Here are two detail close-ups  from a couple of legally themed illustrations which hit the newsstands this month: One  for Canadian Lawyer Magazine, and the other for InsideCouncil. Many thanks to William Hunter and Elizabeth Novak for giving me another opportunity to draw men in suites.

all images ©jeff szuc Jeff Szuc illustration

So every time I look out the window, there he is, just staring at me through the cracks of his blinds as if I’m the one that’s been doing something wrong by watching him all day. Like I don’t have the right, or even the responsibility, to want to keep an eye on my neighbours – to know what they’re doing all day, in their houses, with their shades drawn closed.

all images ©jeff szuc Jeff Szuc illustration

Never yield to popular opinion. Go against the grain. Go against the flow. Forge your own path. Fight your own fight. Be an individual. Be your own boss. Make your own destiny. Make your own rules. Think outside the box. Etc.

And here’s a closeup detail from this week’s inspirational/motivational idiomatic illustration:

I don’t usually work in this manner, but for this illustration I worked in a colorized line art style. I first created a tight black and white sketch and then recolored the linework and painted in the background colors digitally.

all images ©jeff szuc Jeff Szuc illustration

Hot of the presses and just in time to meet people. I’ve just received my business cards from Design Your Own Cards (they don’t get a hyperlink because this isn’t a promo piece). The concept behind this business card design was to create a modern version of the classic traditional business card. This is to tie my branding to the new direction my work is taking – a digital version of traditional illustration.  I went with Design Your Own Cards because they were one of the few affordable companies that was willing to do a three color print. This, intentionally wasn’t done with full color digital printing like most people are using lately. This is old fashioned, raised ink printing on grey linen card stock. It has a rich tactile quality, as well as a durability that is lost with the modern digitally printed cards.

The one drawback of going with a traditional printing process verses a digital one is the unavailability (or rather economic unviability) of small print runs. I have a lot of business cards now; It’s time to get out and meet a lot of people.

all images ©jeff szuc Jeff Szuc illustration

**Photoset from my ongoing vacation in the United States.

Sometimes one has to just put down the stylus and walk away from the computer. Nothing recharges the creative juices (at least for myself) like a good walk. As it states in my side-bar-bio, I fancy myself to be somewhat of a fun-time vacation photographer. I’m happy that I was able to get out to Taughannock Falls before the last of the ice and snow melted and capture a couple photos.

all images ©jeff szuc Jeff Szuc illustration