I seldom have nightmares. It is usually pleasant dreams. Maybe because I put all my frustration onto the canvas and there is none for my brain to project into my subconscious. So whenever my kids have their nightmares I always tell them to pick up a pencil and paper.
The Contest
There is this one contest that I have been itching to enter. It was in conjunction with the Merdeka Day and the task was to redesign the Redbull Can that portrays the title ‘Energizing Malaysia’. The contest form was distributed in many supermarkets that sells Red Bull all around Malaysia and it is even available in the local ‘Mamak’ shop. Red Bull is an energy drink that is very popular in Thailand and is doing quite well in Malaysia.
I tried so hard to squeeze all the creative juice from my brain, nothing came out. I guess when writers have their writers’ block, I am now having my artist’s block. Maybe I tried too hard till I fell asleep.
The Nightmare
I had flashes of the bull in my dream that night. A big bull came and went after me. I was running for my life. It felt so real that my feet was touching the ground as I run and shouted for help. It tried to plough me with its’ horns. I woke up with cold sweat. I am part thinking that perhaps I should drop out from this competition. Otherwise the next episode I will end up has the bull’s meal although I know they are herbivore, but I am not taking chances.
Eureka
An idea popped up. Since the face of the bull keeps reappearing, maybe I should prominently feature the face. Give it some face time. I went to my PC and started my draft on the photoshop. I traced the drafted design, follow the composition structure and added my own style and colour to it manually.
(My work progress)
I went back to the Photoshop, added more design elements, colour and combination of lines to enhance the subject. Then comes the adaptation. I redraw the design to comply with the contest guidelines and adapted it to the tin can.
I submitted and kept my fingers crossed. Below is the final result. A happy man.
