon and Polkadots

[poke-dot]

Web survey powered by SurveyMonkey.com. Create your own online survey now with SurveyMonkey's expert certified FREE templates.

Okay, so lot’s of positive feedback on the idea of the Pokemon “Go Trade Pins.” I put together a little survey (7 questions) to help me figure out how to structure the Kickstarter.

Please share with other players!

Simply put, custom pins are expensive and I’ve got to structure it just right so as to not risk my own finances. Check out the mock-ups below:

[imakethepretty]

Considered briefly making a Kickstarter to craft some enamel pins. Decided against it considering the potential for IP issues. It’s derivative (inspirationally) and original (design-wise). I got as far as breaking down the exact costs in  spreadsheets and establishing the milestones/lead times for manufacturing...

Ah well. It was a good exercise. :)

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Pokemon Go

[poke-dot]

Sceptile Remix!!

I had created a sceptile poke-dot once before as apart of a “thanks for the followers” thingy.  I considered reposting it, but really, the style has evolved so much even from then, that I find myself overwhelmingly happier with the new style.  By the by, I would adore a custom plushie of this if there are any spherical focused fabric fans out there. #alliterationFTW

Have you reblogged to vote for a pokedot? 1) Find a poke-dot you love, then click reblog.

2) When reblogging, include the text: “I wish for a <pokemon name> poke-dot!”

3) Find another dot and repeat! (Check the details below)

More info on voting and what’s going on here, link.

[imakethepretty]

Another favorite from my poke-dot project (on hiatus).

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Pokemon and Polkadots

[poke-dot]

Chesnaught! Chesnaughts roasting on an open fire… Hot sauce dripping from their toes…  Want me to make your favorite pokedot? 1) Find a poke-dot you love, then click reblog.

2) When reblogging, include the text: “I wish for a <pokemon name> poke-dot!”

3) Find another dot and repeat! (Check the details below) More info on voting and what’s going on here, link.

[imakethepretty]

Suppose I should pick a couple of my favorites from this project on my main creative blog. :)

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Pokemon and Polkadots

[imakethepretty]

Who doesn't like Zelda? Check out these 2 inch Zelda Coins I designed for use in place of the full Amiibo figures from across the different series.

Why? Because I am a glutton for punishment. @avatarsofcatan will continue at some point. In the mean time I wanted something less... numerous. (the catan board has over 200 pieces to seal and color). Thus, I started yet another project. Thankfully this was a small one and in the matter of a week I've hit the final stage. 

Engraving and cutting them tomorrow (as long as the power doesn’t go out).

Software: Illustrator

Inspiration/Reference: Legend of Zelda

[robowaffle]

Inktober Day 2 - Untouched Nature

Kinda failed with the “no eraser” rule, but it felt right… So there we go. Funny thing I realized with these past two drawings, I’ve been keeping them pretty zoomed out while working on them.  Perhaps tomorrow I try zooming “in”? 

Dun dun dun….  

—

My Rules when using the prompts (updated as I learn/realize stuff):

5 min research time

Minimum 15 minutes drawing time a day, as far as I get on each of this prompts….

Digital (I’m comfortable on my ipad, I want to be a master of it)

That being said, no undos, no eraser…

References are okay, but strive for original work.

Reminders for myself:

Start with a small “brush” shoot for something marker-like.

Turn off notifications while drawing.

Kill social media apps while drawing.

Post with Daily prompts…

[imakethepretty]

My inktober day 2 attempt at “Untouched Nature.”

Software: Procreate (iPad Pro)

Inspiration/Reference: Inktober