Time-lapse illustration video
Hand-rendered maps can be an exhilarating yet labor-intensive proposition. Client Mark Hall came to me with the desire for a piece of original art to commemorate the success of his first feature-length documentary film, Sushi: The Global Catch. He would hang the art in the office, and we also negotiated print rights for ten prints to be framed and given to people who had worked on or appeared in the film.
Mark was a delight to work with. He shared his views on what makes Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market so special, why it’s central to the discussion of sushi worldwide, and filled me in on the history and geography of the place. Mark gave me great feedback on several pencil sketches I made combining a Japan locator map, a plan view of Tokyo Bay, and an axonometric view of Tsukiji Market.
When the approved pencil sketch was ready to ink, my husband set up a camera above my light table. The pencil version, edited in Photoshop and printed onto vellum, was taped underneath the watercolor paper, to be visible while the light table was on. As you can imagine, I really enjoyed exhaling when I’d completed all the ink work without any blobs or smears. (One tip that works for me: always put your coffee on a completely different desk.) More than 20 hours of lettering, inking, and painting have been edited down for this short video.
Thanks, Mark, for the project, the good company, and a starter education on sustainable sushi eating. Can’t wait to see your next film.