Thunderbolt

Software: Affinity Designer 

I was very happy with the last image I posted (Stephenson’s Rocket), so why not create another image of a locomotive? In this case I created an image of a movie star, the Thunderbolt, the featured locomotive in the British 1953 movie “The Titfileld Thuderbolt”.

Like the Rocket from my last post, the Thunderbolt is an early locomotive, built in 1838. Like most movie stars, the name “Thunderbolt” is not the proper name. The locomotive’s original name is Lion, but was renamed for the movie. One cool fact is that the during the shooting of the film, the Thunderbolt was hit in the back by another train and suffered some damage. Did this stop the Thunderbolt? It did not and the Thunderbolt was able to finish the movie and was still working under it own power until the 1980’s!

 

Stephenson’s Rocket

Software: Affinity Designer

I am always trying to update my graphic design skills by creating images. If I am going to create a practice image, I might as well create am image of something I like very much. Anyone who knows me know that I have a love of trains, so why not create an image of a train?

In this case this image is Stephenson’s Rocket. This train was built in 1829 (almost 200 years ago), and it was not the first locomotive built, but it is considered the first effective locomotive built. The Rocket was not so much an innovative locomotive, but it was the first locomotive to bring together a wide range of proven technologies in a single locomotive. Despite the Rocket’s age it still exists and it is in National Railway Museum in York, England.

 

Cottage at Night

Software: Affinity Designer IPad

Tutorial: Cozy Cottage Illustration in Affinity Designer

This tutorial was done by the same author who did the last lighthouse tutorial. Once again it is nice to do a tutorial based on the actual software I was using, but the author tended to move at a very rapid pace ( a common problem in YouTube based tutorials. Using a lot of rewinding a pause I ended up with a rather nice looking image (I especially liked the shading and textures effects added to the image).

 

Seaside Lighthouse

Software: Affinity Designer IPad

YouTube Tutorial: YouTube – Lighthouse illustration beginner tutorial in Affinity Designer iPad & PC

Since I did a course on Affinity Designer (see my last post) I figured that I should do a few more tutorials to keep up my skills. I found this tutorial on YouTube, and it had both desktop and iPad versions. This is awesome, no more trying to figure out how to translate a PhotoShop tutorial in Affinity Designer and no more translating desktop software into iPad version. One really cool feature of this tutorial was the parts on shading and textures. The explanations on how to add shading was very excellent. I am very happy with the results.

 

Zombie House

Software: Affinity Designer IPad

YouTube Tutorial: Udemy – Vector Drawing on the iPad with Affinity Designer

Once again thanks to COVID I have a bit of extra time on my hands… so why not work on my design skills? In this case I ordered a course for Affinity Designer on the iPad. The course I booked was Vector Drawing on the IPad with Affinity Designer from Udemy.

I do have some experience working (playing around mainly) in Affinity Designer on the iPad, but this course did give me some very helpful knowledge on how to navigate the program more effectively. The above Zombie image was fun to create and for a $9.00 course (it was on sale) I truly felt I got value for my money and time.

 

Winter Paper Cutout

Software: Affinity Designer

YouTube Tutorial: Envatotuts – How To Create a Winter Paper Cutout Effect Illustration in Adobe Illustrator

Once again thanks to COVID I have a bit of extra time on my hands… so why not work on my design skills? In this case a paper cutout winter image.

 

Modern Scandinavian Style Cottage

Software: Affinity Designer on the iPad

Tutorial: Envatotuts – How To Create a Modern Scandinavian Style Cottage in Adobe Illustrator

Thanks to COVID-19 I have a bit of extra time on my hands… (don’t we all?) so it was time to do a little practice in Affinity Designer iPad version. In this case some flat art of a Scandinavian cottage.

Once again this was also a convert an Adobe Illustrator tutorial into a Affinity Designer tutorial as well. I am getter rather good at this, so the results are very good, but I did make one change on purpose. The plants in the tutorial seemed wrong, so I came up with my own version… and I think they came out great.

 

Rescue Unit Badge

Software: Affinity Designer on the iPad

Tutorial: Envatotuts – How To Create a Mountain Rescue Unit Badge in Adobe Illustrator

Thanks to COVID-19 I have a bit of extra time on my hands… so why not work on my design skills? In this case a badge for a Rescue Unit. And in the theory “Go big or go home” the rescue unit is for Everest (of course).

I created two versions – one with trees, one without trees. I like the trees better, but somehow trees around the base of Everest seems wrong. In either case enjoy.

 

Flat Space

Software: Affinity Designer

Tutorial: Spoon Graphics – How To Create a Flat Style Vector Planet in Illustrator

After the hair pulling of the last image I decided to create something quick and easy in Affinity Designer… thus this image. Mind you it is a simple image visually, but it did need more tweaking than it appears… (it was not a simple as it looks and I feel I will go back and do some more editing) Mind you it was much easier working in Affinity Designer than Affinity Photo (for me that is). But wait… It is a space image… therefore an Ontario Science Centre poster.

Although this tutorial was by Spoon Graphics, but much of the design and development of this style was designed by Nina Geometrieva – her tutorial provided some inspiration on the second and third image

 

Popsicle Fun

Software: Affinity Designer

Tutorial: Spoon Graphics – How To Create a Vector Popsicle in Adobe Illustrator

I did a coffee on my last posting, now popsicles???… I guess I am thinking about food… but in the summer popsicles are always a good idea. Just like most tutorials this was an Adobe Illustrator tutorial which I turned into an Affinity Designer tutorial. Also like the coffee image, this was very much simple shapes that can make an effective design. I decided to take the tutorial image a step further and add some text and a banner.