A few months ago, The Herd came back with another t-shirt design request (you may remember Baby Don’t Herd Me from an earlier post)
Concept this time is a mix’n’match vintage/thrift shop theme. I’m thinking something along the lines of a big burly biker type guy – hairy, tattoo’s, big gut, massive beard – who is wearing what is essentially grandma’s sunday best. I’m thinking matching floral top and skirt to the knees, with the stereotypical lace collar etc. and his biker boots at the bottom.
At this stage I see him wearing one of those beer helmets, the ones with the cans attached that you drink through a straw?
Would be cool if he had one leg bent up with his foot resting on the words “IMMA TAKE YOUR GRANDMA’S STYLE” in a very confronting don’t-care kind of style
Oh, and I got a colour—Safety Orange. It’s bright!
Here’s the final result!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14616322364/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14638340793/
Design process
It all starts with a couple of initial sketches. Bit of staging and posing 😉
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14431806099/
Ben!! It is looking fantastic already, REALLY impressed!
My thoughts at this stage are perhaps adding in a ladies umbrella/parasol in his right hand, similar to the below picture but a bit more frilly, perhaps with the parasol on more of an angle in towards his foot. With his arm up, we can also add in some copious amounts of lovely underarm hair haha.
I made some suggestions: ‘thongs, instead of boots. Show off those hairy legs and toes!’ and ‘sunnies … maybe, if you want the guy to be more nonchalant and less angry (your call)’
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14616316994/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14431807089/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14431808159/
The sketches came together really quickly—much simpler than sheep in a heart shape drinking beer. The umbrella was a great touch. Who doesn’t like drawing umbrellas? (If you’ve never drawn one, go ahead. Draw one now!)
On to digital work! Inkscape, of course.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14638339343/
Looking really good! I’m finding the black face, arms and legs with varying black and orange details a bit odd – wondering if it would it look a bit cleaner/more consistent if he was just all orange with the outline and details in the black? Like how the dress and hat are laid out?
I see what you’re saying about the arm and I have a suggestion, though I’m not sure how much work it would entail…
We could replace the beer hat with a nice grandma straw hat and then have him holding a beer up with his pinky out – very delicate 😉
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14616319304/
This reworked the contrast. The hat was another great idea, but the whole head/face was bothering me. I went back to sketch out some more personality! And a new arm. Yes, this is how I tackle digital arm transplants!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14431809109/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/benjamins-boyle/14638340093/
Looks awesome! Great result 😀
Win! There was some work to do on the words but that’s the final image right there!
Was a lot of fun, and once again—not something I’d have thought to draw myself. Neat 🙂
Ben Boyle lives here! 