The sword-banner is not a design concept I came up with; it’s all over the place in a variety of styles and messages. I originally copped the idea for a fun background to some calligraphy practice, but when I realized the simple version I’d come up with fit perfectly on a postcard, I decided to take it that extra step.
Taping the first sketch to a window and the postcard base over it provided a jury-rigged light box to trace the picture over. Starting from a sketch instead of drawing it directly on the postcard worked out really well, letting me center it easily and keeping touch-ups to a minimum (which left less smudging). You’ll notice I also traced off a template of the banner alone; that’ll let me play with the background image and various messages without trouble.
I still haven’t thanked you for that – I’ve got it up on my corkboard, and it looks at me every morning with its encouraging message!
It makes me want to buckle on my swordbelt and ambush life from behind.
(So I do.)
Good. Life deserves to be ambushed. 😉
How does one ambush life? I am genuinely curious.
….Let’s just say I’m still hashing out the details.
I know it involves getting up as soon as you wake every morning and smiling and laughing and keeping your chin up and blinking back the tears.
And I think The Wyrm encapsulated the essence of it perfectly. 🙂