Illustration
Commemorative 3D Card
To commemorate the Fullerton Arboretum, I was asked to create a 3D pop-up card that visitors could construct for themselves during a special event.
The finished card
The finished card, assembled.
Card layers
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Layer 1
Background
The full painted landscape. It is the base scene the 3D pieces stand in front of, and it gathers the arboretum's varied biomes into one panorama.
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Layer 2Gazebo
The gazebo is one of the Arboretum's most recognisable landmarks. Illustrated and cut as a stand-up piece in the middle plane.
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Layer 3Windmill
The historic windmill is a second foreground anchor. It adds vertical rhythm to the composition and nods to the Arboretum's working heritage.
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Layer 4Plants
Foreground flora, the layer closest to the viewer. It gives the pop-up its depth and frames the scene with lush, characteristic greenery.
Process and notes
The illustration began as a rough compositional sketch and paper model to work out how the four layers would sit together. Each element had to read clearly on its own, while also adding to a coherent whole once assembled.
The painting style aimed for something that felt hand-made and warm, rather than polished or commercial. I was particularly inspired by the work of Tove Jansson and Mary Blair.
Final construction was designed so our guests could build it using only scissors and glue.
The painting was a labor of love, taking many hours of overpainting to capture the essence of the various biomes at the Arboretum. I've been taking my own children there since they were very small. It was often a place we visited when we didn't have a lot of money. I felt very grateful to be able to offer this artwork in homage.