One of the best parts about the web is its ability to showcase things from all over the world. A few clicks and you can be transported half way across the globe. When looking for creative inspiration, it sort of amounts to a mega library card!

I stumbled across an illustrator all the way from Belarus, Anna Redko, whose work is really looking cool to me. Quality drawings with an interesting textural feel, plus an amazing sense of colour balance. While we may not speak the same language, illustration is pictoral and very much like mathematics, is unversal.

Traditionally the meeting industry is one of certainty. Meeting planners really don't like surprises. Add in a design that must be approved by a committee, and creating unique and interesting promotional materials becomes even more of a challenge.

In this refreshed design for an association of conference centres, the focus is on the people aspect, instead of facilties and size of rooms. Warm colours create an inviting atmosphere for both the tradeshow pull-up and double-sided rack cards.

After I've taken a bit of break from major creative projects, I find that cool loooking things and inspirational colours can start popping up everwhere. Not that they don't always exist...colours, shapes and textures are always right in front of you, whether the mind notices or not.

I like to keep a bit of a mini sketchbook to keep track of these random bits of collaged papers and leftover paint marks that one might come across through the course of a day. It comes in handy now and then, and also lessens the amount of leftover paint that goes to complete waste. If you've never stopped to look at your workstation or palette after a painting or two is finished up, there's no time like the present. The intoxicating blend of scientific colour theory combined with random brush marks and splatters is a visual experience like no other, and a masterpiece in its own right.

In this quick little painting in acrylic, I set out to paint a city sunset, without the sunset. I wanted to challenge myself to think more about positive and negative space, rather than than true colours and a black outline. In keeping with orange hues, it basically reduces the image to a series of layered silhouettes, while dropping the late evening-sun going down on the city vibe. And of course a romantic couple is the perfect subject to include in such a painting. This was based on a series of reference photos taken in Toronto.

One of the things I've been trying to pay more attention to, is how colour sets the mood for things. I mean, reds and blues are obvious, but what about all the subtle colours and shades and pastels in between. The more you think about mood within the composition, the more it becomes a whole image and not just a series of things put together.

I've also been experimenting with how texture can contribute to the feel of a piece and add some interest to it. Especially with digital colour, having something other than flat shades can spice things up but texture can go even further. Misting, grit, pattern...anything can be useful in setting the atmosphere. My current favourite is controlled speckling!