Overcoming the Winter Blues: Finding Joy in the New Year

Winter can feel a bit gloomy after the excitement of the holidays, but it’s also the perfect time to dive into something new and creative. If you’re a designer and are feeling the winter slump, why not spark your imagination by exploring Adobe Illustrator tutorials or other design programs that are accessible to you?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned designer, there’s always something new to learn. Start with simple tutorials, like creating vector icons or mastering the Pen tool, and build up to more complex projects like digital illustrations or custom typography.

Not only will you refine your design skills, but focusing on a creative outlet can boost your mood and give you a sense of accomplishment. Plus, the projects you complete could become valuable additions to your portfolio.

​This January, transform your downtime into a productive, inspiring journey. Let creativity guide you through the winter blues—one vector at a time!
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I was inspired to work on some tutorials to dust off my illustration skills that have gone into hibernation since the holiday season started. This past week we have been living in a snow globe where I live  and I thought I would get some practice skills in by following along with some tutorials. I know the holidays are over, but they are my favourite time of year, and I was so reluctant to take the tree down this year. I normally take it down the night before New Year's Eve. It stayed up until the following weekend this year. I am not sure why I started that tradition. I recall someone telling me it was bad luck to keep it up into the new year. Perhaps because I had misbehaved kids after Christmas with the lack of a routine when they were younger and the need for some sort of normal caused me to rush to put Christmas away. This year, my kids were scarce, as they either hid in their rooms or were visiting friends so I got to enjoy my lights and decorations in peace. It's been a few days now and I am still pining away for the magic and joy the holidays bring me. 

Below was my take on the snow globe tutorial by Ms. Chavira. You can follow along with her link below:
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​.www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ak5WzYnpyE&list=PLwByA3uNkIwpEWA4BzNzerMvyd1s0g6wN

I thought I would attempt another take on the snow globe doing a different, more complex looking tutorial, and here is a screenshot of the results from my version. I like the depth of the different layers, gradients, and added elements in this winter scene. I noticed that I was able to speed up the process following this tutorial from the skills I learned in the one above, and used the shape maker tool in lieu of tracing along with the pen tool. There are so many different ways to do things in the Adobe programs. It is amazing what I picked up along the way to help streamline my workflow.

​Below is the link to Alissa B's snow globe.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkCa9SZro1U​

#WinterBlues #Snowglobes #LearningisFun #GraphicDesigner #Illustrator