Happy June, my Jubilant Jellyfish!

I hope you all have been basking in the sun (with sunscreen) and getting some much-needed vitamin D! And don't forget to drink loads of water!

Last month, I enjoyed a cup-filling trip to Sedona, Arizona, for hiking and adventure. It was a breath of fresh air. Seeing the Red Rock mountains, cacti, and trees were truly inspiring. The experience filled my heart with joy!

A Journey through Sedona

Everywhere I looked, beautiful views surrounded me. When I returned to Houston, I felt a rush of inspiration to draw! On one particular hike, I met a man searching for Bigfoot. He even asked if we had seen any Sasquatches! I couldn’t help but laugh. Bigfoot symbolizes wanderlust for me. He (or she) lives off the land, always searching and adventuring. We also had my sweet Leonora with us. I decked her out in adventure tees, which surely put me in the right vibes.

With this inspiration in mind, I decided to create Bigfoot and hiking illustrations. I aimed to make a pattern or an art print.

The Creative Process

When I start sketching, it always begins a bit rough and weird, often with a list in hand. The first step was drawing Bigfoot. I brainstormed about the vibe I wanted to convey. Finally, I concluded that I should draw them all!

Next, I focused on camping and hiking gear inspired by our trip. I drew a cactus, a tree, boots, a backpack, my Nalgene bottle, and more. All of these are items that resonated with my adventure.

First round of sketches for my illustrations

Exploring Color Palettes

As I pulled from the gorgeous colors of the area, I thought about using greens, oranges, and burnt sienna shades.

First round of sketches for the Hiking Gear

I can't decide which style to pursue. So, why not do them all? I want to try outlined, pencil, and block coloring styles. I'm looking forward to creating a watercolor version as well!

Look at the crazy mix of foliage in this hike!

Moving on to Bigfoot, I planned to illustrate him in the same vibes as the gear: line, pencil, and block.

Conclusion and Future Plans

I'm still completing the final illustration showcased in the gallery above. The beauty of being indecisive is that I can explore all my creative routes. There’s no deadline for this design, just plenty of play.

I want to share a few final Sedona pictures. I had a truly magical trip there! If you ever get the chance to visit Sedona, I highly recommend it. Just keep in mind, it gets very warm in summer, so spring and winter are the best times to explore!

I need to wrap up this post now. I promise to share the finished artwork when it's ready. I hope you enjoyed peeking behind the curtain of my design process, from inspiration to sketches and doodles!

I will see you all soon!

xoxo,

Rachel

Leonora and I are admiring the beautiful scenery

Ricky and Leonora looking out at the views

This was the view from one of my favorite hikes to the top of a Mesa.

The three of us standing on 'The Devil's Bridge' - I promise it looks skinnier than it is!