It’s needless to say that 2020 has been a year charged with (new favorite word…not!) unprecedented events. However, sometimes these are the events that are the source of our inspiration.
I received an Instagram message from my friend Valerie Schneider in early October telling me about this interesting holiday card idea that came to her, but given the fact that she’s neither a designer or an artist, didn’t know how to go about the execution, so she thought to run it by me.
Some of the most media covered news this year centered around social justice and police brutality. I, myself, had been struggling with how to convey my own feelings about all of this in a way that was peaceful and communicated love to all. So, as soon as Valerie described her vision to me I was completely drawn to it. She wanted to see hands in all skin tones that were united, maybe in the shape of a wreath? Maybe around an illustrated globe? And she already had a literal message to give: “The More, The Merrier”. I thought, this girl is onto something! In these times, when people and society are so divided, a message of love and unity and the notion that we’re all essentially the same, is exactly what we need this holiday season. I was so inspired that I began to search for similar concepts online, and started sketching possible mockups.
I couldn’t find a perfectly round image of hands forming a wreath, but I used whatever I found as a reference to draw my perfect circle with pencil on paper. Then, I digitized it in Adobe Illustrator where I added wreath leaves and some tiny ornaments. I also played around with letter styles, and both, Valerie and I agreed that a font (Malisia Script Font) will make it look sweeter and more holiday appropriate.
Collaborating with a friend on this holiday card has been a great experience. I fell in love with the project because its message and purpose aligned so well with mine, not just as a holiday message, but also as my whole reason to make art.
Around late November-early December, this rampant virus had managed to make its second wave even worse than the first. I found myself stuck with a message that was encouraging people to get together! What were we thinking??? After brainstorming some possible personal messages to write on the back, I came up with “Wishing we can be more and merrier very soon” which is ultimately what we all want. I don’t know if things will ever go back to normal, maybe things should not. But what we do want is the freedom we had before this virus took over our plans and dreams.
My other wish is that this little card puts a smile on your face and that you can feel the love Valerie and I put into making it.
Preliminary mockups