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Arti5CB3
Participant
July 19, 2024
Question

Critique on some 70s style illustrations please?

  • July 19, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 590 views

Hello!

 

I'm designing some graphics for a range of T shirts for my portfolio. I might screen print them down the line, so tips on how to make them more screen-printing friendly would be useful but not super neccessary at this stage; currently, I'm just looking for advice on how to make them "pop" as, to me, they feel a little flat and lifeless (pardon the pun).

 

As the theme of the shirts is joi de vivre, 70s hedonism and a lust for life, how can I incorporate this into the design? I'm happy with the drawings themselves, but things like reccomendations for new brushes and packs, shading, effects etc are what I need help with.

 

Happy to clarify if this all sounds a bit vague!

 

P.S It's my first time posting here, so please let me know if it needs to be on a different board 🙂

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

B
Community Expert
Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 19, 2024

The 1970's had a lot of different period-specific styles, ranging from hippie-flavored graphics to Swiss-inspired stuff that used a whole lot of Helvetica. To mimic any of those styles effectively it will take doing a good bit of research looking at magazines, music album cover art, ads and other sources from that era. I'm guessing you're going for something inspired by Grateful Dead artwork.

 

The art files you posted have the visual vibe they were generated in the computer. I think that's because the line work is really thin and uniform. Some of the gradient fills look like a computer effect. Thicker, more natural looking line work might make the art more screen-printing friendly. The same goes for using solid colors.

 

The Ortem typeface is kind of 1970's looking, but really evokes art nouveau styles of 100+ years ago. Only type nerds like me would probably know any difference.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 19, 2024

A connection between Art Nouveau and Hippie Posters is not too unlikely, because Art Nouveau had a revival at the end of the 1960ies: https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/art-nouveau-revival-of-the-1960s/ 

    RvdT
    RvdT
    Inspiring
    July 19, 2024

    Hi and welcome,

    As far as i know there isn't a general Adobe art discussion board. Adobe Illustrator is a good "tool" for making screen print designs. So, here is fine by me 🙂

     

    Some screen-printing design tips:

    • Avoid using gradients
    • Avoid using thin lines, small details
    • Use as few colors as possible

     

    Somewhat like this:

     

    Design

    You can try using artificial intelligence for inspiration and see what it comes up with... "joi de vivre, 70s hedonism and a lust for life" results in, i.e.: 

    Some ai tools can use your design to use as a guide.

     

    You can try using complementing colors to make your design pop.

    https://color.adobe.com/nl/create/color-wheel

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