Madden Illustration Blog

Effects of Spinal Injury on Speech & Language • Cover Illustration

A few weeks before I went on holiday I was commissioned by Bulletin Magazine, a ‘members only’ monthly medical publication, to illustrate the cover of the August issue as well as the corresponding cover story. 

The story was about spinal injuries, and the effects those injuries can have on a person’s speech and language. It was quite a dry article, as it was aimed at medical professionals, but it was really interesting to read about how speech and language therapists are an important part of the recovery process. Something that had never occurred to me!

I was tasked with illustrating the cover, as well as two internal illustrations that would accompany the cover story. I have blogged about my working methods many times before on here, so you may know my process already. I usually like to keep things as ‘hand-made’ as possible. However, on this particular day my scanner, an integral part of my process, was playing up and so I had to improvise.

I very rarely use Illustrator to make my images except if I need exact shapes or line work that my hands and a scalpel can’t manage. Since I was unable to scan my hand cut shapes into photoshop as usual I turned to illustrator. I used Illustrator much in the same way that I do my cut out textured shapes - making only the basic shapes necessary to create the image. I then exported the AI file to photoshop and applied a little texture and the final touches.

At first I was very apprehensive about the final result - I didn’t think I would like my work without the obvious hand made look to it. However, my response was quite the opposite. I found the clean shapes and lines really refreshing and I personally believe it makes my work look a little more polished. Some constructive criticism/feedback would be nice as I would love to know what you lot think!

Cover Rough 

Illustrator file