Michelle Wooderson asked in yesterday’s post if I design all of the stamp images myself on my computer, and the answer is yes! I just installed Adobe Illustrator into my PC this past fall and have been *attempting* to teach myself how to use it ever since! I have the major important functions down, but still have a lot to learn.
It is fascinating to me to construct images from basic shapes and simple lines. For example, the grasshopper in Green Thumb took many hours of "play". I started with his head, which was a circle that I stretched and pulled until it became the shape that I wanted. Then I worked on the body, which was created with a slightly altered oval. Than I added his "belly" outline & neck piece by drawing in the shapes by hand using my Wacom Tablet & pen. Then the leg. Oh my goodness! I think I invested about 4 or 5 hours into his leg over the course of two days! It took several attempts and "do-overs" to get it just the way I had envisioned. It took about 40 tries to get his antennae just right too! The finishing tough was his little eye which was just a simple circle, and thank goodness, that was a piece of cake!
Each image has much thought put into it, and I hope it shows! I only create things that I myself would use. Or even better, images that I have always wanted but have never existed!
On a side note, the countdown for our April 15th Papertrey release starts tomorrow, right here! So be sure to stop by to see some fun projects created with the new set!
Nichole, I can only imagine the satisfaction you must feel when you see your stamps in a real set and being used on a card! I remember using CAD on my drawings when I worked in the design field…it was fun but a LOT of work. Straight lines and circles…easy. Curved lines and squiggles….took forever!! Thanks for sharing your process, again I’m in total awe!
I think you are a GENIUS! I am so grateful that you do this because your stamps certainly make me HAPPY! I hope it gets easier for you as time goes by. After there drawn what do you do? TFS.
What an amazing process!! Can’t wait to see the new countdown. 😉
Fascinating to hear more about the process, Nichole! And I can’t wait to see some sneak peeks with the next set! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing how you come up with your creations. It is fascinating to hear how much thought and process goes into one image!
Unbelievable!! I had no idea you created these images yourself! Amazing! I’ll be using them with a new eye from now on…
i also design on the computer a lot and i was so excited when i realized i could manipulate basic shapes too! almost as fun as stamping! i love your designs… 🙂 lexi
Illustrator IS the most fun to play on! Great job designing those stamps – they are beautiful, and I know you must be very proud! Have a blessed week!