PAST

My process is simple, but it requires a few steps. Sourcing photo references (that haven’t been AI enhanced, it’s a real challenge), sketching / ideation, composition / blocking in, value adjustment / refinement, texture / detail, then file preparation for print. Basically just scribbling…
First, as always are the references. For the older scenes, if a lot of the area remains unchanged, i’ll go out on a photography mission. If not, I have to rely on any photos I can find from online, or from GC locals who are kind enough to share images from old photo albums.
Do you have any great family photos with locations you’d love to see in this style?
There are 3 pieces of software I use, Procreate (iPad), Illustrator and Photoshop. Lately i’ve been predominantly using Procreate, only because it feels the closest to traditional drawing, and I don’t currently have a drawing tablet so the apple pencil beats a mouse any day.
After the the image is completed (often taking weeks for the detailed ones), it’s imported into Photoshop for some final adjustments and saved as a print ready file.
For the artworks created in Illustrator, vector layers are created in the base colours and gradients, then imported into Photoshop for the textures and detail.

DETAIL //

For someone so obsessed with details, it’s a challenge to allow things that aren’t aligned and symmetrical. While it creeps back in (especially when doing it mostly in Illustrator), i’m forcing myself to go with the natural flow of the work. I’ve always loved older prints where colours overlap, parts get left out, and random textures that seem to appear by accident, are left in place.
With the current series my thought was to just add what I thought the image needed, unlike the other series that are time period specific (where i try to match the colour and feel of art from the day). For this reason you may see various textures, perspectives and colour palettes…hopefully in a consistent style.

All my work gets printed and framed locally in Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast. I’ve looked for the right printer for a while now and this is the best i’ve found.
I’ve chosen two papers to match the feel and needs of the art. Both are museum grade quality, acid free, and printed using archival quality inks.
ART PRINTS - 280gsm Textured Cotton Rag
TRAVEL POSTERS - 250gsm Matte Art Paper
AUSTRALIA - Tasmanian Oak frame in 3 variations / Flat rate postage or pickup from the printshop.
INTERNATIONAL - Print only option at this stage.