Starting off with the city, I took a picture of Denver's skyline a while ago and thought it could be helpful in the process. Initially, it appeared very flat in 2D, so I decided to give it depth by making it 3D. Adding a grid behind it provided a better understanding of the city's shape. The same skyline is visible on all four sides, albeit slightly adjusted in size to create visual interest. To fill up the space in the middle, I opted to draw some trees using a pre-set Illustrator brush. Along the walls, I added mountains to represent Boulder. Adding triangles beneath the city gave it a hovering effect, adding movement to the scene.
Surrounding the city are small icons, arranged from left to right:
- Starbucks (a frequent haunt for us)
- Airport (reflecting our frequent travels)
- Chick-Fil-A (a spot where he jokingly teases my order)
- HW 36 (depicted with an angry expression, as we often encounter frustration while driving on it)
- Dunkin' Donuts (a shared love for DD)
- Flatirons Mall Sign (representing our enjoyment of shopping)
- Outlet Sign (another nod to our shopping adventures)
- Bubbles (indicating our fondness for Boba tea)
- In the center is my boyfriend's car.
- Starbucks (a frequent haunt for us)
- Airport (reflecting our frequent travels)
- Chick-Fil-A (a spot where he jokingly teases my order)
- HW 36 (depicted with an angry expression, as we often encounter frustration while driving on it)
- Dunkin' Donuts (a shared love for DD)
- Flatirons Mall Sign (representing our enjoyment of shopping)
- Outlet Sign (another nod to our shopping adventures)
- Bubbles (indicating our fondness for Boba tea)
- In the center is my boyfriend's car.
Illustrating us in a manga style was my favorite part of the process. I left the background feeling empty to ensure that the illustrations harmonize well with their surroundings. Coloring it in would have made it look like a sticker, which I wanted to avoid.
Typography was another enjoyable aspect. Referencing the font used in the movie "Fast & Furious 3" helped me find the perfect fit while ensuring it still resembled a movie poster. To highlight the middle part, I added a gradient effect.
Detail Screenshot
Detail Screenshot
Drawing Process
Reference Picture: Denver City
Color Palette