My Design Process - Graphic Art

I take a lot of photographs because they often become the inspiration for my artwork.

Last week, I captured this osprey that lives near our home, perched in a blooming poinciana tree. It was one of those perfect Florida mornings—the light was beautiful, the colors were incredibly vibrant, and the photo turned out exactly as I had hoped.

But for me, a great photograph is often just the beginning.

As I looked at the image, I began imagining a different interpretation. What if the osprey and tree were rendered in black and white, while the brilliant red blossoms remained in full color? That simple idea transformed a photograph into an artistic vision.

From there, I opened Adobe Illustrator and began creating. I often use AI to generate an initial concept, giving me a starting point for the line work and composition. Then the real creative process begins as I refine every detail—adjusting the lines, colors, textures, and overall balance until the piece reflects what I envisioned.

For this artwork, I also incorporated the original photograph as a subtle overlay at 50% opacity. That additional layer added depth and richness, blending the realism of the photograph with the stylized illustration to create a piece that feels both natural and artistic.

Osprey in Poinciana Tree

Once the artwork reaches the point where it feels like art to me, I move into the marketing phase. I use Placeit to create most of the mockups you see on my website. It's an affordable service with hundreds of room settings that help people visualize how a piece might look in their own living room, bedroom, office, or entryway.

After I find a mockup that fits the style I'm looking for, I download it and often use ChatGPT to make a few finishing touches—such as changing the wall color, swapping out furniture colors, or adjusting décor so the artwork complements the room even better.

By the end of the process, what began as a photograph of an osprey perched in a poinciana tree has become a finished piece of wall art, complete with a realistic room setting that helps bring the vision to life.

Not a bad day's work—especially considering it all came together while I was doing the laundry!

Osprey in Poinciana Tree set in Living Room Mock-Up

Osprey in Poinciana Tree

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