Custom Tote Bag Sketches

I started experimenting with doing calligraphy on tote bag after perusing Blick’s Art Store and finding some fabric marker. While the marker itself frays after multiple uses, I was able to design some beautiful pieces. And I got a request from friends to design bags with their dogs on it. While I haven’t done illustration on real animals in quite awhile, I was up for the challenge!

I sketched from images provided from client. I try to do a realistic sketch before narrowing it down to simple lines and strokes to invoke the calligraphic brush strokes.

Another request was for a cartoon. These are always fun as I used to do cartoons of my friends in college. I have a certain style for depicting cartoons which is flat drawing, straight lines, and simple shapes formed by circles, ellipses, and quadrilateral.

But not all sketches are easy and fun. While most take only a few paper, some take many trial and error. For instance, this drawing of this dog, Fei, took over 15 sketches before I got something the client liked. Sometimes, neat and clean illustration doesn’t work for all concept. In this case, the shaggy rough sketches of Fei turned out to be a better fit for his personality.

I’m happy to take any requests for drawings. Talent is all about practice.