The Art of: Close-ups

Azul Ink brings you the second installation of our "The Art of" series. This one looks at normal everyday objects through a zoom lens. Please enjoy: (click to get an even closer close-up)






Azul Ink wishes to thank game designer and part-time amateur photographer Kevin Charles for his work.

Keep clicking back for more of Azul Ink's "The Art of" pieces.

Closeups & Textures - by Kevin Charles. Copyright protected.

The Joker

Azul Ink thought that this sketch of The Joker from the comic/movie Batman, was absolutely fantastic and therefore decided it merited a post. The sketch was done by DC Comic's artist Jim Lee. Have a look: (click to enlarge)

This portrait of the joker was done in pencil, inks, ink wash and Tippex.

The Joker - by Jim Lee. Copyright protected.

Thanks to Shortlist magazine.

Psychedelic Steve Jobs

Azul Ink found another great piece of work done by the artist Charis Tsevis. It is a collage of Apple founder Steve Jobs in his younger, hippy days.


The collage was made using old and kitsch Apple II advertisements from the late 70s and early 80s. Below is a close up of the image:


Psychedelic Steve Jobs - by Charis Tsevis. Copyright protected.

Sketchez Mini: Sally

Another sketch but in a mini format. It was quickly and roughly done on notepaper. Comments are welcomed. Behold:


Sally - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Sketchez: Pots and Pans

Another of Azul Ink's sketchez. Hopefully the quality is getting better bit by bit. Remember Azul Ink is not a born illustrator. Please enjoy (please click to enlarge):



Pots and Pans - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

The Art of: Sunset

Azul Ink is starting a new feature called "The Art of" looking at ordinary things from an artistic viewpoint. This one looks at sunset from a hilltop.






Azul Ink wishes to thank amateur photographer Wei Ling Ho for her work.

And keep an eye out for more "The Art of" pieces from Azul Ink.

Sunset Images - by Wei Ling Ho. Copyright protected. Models - D.Corbet, L.Guy, J.Burke

Blanc Et Noir

Azul Ink has been playing around in Photoshop experimenting with the step and repeat option. The result was pretty creative and Azul Ink has decided to share it with you. So here is the final piece along with the original image:

The original image before:



The design after:


Original image and Blanc Et Noir - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected. With thanks to Corey Barker.

The colours of basketball

Azul Ink follows designer Charis Tsevis' work and really liked a recent piece he did. Here it is called "the colours of basketball" and he was was inspired by the upcoming 2010 FIBA World Championship.



The colours of basketball - by Charis Tsevis.

New Ad

Azul Ink has just done two adverts about alcohol awareness. Take a look and tell us what you think about it. This a first draft copy. Its done in a cartoonistic style to be more appealing and user friendly. It was done entirely by hand in Adobe Illustrator Click to enlarge for a closer look.





Sober Boy Ad - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Chinese Characters

Azul Ink has been sent some cute and cuddly photos of Chinese cartoon characters taken in Hong Kong. Check them out:






Azul Ink wishes to thank amateur photographer Wei Ling Ho for these delightful photographs.

Photos - by Wei Ling Ho. Copyright protected.

Character Design

These are two characters Azul Ink has designed for an advert for our sister blog KimCharles Inventive. Here's a preview the full adverts will be posted on our sister blog in the very near future so keep checking.




The characters were designed using Adobe Illustrator. They haven't been given any names as yet, any suggestions?


Characters - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Beauty of Scarborough

Pictures taken at Scarborough beach on a winters afternoon. Click to enlarge for a better view.








Images - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink and Mr Ronny Lufwa. Copyright protected.

Photoz: Typo

These are one off pieces of photography done by Azul Ink. Enjoy!


Azul Ink wasn't trying to create a word just messing around with foam bath soap and this happy mistake occurred. Azul Ink then duly took a photo before the bath was run.

Typo - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Sketchez: Zany Bird

Azul Ink hopes you enjoy this geometrical sketch.


The original image was drawn using graphite but it has been touched up in Photoshoop using curves. It gives the drawing an ink-drawn quality, whilst adding a bit of colour and character to the background.

Zany Bird - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Sketchez: Welcome Home

Another sketch by Azul Ink.


The original drawing was done in graphite and it has not been altered in any way.

Welcome Home - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Sketchez: A Fish Out Of Water

Azul Ink is proud to show off some sketches done a few months back. Hope you enjoy and let Azul Ink know whatcha think! Be warned Azul ink is not a natural born illustrator haha!



The scan was darkened in Photoshop using curves to help bring out a few details. The original drawing was done using a graphite pencil.

A Fish Out Of Water - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Jack Poster Design

Here is a little something Azul Ink knocked up a few minutes ago. Hope you enjoy! (As ever click to enlarge)


Jack - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Interesting Textures

Azul Ink has been out and about surfing the world wide web and while searching for textures to use in Adobe Photoshop Azul Ink came upon a rather interesting texture called bokeh. Bokeh is different from sharpness and describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light.

Here are a few examples of bokeh textures that really caught Azul Ink's eye:






Bokeh textures are perfect for adding a touch of glitz and glamour to any Photoshop creation. Azul Ink will be trying to experiment with this texture and find a way to put it to good use. The results shall be posted.

Poster Design Images

Azul Ink has been commissioned to do a poster for The Light Of The World Gospel Church. Below are a few of the images created for use on the poster advertising a thanksgiving dinner.

The above basket was originally a black and white sketchy clip art piece from Silhouette Clip Art. It was then placed it into Illustrator and applied the comic art setting to it. Azul Ink then adjusted the threshold before using the live paint bucket to colour in all the white parts.


This second image - representing a three course meal, was drawn entirely by hand using the pen tool. The live paint bucket was then used to colour in certain places of the drawing.


The image of the three singers was taken from the Share Faith website and had live trace applied to it in Illustrator. Azul Ink then drew both the cross and musical note by freehand using the pen tool. Colour was only applied to the cross to show its importance among the other parts of the image.



This dove was taken from Higher Praise site and had the hand drawn effect applied to it before the live paint bucket was used to apply colour.

Azul Ink will post the final poster design once it has been completed.


All images produced either by K. Charles @ Azul Ink or their listed owners. Copyright protected.

Illustrator Freehand: Whale

Azul Ink loves the programme Adobe Illustrator and is continually trying to learn more about it and get better at it. So today Azul Ink is showcasing at one of her first freehand drawings in Illustrator using only the pen tool.





Whale - by K.Charles @ Azul Ink. Copyright protected.

Early Logo Designs

Azul Ink has once again decided to open her dust covered, moth eaten, old sketch books in a throw back to the past and this time has decided to look at her earliest logo designs. Have a loo and let Azul Ink know what you think by leaving your comments below.














All images and logos are copyrighted and registered to Kim Charles @ Azul Ink.