Few weeks ago I’ve been lucky enough to spend some peaceful time with a bunch of Somerset’s cows during Farmfest and, as the experience was completely enjoyable, I picked it up as a starter for my next illustration.

Rather than trying to write a poem about cows I mocked up a visual step by step explanation of my process.

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1. July 2010, sitting in the grass, watching cows eating grass and transforming it;

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2. The initial brainstorm mainly word-based with few scribble around;

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3. Graphic research and development of the concept;

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4. A first DS sketch;

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5. A second DS sketch…;

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6. The official inspiration board;

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7. The in-progress sketch on real paper with real pencils (first round: HB, second round: 2B);

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8. Going into details;

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9. The most discouraging (at the beginning it never works) but rewarding (when it works) part: building a colour scheme;

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10. The real painting using vectors and time (plenty);

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11. The final reward.

This bear will need more time to learn to swim. Switch off.

London wouldn’t exist without clouds, so rather than complaining let’s make them happier and healthier by pushing cycling as the best way to get around the city.

This is my entry for the AOI Cycling in London competition, and also my first entry to an illustration competition. I’m excited and I will be even more if I talk again about this in the next few months! Wait, hope, see and let’s go outside as today London’s clouds are off!

The initial conceptual sketch done on the DS.

The original drawing.