I've already written several blog posts about how much I love incorporating patterns into my stationery designs, but the other big thing I love to do is make custom illustrations. These illustrations are perfect for any event that has any sort of theme, because the pictures instantly let the invitee know what kind of shindig he or she has been invited to.
For example, having a destination wedding, or planning some kind of group vacation for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend, or a getaway with family and friends? Or just trying to beat the cold winter by having an indoor luau, or having an around-the-world party to spice up your otherwise drab "staycation"?
You can incorporate certain objects specific to your destination (whether real or make-believe) on the invitations for your event, such as the sample below, which features an image of lounge chairs and a beach umbrella for a destination wedding to the Greek island of Crete.
Another great way to incorporate illustrations is for events that play off a decade theme, like this invitation for a rockin' fifties wedding reception, which features a period car, a sign reminiscent of drive-in movie theatres, and the jukebox, records, malt, and bar stool required to emulate a typical fifties soda shop...
Or this electric eighties themed bachelorette party invitation, with a classic walkman illustration...
Or the illustrations of a lava lamp, some amorphous flowers, and a peace sign for a groovy seventies disco dance party!
Got any particular activities planned for your event? If there will be movie watching, add some illustrations of film, or famous movie stars. If there will be cocktails, add some pictures of drinks. And if there will be card games or gambling, include some images like the ones shown for this casino wedding invitation below. Your guests will know just what to expect - and look forward to!
I frequent Offbeat Bride, a fantastic website showcasing weddings with unique themes, and they've shown several carnival-themed events on their blog. It seems like such a fun theme for a wedding - or any other event for that matter - and it's so easy to illustrate. Pick an old-timey circus-y font, and add a few awnings, tents, banners, balloons, or flags in bright reds and yellows, and voila! It instantly feels like a carnival or circus!
Speaking of flags, flag imagery is another great way to incorporate illustrations for a several different events, whether you're advertising a destination wedding or getaway weekend, hosting a going-away party for a friend getting ready to make an international move, or just having a party to celebrate your family's heritage, or your favorite place, culture, music, or films. Love anime? Why not include a Japanese flag or images of your favorite anime characters on the invitation to your home anime film festival? Love the Beatles? Why not have a British Invasion rock music themed birthday party, like this invitation illustrates? With almost 200 countries in the world, using flags alone already gives a ton of illustration possibilities!
Finally, you can use illustrations just to help establish the type of event it is. Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for friends? Illustrations of all of the delicious food you're going to cook is the way to go! Planning a Valentine's Day party? The obvious illustration to dot your stationery with is a series of hearts. And if you're hosting a bar or bat mitzvah, why not include a prayer shawl like the one I digitally drew below? If there's already an object that is meaningful and important to your event, why not play that up in your stationery design?
The illustration above is also a good example to show different kinds of illustrations I create. Though many of the illustrations I've designed (and shown in this post) have shapes of flat color, there are other options, too. The prayer shawl I drew above was done with a different style, and instead of coloring in the stripes of the shawl with flat color, I used a hatching technique to give it a different texture.
Love these illustrations? There's more to come with several more posts in the next two weeks! :)
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Shameless plug time: Love my illustrations? Love these designs? Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these illustrations or download a catalogue pdf (coming soon!). Or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!
For example, having a destination wedding, or planning some kind of group vacation for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend, or a getaway with family and friends? Or just trying to beat the cold winter by having an indoor luau, or having an around-the-world party to spice up your otherwise drab "staycation"?
You can incorporate certain objects specific to your destination (whether real or make-believe) on the invitations for your event, such as the sample below, which features an image of lounge chairs and a beach umbrella for a destination wedding to the Greek island of Crete.
Another great way to incorporate illustrations is for events that play off a decade theme, like this invitation for a rockin' fifties wedding reception, which features a period car, a sign reminiscent of drive-in movie theatres, and the jukebox, records, malt, and bar stool required to emulate a typical fifties soda shop...
Or this electric eighties themed bachelorette party invitation, with a classic walkman illustration...
Or the illustrations of a lava lamp, some amorphous flowers, and a peace sign for a groovy seventies disco dance party!
Got any particular activities planned for your event? If there will be movie watching, add some illustrations of film, or famous movie stars. If there will be cocktails, add some pictures of drinks. And if there will be card games or gambling, include some images like the ones shown for this casino wedding invitation below. Your guests will know just what to expect - and look forward to!
I frequent Offbeat Bride, a fantastic website showcasing weddings with unique themes, and they've shown several carnival-themed events on their blog. It seems like such a fun theme for a wedding - or any other event for that matter - and it's so easy to illustrate. Pick an old-timey circus-y font, and add a few awnings, tents, banners, balloons, or flags in bright reds and yellows, and voila! It instantly feels like a carnival or circus!
Speaking of flags, flag imagery is another great way to incorporate illustrations for a several different events, whether you're advertising a destination wedding or getaway weekend, hosting a going-away party for a friend getting ready to make an international move, or just having a party to celebrate your family's heritage, or your favorite place, culture, music, or films. Love anime? Why not include a Japanese flag or images of your favorite anime characters on the invitation to your home anime film festival? Love the Beatles? Why not have a British Invasion rock music themed birthday party, like this invitation illustrates? With almost 200 countries in the world, using flags alone already gives a ton of illustration possibilities!
Finally, you can use illustrations just to help establish the type of event it is. Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for friends? Illustrations of all of the delicious food you're going to cook is the way to go! Planning a Valentine's Day party? The obvious illustration to dot your stationery with is a series of hearts. And if you're hosting a bar or bat mitzvah, why not include a prayer shawl like the one I digitally drew below? If there's already an object that is meaningful and important to your event, why not play that up in your stationery design?
The illustration above is also a good example to show different kinds of illustrations I create. Though many of the illustrations I've designed (and shown in this post) have shapes of flat color, there are other options, too. The prayer shawl I drew above was done with a different style, and instead of coloring in the stripes of the shawl with flat color, I used a hatching technique to give it a different texture.
Love these illustrations? There's more to come with several more posts in the next two weeks! :)
-
Shameless plug time: Love my illustrations? Love these designs? Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these illustrations or download a catalogue pdf (coming soon!). Or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!
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