You and Me
I’ve been making cards for my dad for at least two decades now – once for his birthday, father’s day, Christmas / end of the year card – that’s over 60 cards just for my dad. Minimum.
In Australia where I live, Father’s Day is the first Sunday of September. Hence, I was in yet another process of designing a card for my dad.
Designing a card starts with some period of time when I think about the recipient. Their relationship with me, their year so far, what they mean to me, their interests, their achievements – who they are now.
Reflecting on our interaction in the last few months – it is the usual conversation. I often call out for help when I am not well because my dad is a natural therapist / acupuncturist.
He has been ever since I was born and even before I was born, even before he met my mom.
His thick, warm, tanned hands.
He has helped so many people through minor and major illnesses. I failed to notice until recently that his hands and his knowledge have taught me so much about myself. More than I know about my health and my body. Through him imparting his knowledge, I have become a healthier, better person than I was on my own.
Hands, fingers, palms.
Peace signs, pointing fingers, flipping the bird, clapping, waving, pinky promise. The emotive expression of hands are diverse and interesting. I was getting somewhere.
Doodling and sketching my hands led me to draw letters. A mere “thank you” or “Happy Father’s Day” didn’t quite feel right – too generic for a custom card design. So, for 2018 Father’s Day, I decided to hand draw hands that spells out “You & me”.
The simplicity and boldness pleases me and this is one of my favourite card I have designed this year.
It was so easy to see this in digital artwork (especially as I wanted to space it out a bit better), I drew it on my iPad Pro the following day and completed the digital edition of “You & Me”. The clear benefit is that my left handed-ness doesn’t smudge the clean look of the illustration!
To all the fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, and to my dad, Happy Father’s Day.
