Sara Zimmerman Art, Illustration & Design » climb

New illustrative designs for tees

Sara — Mon, 03 May 2010 04:05:05 +0000

I'm working on some fun illustrations lately with the thought to expand my tee line. Getting out of winter and back into climbing shape has inspired many of my new designs as well as has resurrected some older ones. If you haven't seen any of these hand-drawn surface designs for tee shirts, you can view them in my illustrations' gallery slideshow and even purchase some through my shop. Here's one of my newest called "Crack Climber."

Colors inspired by the Bishop Buttermilks

Sara — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:34:03 +0000

Wow, wow, and more wow! The Buttermilks climbing area on the East Side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range near Bishop, CA is so incredibly beautiful. Nestled right below snowline are the most picturesque boulders littering the sage and sparsely-pined hillsides. The boulders themselves are pure gems for climbing and considered some of the best in the world. The view, however, can be appreciated by those beyond the climbing folk. Here's a quick shot I grabbed facing the west (opposite of the stellar boulders) after sunrise. Though the colors are muted, there is still a lot to be seen. Here is a palette I created based on inspiration from this tremendous place.

A shot from the Buttermilks at the East Side of the Sierras

Inspired by the lichen of Joshua Tree boulders

Sara — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:51:44 +0000

This is a color palette inspired by a Joshua Tree National Park boulder

I recently returned from a climbing vacation in Joshua Tree National Park. If you haven't been there, it's a definite must. The Joshua Trees themselves have so much personality as they lean and twist in the desert sky. I'm personally attracted to the rock formations for more reasons than just that they provide 5 star climbs: they also provide creative inspiration. On a rest day, my family and I ventured out past Echo Tee to find some shade and take a rest. We came upon this beautiful boulder. The shape of the boulder was magnificent, however the multicolored lichen added some brilliant, colorful flare. The bright colors of this boulder in the desert heat really inspired me. Here's a color palette that I created based on just the lichen of this boulder (above). This is a great way to find colors that work together when planning your next design project. If you don't know which direction to give your graphic or web designer, think of an area that really speaks to you, or better yet, dig through some old photos. You will be bound to find some colors that can proudly represent the feel of what you are trying to do. (Nature really inspires me in general. Check back for more nature-inspired posts in the future).