Baby, you're a live wire

Notes on the design:

Digital illustration done in Procreate with monoline and gouache texture brushes.

What started as hand-lettering practice in a rounded, loopy script reminded me of a power line that'd you'd see in an old-time cartoon. That idea spawned the concept to illustrate this phrase, with the challenge of making it look like one contiguous line while still being legible.

I'm working on figuring out the right degree of realism vs. surrealism in my illustration style. I'd like to push for less detail and laborious texturing overall, but I like the effect of where this piece ended up.

The main element that doesn't feel quite finished are the sparks of electricity. I debated on how much detail and realism to use, and decided to keep it kind of flat and simple because I wasn't convinced going further would add anything.

I see this fitting in a series of card illustrations for camaraderie with fellow Dads or a fun message in support for a friend.

The story behind the piece:

I always think about this phrase when my kids are playing at maximum intensity, where their fun has overridden any regard for boundaries or consequences.

As a parent you love seeing their wild, uninhibited freedom... while simultaneously thinking, "Ohh boy this could get ugly."