I've added some new art and some revamped art. I'm still attempting to capture a mid-century illustration feel, which has inspired me for many years. It made a big comeback somewhere in the late '90s or early Y2K. I just bought a big book about Charlie Harper and his art. His amazing work back in the day inspires me to create art in the same vein.
"Red Bird." I used a limited number of minimal shapes while trying to retain the character and shapes of the bird. I used a spattering airbrush texture to create the gritty effect seen where lights and shadows meet. This adds some interest and creates a more traditional painted look.
Adobe Illustrator
I captured a rather handsome house sparrow with my trusty dusty Canon Rebel XTi. Opening the photo in Adobe Illustrator I originally aimed for a much more simplistic, cartoony bird to match other bird illustrations I've done...
Cardinal
Space
...however, this illustration grew into a contemporary retro piece.
Sticking with simple shapes (circles, squares, lines, triangles) I decided to stay faithful to my feathered fellow's anatomy while rendering with minimal description. Geometric, but finessed, and daintily detailed just enough to make my sparrow recognizable and interesting. :)
Adobe Illustrator CS2
