Stickmen were approached by Nitida Wines to develop their new website (www.nitida.co.za). They wanted a site that was uniquely customized to suit their brand and visually convey their personal ethos.
It was suggested by Nitida co-owner, Peta Veller that we create a series of illustrations using a traditional ink made from boiling Waboom leaves (Nitidus), Rusty bolts, sugar and water together.
The illustrations are seasonal and change according to the current phase on the farm. Each composition consists of several elements and happenings on Nitida Wine Estate.
Below are the different stages I went through to develop the imagery:
Step 1: Getting the ink made, once I had a batch I found that if microwaved for a bit (2 min on med-hi), you would get a thicker darker ink which worked well for details.
Step 2: Draw a simple sketch to use as a guide for inking.
Step 3: Ink it! Adding multiple layers to add depth and darkness.
Step 4: I needed extra elements to add into the background of the illustration. Using the ink I created some drips and splashes.
Step 5: Once I had all the elements needed, I simply scanned them into Photoshop and played around with colour and composition.
The complete artwork is visible on Nitida’s homepage – www.nitida.co.za
