Modern Vespa

The big old thread for scooter drawings is here: Let's Draw Scooters!
This thread is kind of a spin-off special.


I always liked the Vespa LXV, particularly the open handlebars and headset. What a nice-looking scooter! The LXV pictured here is in grey, but I especially liked the Portofino Green version.



I'm going to make a digital drawing and post the progress here. I'm using a desktop computer and a vector graphics program. We'll see where it leads -- I've no specific plan in mind at this point.

I've begun by plotting out the lines, using the photograph for reference...

Here are all the vector lines in place and ready to work further...

Next, I've thickened some lines to help define the separate parts... Looks pretty good!

It's time for some colour. Let's bring in that Portofino Green... and tan grips too

Add some highlights and some shades to lift it off the page a little bit...




And we're done!

(We're not done)

Whilst that's a neat little graphic of the front of the LXV, I'm interested mostly in the headset area. I think I'll refocus the image there and crop out the bottom part of the scooter...

Now it occurs to me that this scooter needs a rider! Something similar in style to this recent image I made:




So: Sketch in arms, hands, and begin the head. I'll need a photo reference for the face. For composition, the rider will be tucked low to the windshield. The head will be tilted forward, maybe with a bit of attitude...

I'm surprised no one else has commented. This is very cool and I really like your approach to posting this. Well done! Jon

thanks Jon

Don't interrupt the master at work! Yes, this is interesting.

Honestly, Vespa should just have you do their official artwork for them. Whether or not they offer a sweet enough deal... that would be up to your discretion.

Can't wait to see the final result here!

I love your drawing threads! Thanks so much for sharing.

I'm liking where this is going!

Skipping ahead a bit because I forgot to take screenshots.

I spent lots of time re-working the face, hair, helmet and body shape. There was no route map for these parts like there was for drawing the scooter.

Here's a peak at the rider artwork in wireframe view. This shows the underlying vectors without the colour and line weights...




...and here she is in colour. Looks like she means business. I think her LXV may have a 190 kit.

Back to the main image and things are coming together nicely...

Portofino Green eyes?

not quite, and it's still evolving, but I am using the Portofino as a kind of springboard for the other colours.

You know I'm a sucker for those radial backgrounds, right?

Really nice work.

As a redhead, though it's heading toward gray these days, I always appreciate other redheads depicted in the arts. Redheads are an unchampioned minority. (I guess it would be regarded as "ginger" on your side of the pond.)

Added some more details, tweaked some colours. I think this is approaching finished...

Heh, me too. Sometimes it feels a little too easy to fall back on a radial burst but they are so effective. She's gone a few shades lighter this afternoon. She's staying a redhead though.

Amazing to watch your progression. I just don't see what can come next to make it better. Very well done!

T-shirt, please!

Yes indeedy, I second that!

I love when you post these process streams. As someone who has not an ounce of artistic ability, this is not a critique. I like the vector lines version of her face and helmet better, by a lot actually. I'm trying to figure out why I would like the rough better than the finished. The only thing I can come up with is that the finished hair is a little too neat and tidy. If she were really riding, it would be a bit messier. That is my amateur analysis of my reaction to your awesome art. Don't give it two cents worth of thought.

I was thinking the same about the vector version also. Maybe it's the latent draftsperson in me who likes technical drawings, blueprints, and the like.

same

hope Ironfoot puts this on RedBubble

Here's an alternative final version. I've removed black from the palette and incorporated the outlines into the main colour scheme:



And here's the illustration re-framed into a poster format:



Okay, let's call it done!

Bravo, sir. Love the finished product, and really enjoyed seeing the process.

I also enjoy seeing your process go from sketch to finished image.

This is amazing. Thank you for sharing this with MV!

She looks a bit like Diana Rigg, but with DG on her arm, maybe Diana Gig!

(I know... I said it was done)

I started to rethink the style of the illustration and I decided it would benefit from a more crafted approach. So I've redrawn it all in linework.

The underlying vectors have become quite complex. Here's a split screen with wireframe art on the left and full art on the right:


I think the impact of this style of artwork is worth the extra labour. Here is the full design in black and white:


I'll be recolouring it next.

I love that you're running with the scooter-girl theme! That split-screen image is cool.

Can't say much else. Well done, Ironfoot.

Delicious Imagery! Thanks for sharing it, really cool!

The new version is more versatile in terms of reproduction. It is consistent both as white-on-black and black-on-white with no need to make a negative. It can be converted to a two colour logo, or rendered in full colour.

Here's the colour version mocked-up on t-shirt fabric:




I've added the illustration to DoubleGood's t-shirt range at Redbubble:
https://www.redbubble.com/people/DoubleGood/explore
there's a full colour version and a white print version.


Thanks all for following along, it's been fun

Thanks too for the positive encouragement. I did not expect to take the drawing this far when I started it. I just had a vague sense of making a simple scooter image, but it gained momentum as it went. Although the underlying layout remained the same, there were a few shifts in the graphic style along the way. Different folk will respond differently to each style I'm sure. For me, I'm pretty satisfied with the final iteration.

I've bough two tshirts from that range 6ish months ago 'Vespa GTS' on dark grey and 'Vespa - In Tutto Il Mondo (gold)' on green (army?)

I'll add this new one to my wish list for next summer 👍

Ordered!