Lumiere, when first launched, was delicious. It is one of my all-time favourite imperial stouts.
Inspired by Georges Méliès 1902 film – A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune).
If you haven’t seen it, it is on YouTube and it’s spectacular!
This beer label was produced in paint on paper and finished with both metallic finishing and UV spot varnish.
I’m extremely honoured that Bang The Elephant asked me to illustrate the label for the latest iteration.
With the rise of AI in the illustration industry, I wanted to set myself apart from it with this project and create this artwork traditionally, without computers or technology. I also wanted to show you the process in this reel.
All my art always starts on paper in pencil, then it is inked. My workflow usually would then consist of scanning and colouring the line work digitally. For this illustration, every step has been an analogue process, real paper, real paint, created over the course of a few weeks. Only after the painting was finished was it scanned in sections and digitally stitched together to add to the beer label.
Stuff like this is a labour of love, it takes time and years of experience, and skills developed over hundreds of pieces of art. Years of art education (University fees and student loans), Years of art practice. Plus If you spill your paint, you have to start over, no room for mistakes.
It is something AI will never be able to achieve. Real art, made by a person, will have soul and character. All the artist’s life experiences, quirks, memories and personality are poured into the artwork, both intentionally and unintentionally – these quirks, these LIFE things that are not found in AI art, making AI art feel soulless and distant. What people are calling AI Slop.
How do you stand out in a sea of AI art? Go back to the roots of real art, put some paint onto some paper and have fun!
I hope you find the finished beer label as fun and exciting as I did creating it.
