The process of creating an illustrated piece.

John Paul The Great Academy is recognizing their 25th year and wanted a commemorative poster to help in the celebration. The aim of the poster was to capture the history, the legacy, and the daily rhythm of the school.

Given some of the notable elements to include, I began by sketching the general layout and structure of the poster.

As the work was nearing its final stage, the last piece was color exploration. The final result was a baseline navy, borrowed from the school’s color palette, and four muted colors that corresponded with each of the 4 houses at the school.

A hand-drawn illustration celebrating 20 years of the Pope John Paul the Great Academy from 2006 to 2026. It depicts various scenes including students, teachers, and faculty participating in activities like singing, playing instruments, walking, and group discussions. The drawing features a large central building, a Pope statue, trees, and religious imagery, with a banner that reads "20 Years" and dates, along with the words "John Paul the Great Academy".
A decorative poster celebrating 20 years of John Paul The Great Academy, featuring illustrations of students, faculty, and religious imagery, with text highlighting the anniversary from 2006 to 2026.

Once the overall sketch was approved, I started to add tonal colors and linework. This helped in making sure that the elements translated well to the desired style.

As the piece began to take form, the school wanted to put more visual elements in. The basic structures remained, but I looked for areas of infusing more of the school’s daily life into the layout.

A revised sketch, with the goal of adding more ‘daily life’ moments that captured how students experience the school

Illustration celebrating the 20th anniversary of John Paul the Great Academy, showing people engaging in various activities, a large building in the center, trees, and a large statue of Jesus Christ with raised hands. Banners and symbols, including a quote 'Veritas, Fides, Virtus,' are present.

An early layout sketch, focused on the overall format and placement of the needed elements.

A hand-drawn poster celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Great Academy from 2006 to 2026. It features a large school building in the center, surrounded by people including children, students, and musicians, with some involved in activities like playing guitar, singing, and gardening. The poster also includes various symbolic and decorative elements, such as trees, a banner with the words 'Virtutes, Fides, Virtus,' and a large figure holding a book and waving. The words 'POEARS' and 'LOYALTY' are also visible, along with quotes like 'Hold Paul the Great Academy.'
Illustration celebrating the 20th anniversary of John Paul the Great Academy with a parade of students, faculty, and clergy walking past the school building, surrounded by trees, religious imagery, and various activities, with banners displaying the years 2007 and 2027, and the motto 'Veritas, Fides, Virtus'.
Illustration celebrating the 20th anniversary of John Paul the Great Academy, featuring scenes of students and staff, trees, a school building, and banners with the phrase 'Veritas, Fides, Virtus' and 'Omnia in Excellentia'.