Pen and Ink Drawings - Illustrations
I designed menus for Fox & Iguana as part of a broader branding project, bringing together these illustrations, typography, and playful storytelling to reflect the restaurant’s unique identity. The menus integrate original illustrations, custom type treatments, and color schemes inspired by the whimsical, slightly surreal aesthetic established for the brand. The goal was to create a visually engaging menu that reinforces the restaurant’s personality while guiding guests seamlessly through their dining experience.
The branding project began earlier with illustrations for custom coasters. Boca Grove commissioned me to create a graphite illustration featuring an anthropomorphized iguana wearing a top hat and monocle, holding a glass of absinthe, with a praying mantis perched on the rim. This illustration captured the playful, imaginative spirit the client wanted to convey.
Following the success of the iguana, I created a companion piece featuring a fox wearing a bowler hat and pipe, interacting with a brandy snifter and accompanied by a spider and a bee. These illustrations inspired the restaurant’s name, Fox & Iguana, and became central to the brand’s visual identity.
Building on these characters, I developed a T-shirt design for staff. Using custom linear halftones, I created a wave-like black-and-white illustration framed in vibrant orange, incorporating the restaurant name and bee motif against a deep blue background. I also produced an animated version of the illustrations to serve as an augmented reality feature for the shirts, merging traditional illustration with modern digital interaction.
This project was a rare opportunity to blend illustration, branding, and practical design for a real-world business. From menus to merchandise, each element was carefully crafted to enhance the guest experience while reinforcing the playful, upmarket, and imaginative identity of Fox & Iguana.
PORTFOLIO GALLERIES
- Illustration work: Start with custom illustration and cover design, then view illustrated maps and architectural renderings.
- Fine art: Discover original paintings and drawings, the Custom Halftone Series, and mural projects.
- Design & motion: Check out the graphic design gallery, then move on to motion graphics and animated illustration.
- Maps by sector: I produce illustrated maps for boat shows, resorts, marinas, real estate, transit & parking, towns & cities, parks, and wayfinding systems.
- More creative services: Additional offerings include cover illustration, vehicle wraps, proposal renderings, and street art.
- Artistic methods: My work spans vector art, isometric & axonometric views, traditional painting, black & white illustration, GeoData mapping, overhead perspectives, and halftone effects.
- Preferred software: I rely on Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp Pro, and InDesign, plus Premiere Pro & After Effects for motion projects.