Sara Zimmerman Art, Illustration & Design » Illustration

Artist who does Web Design

Sara — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:04:25 +0000

People often visit my website to view my fine art and then say, "Wow! I had no idea you created websites too!" They later ask how I can be both an artist AND do something so left-brained like web design and marketing? For me it is easy because they are two passions of mine: I absolutely love to push myself creatively AND I am passionate about finding ways to help people pursue their own business visions.

So what is it that I do for businesses?

When I am working on a business project, I wear many, many hats, including:

project manager
SEO and marketing consultant
graphic artist
illustrator
html/css programmer
UI/UX designer
content editor
business coach
and confidant

Brand development and marketing require someone who can keep the vision in mind while overseeing and executing the daily tasks of the project. From owning a few different businesses and coaching several more, I have had regular practice on how to address the unique nuances of each industry. I work with business visions in mind as I get the realistic details in order and figure out what needs to happen on a daily basis to make a deadline. However, I understand the creative side too, so I get results that are eye-catching and memorable to your target market.

To understand the completeness of a project, the project manager needs to understand how each part works, what is most important for that component to work, and then blend the parts into a perfect marriage. That means someone who understands the visual, marketing, programming or printing, and clients needs.

Each project may sounds simple: "I need a website." "I need a poster." "I need a sign illustrated." But behind each project is a multitude of tasks that need to be done correctly to make your project worthwhile. Before choosing your web designer or graphic designer, look at their portfolio and see if they have the experience to help you with your project. Make sure their past works are something you may like for your business. And read their testimonials. And next time you'll get a better feel why so many people choose someone like me, an artist who does design.

Truckee Thursdays T Shirt Design

Sara — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:41:29 +0000

Truckee Thursdays is a super fun outside festival that happens throughout the summer months in Truckee, CA. It's an event of all ages, featuring music, food, beer garden, play area for kids, and vendors of all sorts. This year, the Truckee Downtown Merchant Association launched a t shirt contest for Truckee Thursdays. The idea was to capture the feel of Truckee Thursdays while being appealing to both men and women.

I created a concept, sketched it out, then painted it with inks. Once dried, I scanned it, cleaned it up in Photoshop, then imported and outlined it in Illustrator. I added some features, tweaked some things, and brought in a fun font. The final design was submitted and accepted as winner of the 2011 Truckee Thursday t shirt contest. To purchase your own, look for the Truckee Downtown Merchant Association's booth during Truckee Thursdays. Then come by and see me as I will have my own booth too!

Custom Painted Belly Mask

Sara — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:16:39 +0000

I had the fun opportunity to paint a belly mask. A belly mask is a plaster mask that is formed on the body of a pregnant woman in her last stages of pregnancy. The belly mask is a reminder to both mom and child of this important stage. My client asked me to let loose and have fun. I sent her a quick sketch and she said "go!" (my favorite!). The surface had been diligently prepared by her husband, making it very easy to work with. After a handful of coats, the end product became fun and light. I am now inspired to finally finish my own from my pregnancy.

I’m an official Green Business

Sara — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:01:19 +0000

When I was in UCSC, I received my bachelor's in Environmental Studies- a degree which was known then as the most depressing one around. I learned a lot about the theory of making change and reducing our carbon footprint. But then I got married, had a baby... and we all know how it goes from there. It takes a concerted effort to reduce, reuse and recycle and I am doing my best to incorporate these ideas into my art and design business. To lessen my impact, I recently switched over to biodegradable bags for my prints and 100% post-consumer waste backings for my greeting cards. I use reclaimed cabinet doors as canvases when possible, and do as much as I can electronically to cut down my paper waste. I am happy to announce that my efforts in my business have been recognized by Keep the Sierra Green as a Green Business Leader! I have a long way to go- there are so many ways to change. What simple things can you do to make your business green?

Illustrated Map for Wedding Invitation and Bag

Sara — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:11:55 +0000

I had the honor to create a super fun illustration for an upcoming June wedding. The mother of a bride contacted me with some fun ideas, wanting a map to feature the places wedding guests would visit. The map would be screened onto a bag as a wedding favor AND used as a directions card for the invite. The process required 3 separate artworks and some diligence in Photoshop and Illustrator.

First I drew the map out with tracing paper. Each revision, I sliced up the tracing paper until I had the final paper.
Second, I laid the tracing paper over a sheet of Saral transfer paper over Arches Cold Press paper and then traced the tracing paper. This left a light line on the paper.
I then used India Ink to ink the first set of lines.
Once that was done, I scanned in the images into Illustrator and using Live trace, I was able to outline the images. I had to go in and clean up many of the curves that didn't transfer.
Separately, I started another artwork using the same technique outlined in step 2. When the lines were laid in, I started in with a background wash of quinacridone sienna acrylics.
When that was dry, I worked in about 3 other layers of greens, tans, and blues. When done, I scanned in that image.
I brought that image into Photoshop and then, brought in the inked lined image. I locked that image and started messing around with the colors, blotching them and touching them up so they would match up with the landmarks.
In another document, I used Live Trace to outline some lined drawings of the structures. Once those were brought into Illustrator and traced with Live Trace, I then used Live Paint to fill the structures in.
I merged all the files together in Illustrator for the final product.

This final map was used on the wedding invitations and screened onto wedding bags as wedding favors for the guests. Needless to day this was a time-intensive project, but the end-product was well worth the time involved. Here's how it came out on the bag:

Commissioned Heart Art

Sara — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:55:44 +0000

I was recently commissioned by a great local designer to create a "heart" as both a Valentine's gift and to be an organic element to be used within a logo. It was a fun project working with a creative with a vision that is different than mine, yet through working together, we could utilize each other's talents. Here's the nice testimonial I received:

I just want to say that we're having a great time with the heart painting. It was so easy to work with you and the painting adds a perfect splash of color and emotion to our home. Thank you again!!

Illustrated map of the Truckee River watershed

Sara — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:49:51 +0000

I have recently completed a watercolor and pencil illustrated map of the watershed of Truckee. This map will be used online as an informative diagram illustrating the boundaries of the Truckee River watershed. I am also working on the website for this large project as we speak. More updates to come!

Truckee River Day t shirt illustration

Sara — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:36:57 +0000

I recently completed a t shirt illustration for Truckee River Watershed Council's annual Truckee River Day. The day is about watershed restoration and education. One of the highlighted fish species of the area is the Lahontan Trout. In india ink, I outlined a design of a Lahontan Cutthroat I has painted on canvas. I added the signature spots and scanned it. Once imported, I converted the design to outlines. I then took a photo of my original acrylic painting and converted the design to gradient halftones. I then combined the outline and outlined halftones to create a Warhol-esque fish design, giving this year's design more of an artsy feel. The shirts are free for volunteers on this great day.

Illustrations and Design for Interpretive Sign

Sara — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:20:25 +0000

I recently completed a super fun project where I was able to integrate my science illustration background with marketing and design in an interpretive sign. I was approached by the Truckee River Watershed Council to create an interpretive sign for their restoration project at Perazzo Meadows in the California Sierras. They provided some aerial photos, some photos of the site and where the intended sign was to be, a list of species at the site, a pdf of the planned change to the stream channel, and some ideas of tags they needed to show. From there, I created some sketches, got them proofed, incorporated changes and then added color. Once the illustrations were approved, I then finalized my watercolor and colored pencil illustrations and had them professionally photographed. When done, I then laid in the text and images into the interpretive sign layout. After some last minute changes, the sign layout was complete and sent to the sign shop. Check out more of my science illustration portfolio and how illustration can help for interpretive signange.

Humane Society shirt design and testimonial

Sara — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:06:25 +0000

This is just one of the designs I did for the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe called "Graphic Dog"

I adopted my late malamute, Dakota, from the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe (HSTT). So when the HSTT asked me to help design them some newshirts, I just had to do it as a way to give back to the place that helped me find my late, furry friend. They allowed me entire artistic freedom, asking that the 4 designs had something to do with dogs or cats. I came up with 4 fun ones which they got printed and released last night at the fabulous Truckee Thursdays event. This morning, I also received a great testimonial about the feedback from my designs:

We got the shirts yesterday and they are awesome! We brought them to Truckee Thursdays and they were VERY popular…everyone looooved them! ~ Steph Jensen, Executive Director, Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.

These shirts are currently available at the HSTT booth for the next 5 Truckee Thursdays and soon to be released on their online shop.