Lee Family Graphic Illustration
Personal project, Lara Lee.
Background
My work office lost Internet for a week during the DC summer brown-outs. Since my job relies on Internet access, I found myself with a lot of free time and wanted to use it productively. I spent 17 hours over the course of the week creating a graphic illustration and family portrait of myself, my twin sister, and our fabulous cockatiels.
My Role
Illustrator
By The Numbers
My Drawing Process
It’s hard for me to open a new Illustrator document and starting drawing with a mouse. Instead, I start sketching to determine basic shapes and layout for my graphic illustration.
Once I digitized the pencil drawing, I filled in details. Since I’m a twin, I copy-paste my sister to make me, then fill in different hair, smiles, and brows. The birds were more challenging. If I oversimplify the birds, viewers wouldn’t be identify species or that they are our birds. Capturing the avian personalities was vital. Ultimately, I started drawing over photos I took, stylizing them as I went for the graphic illustration.
Some grouping, some resizing, and some rotating later, I landed on a heart-shaped portrait for my graphic illustration family portrait. One last touch: a warm orange overlay to finish the tropical look.
These aren’t my only illustrated birds! Check out my Case Studies for the SPC Turkey Trot and Open Heart Parrot Rescue avian logo designs.
Embedded Symbols
Embedded heart shape for love.
Yellow roses symbolize love and friendship.
Soren passed away at only 9 years old. He’s flying “in heaven.”
