It happened again: given the success of the cover I had designed for the spring version of the magazine (if you missed it, you can see the illustration in this post), Caminada Sementi, the Lamone-based gardening store, decided to renew the collaboration by asking me to design the fall version as well!
Given my passion for the garden, it is a real joy for me to be able to engage in such work!
The theme of autumn: a giant pumpkin!
The magazine is the fall edition, so the subject of the cover should have had something to do with this season.
I gathered several ideas, and submitted three sketches of possible covers, and she was chosen: the undisputed queen of this fantastic and iconic season, namely the pumpkin!
To make the image fun and interesting, in short to catch people's attention, I thought of exaggerating the scene: a giant, huge, huge pumpkin on a small, old-looking wooden cart.
On top of it a little man, intent on trying to secure the huge vegetable so that it could be transported, to make the scene even more fun.
I use the iPad for the sketching part: the digital technique allows me to be more agile in making a sketch. I can enlarge, deform, adjust the sketch with ease.
The digital technique is also convenient for gathering ideas about colors although, of course, colors in watercolor are decidedly different from those on a screen. What's more, watercolors “do a bit as they please.” However, I can already reason about colors and contrasts so as to highlight the parts of the illustration I want.
The details that make a difference
Raffaele liked the proposed design very much: in addition to showing the roots of his family business thanks to the founding date of Caminada Sementi engraved on the cart (i.e., 1887), the image also emphasizes the possibility of abundant harvests thanks to the products in his store.
Framing the queen of the scene, the lady gourd, is an array of typical gardening tools: a hatchet, a saw, scissors or shears...a prosperous auspicious image that would surely be appreciated by all the store's customers.
Being an illustrator in Ticino
In an increasingly digital era, especially with the rise of AI-generated images, the value of traditional illustrations risks being overshadowed. That’s why meeting people who continue to appreciate the handcrafted work of an illustrator is truly a precious experience.
Creating commissioned illustrations in a place like Ticino is not just a form of artistic expression but also a way to build genuine connections with local businesses that believe in the power of art as a means of communication.
A custom illustration is more than just an image: it embodies unique symbols and messages that speak directly to the audience, leaving a lasting impression.
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