Illustration Friday Topic: Grow

This is my first entry into Illustration Friday. I haven't really ever done anything like this. I'm an interactive designer for sales and marketing, which means I don't really get a chance to just sit and illustrate. In my daily grind, it's get the graphics and animations out as fast as you can because there's a ton of new projects waiting in your inbox. Be sure to click on the image above for more detail.

I have always loved ducks. I think they're cute and being from New England, we have a ton of mallards up here. They're everywhere and I always thought they would make a good subject of an illustration. When I saw the topic for "grow," I immediately thought of a daddy mallard looking at one of his eggs, finally grown enough to break out of its shell and become a duckling.

I'm really excited that I got to work with texture in this piece. I'm usually a keep it simple kind of person because of the nature of my job. I take photos or simple illustrations, bring them into flash and make an ad for a news media site. I know that this is my first time illustrating in this manner. Since it is my first time trying it out, I know it's not what it could be, but I'm happy with it nonetheless.

I hope to explore this side of my design more in the future. Especially since I don't want to be making ads all my life.