Number 140 of 150

October 12, 2023October 5, 2023Leave a comment

This is a cartoon illustration of a park ranger giving a presentation about a red-tailed hawk. This image is part of a subset of illustrations within the larger project depicting people with recognizable professions. The project was commissioned by Learning A-Z to be used in a Build-A-Book application for children. As always, the image was created digitally in Adobe Photoshop using my cintiq tablet.

This one was fun to draw because I used a photo reference from my own personal photos. This hawk is based on the one that came by years ago and perched on my back fence for several hours. It was a very good model and let me get very close to get some nice shots. So, drawing this brought to mind a memory of a really special afternoon for me.

This final image was also way different than the original specs. Originally, this was supposed to be a woman park ranger with a park map she was pointing to. But that pose was fairly unworkable if we wanted to both see the content of the map and have the woman viewed from the front, looking at the viewer at eye-level. Which they did. Also, holding an unfolded paper map usually requires two hands, then a third would be needed to point. Additionally, the specs for this section were too heavy on women, and we already had a Middle Eastern woman with a prosthetic leg previously in the project. That was why it was decided to switch this one to a man.

It was my suggestion to change the pose to the park ranger doing a nature presentation with an animal, which the client liked. I suggested several animals, but I was really hoping they’d go for the hawk. Which they did.

Park Ranger with Red-Tailed Hawk

Number 72 of 150

May 15, 2023April 28, 2023Leave a comment

Moving onto the adults, here we have a Muslim woman with a prosthetic leg.

A cartoon illustration of a Muslim woman with a prosthetic leg. She's standing with one hand up as if gesturing as she speaks and the other hand is holding a basket of apples. She is wearing a hijab, long sleeved striped blouse, a below-the-knee skirt, leggings on her intact leg, and crocs on both her natural and artificial foot.

Number 65 of 150

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023Leave a comment

A skateboarder with a prosthetic arm. One of those 3D printed ones in the fun colors. The client chose the colors.

I particularly like how the kid’s t-shirt print came out. This was changed in the final phase with the client instructing me to create a geometric print for their shirt.

The long hair was included both to help show a little more movement and to make the character’s gender a little more ambiguous.

A cartoon illustration of a child riding a skateboard. The child is gender ambiguous and has a prosthetic arm. They are wearing a helmet, t-shirt, loose jeans, and sneakers. They have medium-length, brown hair

Number 45 of 150

February 20, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

Last of the batch. Doesn’t he look snazzy in his bow tie and suspenders?

An old man stands with arms wide, gesturing while speaking. He has a mustache and his hair is bald on top. He's wearing a blue and white striped button-up shirt, a red bow tie, suspenders, tan trousers, and brown boots.

Number 44 of 150

February 18, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

I think I found the old ladies the most delightful to draw.

I originally used a brown, yellow, and black combination which I thought was very stylish. But the client wanted purple, yellow, and black instead. So, that’s what we went with.

An elderly Middle Eastern woman is walking towards the viewer with one hand raised as if waving. She's smiling and looks like she's moving carefully. She has a yellow hijab, white, yellow, and light purple horizontally striped shirt, light purple cardigan, loose black pants, and yellow slide-on sneakers.

Number 43 of 150

February 16, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

A man in a thinking pose, larger body type.

A Middle Eastern man standing with one hand raised as if gesturing and the other touching his chin as if thinking. He's wearing jeans, sneakers, and a button-up shirt. He has a larger body type with a prominent belly.

Number 42 of 150

February 14, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

Moving onto the adults. A lady in a floral skirt and matching hijab.

A Middle Eastern Muslim woman wearing a long floral skirt, leggings, white blouse, flats, and a hijab. She's standing with her right hand on her waist looking to her left.

Number 41 of 150

February 12, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

One last child for this batch. Traditionally female clothes (skirt and leggings) in gender-neutral colors (black and turquois) worn by a character drawn to read a little more masculine than feminine. If I got it right, it should be unclear what their gender identity is exactly. Again, inclusivity and diversity was an important part of this project.

I really like how the skirt turned out, in particular.

A Middle Eastern child stands with arms up in a shrugging gesture. Their dark brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail and cut in an undercut style. They're wearing a black and turquois outfit consisting of a horizontally striped miniskirt, leggings, high-top sneakers, socks, a t-shirt, and a hoodie.

Number 40 of 150

February 10, 2023February 2, 2023Leave a comment

Now another boy.

A Middle Eastern boy stands with one hand up, index finger raised. He's wearing a green and white two-toned t-shirt over a gray long-sleeved shirt. He's got on blue jeans and green converse-style sneakers.

Number 39 of 150

February 8, 2023February 10, 2023Leave a comment

Next up: Age 10-12. She’s a little young for a hijab, but we figured in the interest of diversity to give her one anyway. Plus, it works well with her outfit.