Creative Process
In Chronic Bronchitis , the idea was to have the left brain see cannabis buds and joints, in a straight forward logical - what you see is what you get- kind of way; while the right brain , more influenced by subconscious pattern recognition and visual 3D forms would recognize the gestalt (old german word for shape or form) of the Lungs . Art usually has an optimal viewing distance to really appreciate what is being communicated , I use this "second-sight" technique to create a sort of optimal mind state that is required to appreciate the artwork; if the viewer is too left brained - focused on the small parts and misses the bigger picture - they wont appreciate the "lungy" aspect of the image, where as if they are too right brained - appreciating the shape and form but missing the composition of the parts- they will miss out on the "weedy" aspect of the image.
Early Sketches / Concepts
Physical Modelling
Using stock images, or trying to photoshop images from the internet was not going to cut it for what I had in mind for this design. In order to get high quality , well lit, high resolution images I was going to have to create them myself. After studying anatomical images of lungs I decided to physically model - using cannabis and rolling papers - the basic most recognizable shapes and forms that make lungs lungs. The lobes, the trachea and the bronchi . After a long period of herb grinding , filter rolling, and spliff spinning (maybe a little smoking as well ) , the bronchi were beginning to form. Then came rolling slightly smaller joints and attaching them with a strip of the sticky side of a RAW paper. Getting buds to stack up and hold shape is harder than you might think, modelling the lobes was like building a house of cards, one wrong move and it all comes crashing down . The images were captured with a Fuji XT-20 (24 Megapixels ) lighting provided by 3 studio lights , I've included a few progress shots below.
Post Processing
Post processing was done in Procreate 4 on the iPad Pro. I load the RAW images from the camera to my iPad and import them into procreate, work flow is key. In Procreate I can perform photoshop like manipulation, with the benefit of layers and blending options. For this artwork the additions and modifications are more subtle. I added some colour to the buds on the lobes to better align them with the fleshy reddish/pink of human lungs, and swirling smoke to make the lungs breathe - brining a dynamic feel to what was otherwise a static experience.
Design Process
Photographed using a FujiFilm XT-20
Post process: Procreate 4 for the iPad Pro.
Designed by Malcolm Nyiam Vendryes
For Peace Pipe Apparel .Inc
The Peace Pipe Chronic Bronchitis T-Shirt
The Peace Pipe Chronic Bronchitis T-Shirt from our Top Shelf Collection features a full colour Direct To Garment print of our “Chronic Bronchitis” design on the front chest. 100% Preshrunk Ring spun cotton. Tag-less branding on the inside collar for added comfort . Designed and Printed in Toronto, Canada.