Pumpkin, Spice, and Everything Nice

In honor of Fall, which greets us tomorrow morning, I've dedicated this week's round-up of illustrations to our lovely Pumpkin Spice Latte. Here are my top 3 pumpkin spice latte illustrations, in no particular order:

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This image, by illustrator Lydia Fenwick, is attractive because of the hand-drawn look. The weight of the thick lines is balanced by the weight of the thin lines. I also like the composition, and the general movement of the piece.

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This adorable recipe illustration was created by Rosey Cheekes. I love the playful feel. One of my favorite parts of a pumpkin spice latte is the whipped cream. I love how she emphasizes this fact by making the whipped cream animated and alive. It seems more than happy to deliver the message of a tasty homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe. I like how the random shapes on the right side counter the weight of the whipped cream on the left. Overall, even before reading anything, you know you're in for a yummy pumpkin treat!

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Finally, a little humor from illustrator Mike Lester. The line-work and coloring are typical of comics, especially those printed in newspapers, and the satire follows suit as well. I enjoy the humor, and the visual he created says a lot about our consumption.

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Almonds, Hong Kong, and the USA

This is a fun packaging illustration, found in the Spring 2016 issue of How. I love how the primary contours of the almond are repeated throughout the packaging, including the see-through portion on the bottom. The little bags mimic the larger bag, and this gives a simple dose of repetition. The heart and words "heart healthy" are given a pop of emphasis by using a bold color, and it gives the sense that what is inside the packaging is good for you. The playful, handwritten styled font gives a sense of familiarity to the product, as if it was handmade. Even if you couldn't read the words on the package, the overall feel is warm and inviting.

Ken Lo is a popular illustrator in Hong Kong. His illustrations revolve around designing with positivity. In the Spring 2016 issue of How, you can see an article about Ken Lo and his recent work. The image above is a sampling of his More Hugs project. I enjoy the repetition of the hugging arms, and the innovative use of color. This is definitely a playful and warm series. I also like how he's incorporated current pop culture icons like Star Wars, as well as common symbols from our culture, such as hamburgers and ice cream.

I really liked this piece by illustrator Michael Houtz. Found on page 41 in the Winter 2015 issue of Print, this illustration stands out among the rest on the page. It's innovative in the way it says so much in a short amount of time. Within seconds, you can tell what this is about. You may not be sure if it's a book, and event, or something else, but you can tell that this is a heavy-hitting political message.