So, The Sky Isn’t Falling After All?

Well, the dreaded Rapture has passed and it seems we’ve all survived with our limbs still attached (or have we?..dun dun dunnn!). But what would’ve happened if worldwide doom, really came to pass? Would fire fall from the sky–well shit let’s hope not, but maybe there’s one thing we can all look forward to. That’s right, I’m talking about Zombie Babes.

The Artist: Chloe Roques

French web and graphics designer, Chloe Roques, has got me flipping the pages of the nearest zombie manual for her pinup style, “Zombabes.” Googoorama is the site which showcases these busty maneaters from original vector art, to sketches, and merchandise.

So, what does a Zombabe do in a post-apocalyptic world? She gets her fill of BRraAAIIInNNssSS of course…..eh, too much? Oh alright……ANYWHO my fav–zombabe, has got to be the chick munching on eyeballs, probably watching a marathon of Resident Evil.

….At least, that’s what I’d be doing. So, who’s your fav Zombabe? Subscribe and Comment below!

Gallery Of Zombabes

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Chloe Roques – Official Website and Portfolio at XPZ Design
• Googoorama – Official Site For Zombabes

Tip #1: Provocative, Not Pornographic

(image source via Fotolia) – Add the concept of sexy without the T&A

People often misunderstand the concept of adding sexual appeal to their design. The results usually become designs which are overly sexual for a product or service which has nothing to do with sex. How many times have you seen a babe in a bikini to sell a poker site? Stick to stock photos which are instead, “provocative.”

“Provocative: arousing sexual desire, interest, or controversy, especially deliberately.”

Many things can be provocative from articles to photography so be open to this concept. Choose photos that are sexy based on body language instead of body position. You should always know how far of a line you can cross before your audience dismisses a provocative photo for a semi-pornographic one.

Tip #2: Not All Stock Photography Is Equal

(image source via Fotolia) Make sure the photo matches the design concept. This emotes great relaxation for a Spa Ad.

Stock photography sites, especially free ones, can be a mixture of professional and amateur photography. Therefore, depending on what’s available for your project and budget, you are always at risk for work with low quality photography.

Another point to consider is how well the provocative concept you need is executed. Nothing can beat the perfect photograph for your design, but beware of concepts which are forced or not believable. The photographer may have wanted to take a shot of a happy secretary at her desk, but if her face reads sad or contrived, your audience won’t believe it.

Tip #3: It’s All In The Eyes

(image source via Fotolia) - Grab your audience with a single look!

Body language is always important, but our eyes are especially capable of evoking such great and diverse emotion. Sometimes all you need for an alluring photo is a great pair of eyes staring  right back at your audience.

Based on our primal instincts, our eyes are one of the best ways to evoke sexuality naturally. As humans, when we are aroused our pupils dilate. Our pupils also dilate in low lighting, which is commonly referred to as “bedroom eyes.” In other words, very dark eyes or photography which makes them look dark  and mysterious will always be naturally sensual.

Tip #4: Racial And Gender Ambiguity

(image source via Fotolia) - Black and white photos add to racial/gender ambiguity

How to choose which race or gender should be responsible for capturing the message of your design is often a tough choice for designers. If you’re truly having a difficult time with this concept then I suggest choosing stock photography with racial or gender ambiguity. What this means is that the subject in the photo will have appeal across the board no matter the race or gender of the subjects because the audience won’t be able to tell what they are.  Racial ambiguity is useful in many markets while gender ambiguity is best for fashion and such.

The beauty of black and white photography is that it’s easier to get away with racial ambiguity when you eliminate color photography.  You can see this kind of use in the Reebok Easytone Ads, where all the audience can focus on is the great pair of legs and perfect product placement.

Conclusion

Alluring stock photos are easy to find when you know what to look for. Pay attention to key elements like body language and overall concept to pair the right photo to your design needs. What are your tips for finding alluring stock photography?

Resources

All photos provided by:

• Fotolia – Royalty Free Stock Photos

DeviantART’s Goldmine of Inspiration

I just love getting lost on DeviantART. I usually go there to check my own profile and for a quick browse, but that quick browse quickly turns into hours of “oooing” and “ahhing” in front of my screen.  So many talented artists call it a home for their best work, and have gone onto much bigger opportunities because of its supportive community.

Type “Disney” into their search bar and you’re bound to find thousands of creative works from people all around the world. One particular gem I came across is this gorgeous series of Disney princesses digitally painted with an incredible sense of realism.

The Artist: Claire Lena

Claire, also known as meirou on DA, is a young artist currently living in the United Kingdom. She makes beautiful fantasy paintings using Photoshop as her medium.

Claire paints with a sense of “semi-realism” to get the realistic effect that she wants. Her paintings have such a wonderfully dreamy quality about them that they really take the viewer to the place she illustrates. Like many artists, she uses photo references to create her characters and was often inspired by the awesome work of photographers to paint from.

The Disney Princess series includes portraits of Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel.My favorite by far is, Ariel with her little flounder nearby, what’s yours?

Gallery of Claire Lena’s Disney Princesses

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Claire Lena (meirou) – Official DeviantART
• Claire Lena – Official Blog

Check out all the new features to SexiDesign’s new and improved look!

New Banner

I’ve always wanted to customize this theme since I installed it, but it was only recently, like literally the other day, that a design concept came to my mind. The new banner illustrates scribblings on a blackboard, much like the one you would see in any teacher’s classroom. You see, SexiDesign is all about educating it’s readers to the nitty gritty of what sells in design. From understanding your audience’s experience to utilizing the science of sexy, these articles are gateways to our instincts.

The new banner includes: love formulas, the dopamine formula, and miscellaneous diagrams/charts.

New Logo

I’ll be writing a future post on this topic, but in many ways I have “de-sexed” SexiDesign. The original logo highlighted only the letters “sex” in relation to the site’s overall theme. Now a sleek new font goes with the logo and new tagline, “lessons in design’s aphrodisiac.”

Read more about “Design’s Aphrodisiac…”

Revised Rating System

The SexiDesign Rating System helps readers discover the best posts for their surfing preferences. Over 70% of SexiDesign’s posts are actually in the standard “Work and Wife Safe” category. And now there are just three distinct categories to choose from!

The new rating systems includes:

• Green – Work and Wife Safe. No Nudity.
• Yellow – Mild Content & Language. Minimal Nudity.
• Orange – Mature Content. Nudity.

Wibiya Toolbar

Share your favorite SexiDesign posts with friends on Twitter and Facebook with a breeze using the new Wibiya Toolbar. This toolbar is also your direct access to SexiDesign’s Official Facebook Fan Page for updates and community discussion.

View My All New Personal Blog Site!

SexiDesign is just the second redesign that I’ve done in the last two weeks, agh! The first, is my all new personal portfolio and blog site, MelodyNieves.com. There I will be sharing the process for my digital artwork, as well as tips and tutorials for fellow designers. Subscribe to the RSS Feed for updates on new posts!

Stay Tuned For New Posts From SexiDesign

With the redesign finished, I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I look forward to new posts and topics for my loyal readers! What do you think of the new look? Let me know in the comments!

Keep It Sexy Sugas! (K.I.S.S.)

SexiDesign Loves Body Art

I’m always amazed at how artists are capable of using the human form as their canvas. Whether the artist is creating beautiful zodiac inspired art or insane optical illusions, they never fail to awe and inspire.  Emma Hack is another body artist whose attention to detail leaves her audience wondering about what they’re truly looking at.

The Artist: Emma Hack

For Emma Hack, the human form was always a canvas for inspiration. As a makeup and children’s face paint artist, she developed her craft, exploring the potential of what new mediums had to offer. She’s traveled all over the world showcasing her beautiful collections as both installations and photography.

Looking at her work you can tell that Emma has an immense attention to detail in order to pull of her optical illusions seamlessly. She, like many illusionists, take pictures from afar during a piece’s development process in order to track her progress. This also helps to ensure the design lines up correctly as she sees fit.

In all, Emma’s work reflects the true discipline of an artist.  So what do you find inspiring about the human body? Feel free to comment and share your opinions below…

Gallery of Emma Hack Camouflage Body Art

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Emma Hack Biography – Official Website
• Emma Hack Collections – Official Gallery

Final Result

About This Tutorial

• Technique: Digital Painting
• Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
• Estimated Completion Time: approx 2 days
  

[ Project Tools]

• Graphics Program: Photoshop CS3
• Additional Tools: Pen Tablet, and Pencil on Paper Sketch, Free Paper Texture Source
• *Read entire tutorial before attempting…

Step 1: The Sketching Process

My sketching process started with a series of mini sketches to develop the general composition for the twitter playing card idea. Jotting down notes next to the sketches helps me to keep in mind some major factors to the design such as color, body position, texture, and symbolism.

During this initial process, notice two sketches that stand out? Mini sketches A and B look like the same female figure but in different body positions. Once I realized this, it immediately reminded me of those moments when all of us, no matter how strong or powerful, show our gentle side. With this thought in mind the design now tells a story of a powerful female figure coming to life through a moment of vulnerability.

With a solid understanding of  the idealized composition, create a much larger, cleaner, and better detailed sketch of the goddess, to later scan into Photoshop. After cropping the sketch, copy and paste it into a (1200 x 2000) document at 300 dpi.  Make a duplicate of the sketch, flip it both horizontally and vertically to imitate the playing card effect. This initial duplicate will serve as a place holder while you continue forward with the design. Using the Marquee tool, create a border (on a separate layer) atop both sketches, using a 5 pixel line and dark blue for color. Use the pen tool to connect both sides of the border with a 5px diagonal line to separate

Step 2: Beheading Your Queen

I’m admittedly not the best at character recreation but playing cards use the exact same figure of royalty for both sides of the card. Because of this, duplicate the sketch layer again to have it serve for the guide of the second queen coming to life.

Using the Lasso tool make a selection around the head of the queen connecting to the top of her neck. The queen should be looking up at the area where the twitter bird will be, so right click to free transform and rotate the head upwards. Repeat this process with her lower jaw to create parted lips, and also with her eyebrow to create a surprised expression.

Here’s a side by side comparison of the queen’s initial expression to her expression coming to life. If the white empty space where the sketch has been cut bothers you, feel free to use the Stamp tool to cover over that space, and be sure to clean any lines affected by the cuts with a small round brush. I’ll refer to the separate sketches as Queen A (untouched) and Queen B (altered sketch) for the duration of the tutorial.

Step 3: Drawing Queen B’s Arm & Twitter Bird

Create a new layer atop the Queen B layer. Using a small round hard brush (5 px) at around 20% opacity, begin to sketch and form the arm for Queen B. Queen B’s arm should be reaching up delicately so her robe will also move upward into the picture. Because of this you can use a small, low opacity eraser brush to erase parts of the sketch where her robe is still lowered.

Creating yet another new layer, sketch the outline for the twitter bird. It can remain close to the original or as personalized as you want to make it.

Subtlety is the best policy for a design like this. You can create a lot of expression and body language with minimal alteration to Queen B. The gif animation below shows how subtle the movement has changed from Queen A to Queen B and yet the substantial difference it has made.

Step 4: Adding Texture & Sketch Adjustments

Copy and paste an image of textured paper and free transform it to re-size and fit the document. Group the sketches to layer atop the paper texture, setting their blend modes to multiply to have the outline of the sketches come through.

With the paper layer selected go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and enter +6 Hue, -30 Saturation, and +40 Lightness to lighten the look of the paper.

Now with Queen A’s layer selected, go to Image > Adjustments >Levels and enter 0, 0.60, and 240 to the respectful input levels. This will help to darken the line weight of the sketch because it will remain a part of the final design. Allowing the original sketch to show through makes the design appear from an earlier time when items were reproduced by hand.

Step 5: Coloring in Queen A and B

Use the pen tool to begin tracing sections of Queen A to fill with solid color (make sure the color layer is beneath the sketch). Continue this step for Queen A’s skin and wardrobe, as well as for the twitter bird. If the edges of the shapes appear too harsh, use the Blur Tool to soften them.

Hide the color and sketch layers for Queen A and repeat this process with Queen B on a new color layer.

Step 6: Digitally Painting Queen B

Using these solid colors as a base for Queen B, start your digital painting of her coming to life.  A small, soft, round brush with low opacity was used for the duration of the painting. A sense of realism starts by giving the queen dimension, so be sure to capture the curvature of her features by making the shading rounded to appear voluminous.  Alternatively, using the blur tool helps to smooth out any rough sketch marks as Queen B comes to life.

Continue painting the additional features of Queen B including her wardrobe and headdress. As you progress through the painting, hide the sketch layer for Queen B and work on cleaning the final image up. It’s expected to take some time to digitally paint Queen B, so feel free to pace yourself during this process.

Step 7: Painting The Twitter Bird

Once you’re finished painting Queen B, move onto the twitter bird. Sketch in a couple of quirky details to add your own personal style to the more recognizable twitter bird.

The Twitter bird is essentially the reason why the Queen is coming to life so it’s important to make it appear cute and inviting.

Step 8: Finalizing The Playing Card

To finish the playing card, we must flip the digital painting of Queen B using Free Transform. Fit the Queen B layer into the border so that it rests on the diagonal line in the center. Use a combination of a small round brush and the marquee tool to fix the area of hair where it falls a little short.

To finish the playing card, use the Text tool to create the “T” using a traditional looking font type such as Baskerville Old Face. Create a duplicate layer of the finished twitter bird and set these layers into a group. Make a duplicate of the group, and with the group selected flip the it to reflect on the bottom of the card.

Twitter Playing Card version #2

After looking at the design for some time, I like the digital painting of Queen B on top as opposed to Queen A. This can be easily done by going to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal, repeat these steps to then flip the card vertically.

And there you have it! A quirky Twitter playing card, reminiscent of  foreign art is coming to life right before your eyes!

What You’ve Learned…

This is certainly not a strict step by step tutorial for how to create a digital painting, for it’s a process that requires intuition and exploration of what’s best for your piece. Here’s what you’ve learned…

• Making notes next on your initial sketches can aid in your design’s development.
• Always be open to the potential story that can come out of your designs.
• You can learn how to bypass shortcomings by taking advantage of Photoshop’s many tools.
• Feel free to play with slightly different versions of your design until you’re satisfied.

More Tutorials Coming Soon!

I’ll definitely be bringing more design tutorials to SexiDesign so be sure to keep a look out for them. If you have any question or concerns about this tutorial feel free to comment below!

Keep It Sexy Sugas…

Resources

• Free Paper Textures – Source Site

Twitter Playing Card

Pinup Catchup For Months Aug/Sept

After a momentary hiatus I’m happy to be back with new Twitter pinups for SexiDesign. This particular pinup was inspired by traditional and vibrant mayan playing cards. Though the original design was to have the same image twice, after the initial sketches I saw a little story appear before my eyes.

So this pinup is inspired by those little moments when one breaks their intense exterior with for those moments of gentleness I’ve grown to love.

More Pinups Coming Soon

With more catching up to do, I’m looking forward to presenting the next pinups for months, October and November. Be sure to also stay tuned for new tutorials of how to recreate these original pieces.

Keep It Sexy Sugas…(K.I.S.S.)

I <3 Pinups!

As you may already know from delving into my mischievous list of 100 sexy facts about me,  I absolutely adore vintage pinup attire.  So while perusing the pages of my favorite vixenish guru, V.V., I fell in love with the beautiful pinup work from her dear friend, Derek Santiago. Learn more about the gorgeous and bold artwork from this remarkable artist…

The Artist: Derek Santiago

Aptly named “Santiago” (don’t you just love one named artists), Santiago’s work is a provocative blend of vintage pinups, urban art influences, and every other deliciously exotic mash-up you could add to the sultry melting pot. Like many artists, his work has been an expression of himself since even early childhood.

Color Color Color!

I am probably most taken aback by the illustrious use of color to convey powerful passion behind his pieces. It’s as though he has taken the sensuous housewife circa 1952 and propelled her into a whirlwind of futuristic glamor.

Enjoy more from Santiago’s collection below, and feel free to share and comment!

Gallery of Derek Santiago Pinup Art

Keep It Sexy Sugas (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Derek Santiago Bio - Official Website
• Derek Santiago Pinup Art Gallery – Official Website

Happy Birthday to SexiDesign…

One Year Ago…

…was the official launch of SexiDesign, a titillating collection of design articles to intrigue and investigate the influence of sex in design.

The Birth of SexiDesign

Many ideas come from those great “aha” moments we all have and SexiDesign is no different. I remember wanting to explore the topic of the influence of YouTube’s early web design on the porn industry.  However, such a topic can turn into a mouthful of NSFW remarks; a little inappropriate for my small personal blog at the time.

S00n the idea would birth a list of potential subjects you could only raise a devilish brow to.  But as fun as this blog has become for me, it has also brought great insight into topics I love like art, design, marketing, and body language.

And though some minor technical difficulties have brought a brief hiatus, I’m glad to put on my sexy investigator hat (sounds like a great halloween costume) and get back to new and exciting content here at SexiDesign.

Melody’s Favorite Posts

My favorite posts dive into the appeal of “sexy” in popular marketing campaigns. Learn why “bigger is better,” well pupils that is, and how body language mind-humps your audience to buy buy buy!

The Power of Fake Ad Campaigns – Learn the power of great press and publicity through the use of controversial advertisements.

Decoding Sexy Design: Megan Fox – Discover why reworking your own image amplifies your market appeal tenfold!

Sexy Chicolate Ad Campaign – Sometimes the most sinful delights come in sweet, delicious, packages…

Barbie’s Erotic Origins – Nostalgic childhood icon, or adult plaything? You decide…

Become A Fan of SexiDesign

Whether your new or one of the regular readers I’ve grown to love (xoxoxo’s to all) satisfy your daily quota for all things sexy and smart by following SexiDesign:

• Become a Fan of SexiDesign on Facebook - The latest news in sexy design, artwork, and marketing.
• Follow @SexiDesign on Twitter – Introduce yourself or say hello! Enjoy some sexy banter with the creator, @MelodyNieves.

To Another Year of Sexy!

Here’s hoping to another year of great, sexy content! Cheers! And feel free to share your feelings and comment below!

Keep It Sexy Sugas! (K.I.S.S.)

Resources

• Birthday Candle Image Source  – Shutterstock

“All you need is love…” – John Lennon

John Lennon

John Lennon is regarded as one of the most celebrated and loved musicians of this century.  His music and work has touched millions all over the world, with words of peace, love, and hope.  Though we know him best for his musical genius allow SexiDesign to introduce you to John Lennon, the artist…

Lennon, The Artist

John Lennon always had a strong interest in art. Early evidence of this is apparent though his 4 year study at the Liverpool Institute of Art. Even as a child he spoofed the Liverpool Echo newspaper with animated drawings mature for his age.

In pursuit of a solo career as a musician and artist, John left the Beatles to the dismay of loyal fans. After the marriage to his wife, Yoko Ono, John celebrated the details of the ceremony through drawings dedicated to Yoko. These drawings, exhibited at the London Art Gallery soon after, were confiscated when officials deemed them too obscene. Although the sixties was a time for sexual revolution many were not ready for the nude depictions of his wife on display.

Lennon’s Style

John drew whimsical drawings that were often commentary on his own life with Yoko and their children. They were purely black and white ink drawings which appear “squiggly-like” upon paper. His almost cartoonish style of line art featuring whimsical (often nude) characters is displayed in two published books where the artist accompanies the work with satirical stories and poetry.

Lennon often signed his art with a signature and chop mark, an individually patented stamp most commonly used by oriental artists. His stamp read, “Like A Cloud, Beautiful Sound.”

After his death, wife Yoko Ono had many of his drawings remastered as prints with color she applied herself.

John Lennon Lives On Through Art

Whether you’ve grown up with John or are a new fan, his powerful philosophies continue to live on through his music and art. Enjoy this gallery of his unique work, and feel free to leave your comments on his pieces below.

Gallery of the Artwork of John Lennon

Resources

• Being John Lennon – Imagine Peace
• John Lennon – Wikipedia