For this Valentine’s day logo for SAPO.pt I wanted to create an image that did not use the common symbols used on this day.

So I started exploring what could be used that was less common.

First, brainstorming and exploring different ideas.

I liked the idea of the robot showing his heart, so I expanded on that.

Settled on the concept, I pencilled and shaped the robots trough various layers of red and blue.
This way I’m not focused on pretty lines but just on finding the shapes in my head.

All possible errors or corrections would be handled later in Photoshop.
No fancy scanning here, just took a photo with the phone.

Next the shapes and overall composition are finished on the computer.
I was trying out the idea of using a brush like typography, but I dropped it in the end. It added too much visual noise.

Now, time to start painting over the line work.

Kept checking out how it looks in the context and size on the site.
Looking at the smaller size, I noticed that the heart lines don’t read very well.
So to simplify things, changed it to a single cable.

Almost there. After blocking the main values and colors i adjust  the contrast, hues and saturation.
One of the influences for the coloring and painting style for this image was this great advice video by Marco Bucci.
It’s all about keeping values in the same range but by varying the color, all you can, to create interest and a vibrant liveliness to a painting.

Next, added details, decorations and some inking on the left robot.

Doing the same on the right, and the image is ready.