HAWAIIAN SHIRT ILLUSTRATION - Intro to Digital Media
INTRODUCTION
In this project we were to take inspiration from the traditional methods used to make Hawaiian shirts to digitally illustrate our own. For the pattern, we were inspired to take inspiration from traditional designs, but go one step further and make it our own. As for the rest of the shirt, we tried to keep authenticity in mind, creating an accurate shirt base with realistic folds and shadows, as well as authentic details like buttons and an aloha label.
MATERIALS
All elements of this project were created and assembled in Adobe Illustrator. I also used a Wacom Intuos tablet for some of the finer details of the illustration. References for my pattern illustration were sourced from internet searches.
CREATIVE PROCESS
I've always loved traditional Hawaiian shirts so I wanted my pattern to be unique, but clearly take influence from the classic Hawaiian flower pattern. I knew I wanted to contrast the bright, sunny feeling these classic patterns typically create, so I decided to add a bit of a darker twist. I did some preliminary research into Hawaiian flowers both for illustration references as well as to look for inspiration for how I was going to add my twist. I eventually came across an image of a flower in the rain, dripping raindrops from its petals, and knew what I wanted to do. In my pattern I would replace the rain on the flowers with splatters of blood, something that would leave the viewer and/or wearer questioning whether something potentially gruesome had just occurred next to these beautiful flowers.
Inspiration for pattern development
Source: https://www.ryukyulife.com/2014/02/beautiful-flowers-in-rain-and-other-crap.html
Source: https://www.ryukyulife.com/2014/02/beautiful-flowers-in-rain-and-other-crap.html
References for pattern illustration
Sources:
1 - https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/169518373447146677/
2 - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hawaiian-flowers
3 - https://www.mauiresortrentals.com/blog/hawaiian-flowers-found-maui
Sources:
1 - https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/169518373447146677/
2 - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hawaiian-flowers
3 - https://www.mauiresortrentals.com/blog/hawaiian-flowers-found-maui
WORKFLOW
I started by placing an embedded image of a Hawaiian shirt on a template layer to create an accurate shape for my shirt. I set the opacity of the individual shapes making up the shirt to multiply so that I could still see both the other shapes as well as the template layer beneath the piece I was working on.
Once I had created all the pieces making up the shirt, I returned the opacity of each to normal and removed the template underneath. I made some minor modifications to the layer order as well as the shape of some parts of the shirt (using the direct selection tool) to make it look more realistic. I then used the width tool to alter the stroke weight in some areas to give the illusion of shadow.
I then began creating my pattern using the reference images shows above. I first placed my images on a separate layer and converted it to a template like I had with the shirt reference. Then, using my Wacom tablet and both the pen and pencil tool, I created an outline of my reference image. I decided to add some extra detail by also outlining areas of colour change or where there were significant shadows.
After creating the outline, I added fill to the individual shapes based on the original colour of the flower (observed using the colour dropper tool), making slight modifications when needed. To make the flower more cohesive, I then removed the black stroke. After the flower itself had been completed, I added the blood splatter in the same way I made the flower: I started with a black outline, then added a fill colour and finally removed the stroke.
I repeated the process I used to create the first flower with the next two. Then, I manipulated the size, orientation, and layer order of the individual flowers to create a visually pleasing pattern base.
Now that I had my pattern base, it was time to actually create the actual pattern. I selected all three flowers with the selection tool, then went to Object > Pattern > Make. By default, the pattern is created using a simple grid formation. I changed the tile type from "Grid" to "Brick by Row" to create an offset between pattern elements. I also changed the offset from the default 1/2 to 1/4 to lessen the offset. Once I had my pattern settings adjusted at shown above, I clicked "Done" to officially add the pattern to my swatches panel.
Now that my pattern was in my swatches, I was able to apply it to my shirt. Using the appearance tab, I added a second fill to each piece of the shirt, one for the pattern, and one for the fill behind it. Using the tilde key (~), I was able to offset the pattern between shirt pieces and rotate it on the sleeves (with the help of the rotate tool). This offset and rotation gives the appearance of a realistic shirt in that it appears as if it is made from multiple cuts of fabric.
To make the shirt seem more three dimensional, I then added some additional effects. The piece of the shirt that forms that back (but is visible from the front) has a luminosity opacity applied to it to appear as if it is not on the same plane as the rest of the shirt. Also, after selecting the pattern fill in the appearance tab, I went Object > Transform > Reflect, and reflected the pattern vertically to show it would be the proper orientation when viewed from the back. I also added shadows in the appropriate areas by creating duplicates of the shape I wanted to add a shadow to, altering its shape with the direct selection tool, and then adding a grey fill. To make it more subtle, I lowered the opacity and set it to multiply, and finally added a gaussian blur effect.
I created the button and its cast shadow through several concentric circles. The holes were created using the shape builder tool to punch actual holes through the top layers. The realistic appearance of the button though comes mostly from the radial gradient applied to the top layer. The gradient includes multiple points of colour change to give the impression light is creating highlights and shadows on the surface of it. The cast shadow here is created in the exact same way as the shadows on the shirt were. The button was finished off by using the line segment tool to create threads, and adding a thin dark stroke to create a more three dimensional look.
The base for my Aloha label comes from a rectangle of a canvas-like texture. For my company name, I wanted to use a play on my own name while also considering the Hawaiian theme, and ended up going with "Shel Shores" . In keeping with this idea, I created some simple shell illustrations for my label using the same method I had used to illustrate my flowers. I added a "Texturizer" effect to them to make them seem like they really were printed on this canvas-like material.
I assembled my shell illustrations along with company name on the label and set their opacity to multiply to let the texture of the label come through, once again giving the illusion they were printed right on it. I finished the label off by using the line segment tool to create a dashed line in place of threading.
Once my I had completed both my buttons and label, all that was left to do to finish off my shirt was place them. I grouped the elements of my button and then equally placed duplicates of the group parallel to the front edge of the shirt. The label I placed within the shirt layer so that the shadow applied to the back neck of the shirt would also be applied to the label.
FINAL WORK
CONCLUSION
Though I had used Illustrator before, this project taught me how little I initially knew about the software. Completing this project required that I do extensive research into new techniques from creating believable shadows to altering the placement and orientation of a pattern. Also, playing around with different opacities to create a more realistic shirt was time consuming but also very insightful. While I did have some trouble creating my pattern illustration with sufficient detail, once I had completed it, I was really impressed with what I was able to create. I'll also admit that it was halfway through the creation of my shirt that I came up with the name, and I thought it was funny enough to motivate me through the last half of the work. And though I would have liked to have a little extra time to really refine my pattern illustration, I'm happy with my final product, and would definitely wear it in real life should I have the chance.
