Add depth to abstract illustrations

George Chichinadze reveals how to work quickly and create a strong sense of depth in your abstract creations.

One of the most effective ways of making your abstract illustrations stand out is to add depth.

It's a great technique for adding instant character to your work, and the resulting sense of perspective helps draw your viewer in and engage them.

There are a number of techniques for creating depth in your designs. Over the following pages I'll show you some of my favourites - focusing particularly on Illustrator and Photoshop's Ellipse and Lasso tools, and how to use drop shadows to create an elaborate, sophisticated, abstract illustration.

Step 01

First, open a new document in Illustrator & give it a dark background. Then go to Window> Type>Character, select a font & type the letter 'A' in a size of your choice - the bigger the better.

Step 02

Create a variety of coloured circles at different sizes using the Ellipse tool, clustering some around the letterform & stacking the rest at random on it - these will be pivotal to adding a sense of depth later in the method.

Step 03

Once you are happy with the amount of circles, select each and go to Effect>Stylize> Drop Shadow. I have opted for an Opaqueness of 57% and Blur of 5pt, but experiment with the different options until you are satisfied with the result.

Step 04

Now that you have got added the drop shadows, select all the circles & make them the same colour as the letterform (white, in this case, for maximum impact on the dark background) so that only the shadows are visible on your letter.

Step 05

Using the Ellipse & Rectangle tools, start working on a brand spanking new area of the letter, adding a variety of coloured shapes. Again, they will be using these to generate a sense of depth, so experiment with stacking different shapes on top of each other.

Step 06

Now repeat step four on the new area, adding a drop shadow to each different shape (Effect>Stylize>Drop Shadow).

Step 07

With the drop shadows added, select all the new shapes & alter them to your background colour.

Step 08

Next, build up a pattern of rectangles in the bottom right-hand corner of your letter, ensuring each has a different colour & size. These will lend a sense of both depth & texture to the final picture.

Step 09

Again, select all the coloured rectangles and add a drop shadow. Then select each shape and make it the same colour as the letter. Save your file.

Step 10

Next open the document in Photoshop, & use the Brush tool to blend some of the shadow areas in to the letter, removing them entirely - I have highlighted where I treated my letter in this way in yellow.

Step 11

Now use the Lasso tool to select the patterns at the bottom of your letterform, as highlighted here.

Step 12

Choose the Brush tool, modify the Opaqueness to 11% & move over the selected areas carefully, repeating or times.

Step 13

Using a stock picture of an arm, select the colours used for your background & letterform, & go to Image>Adjustments>Gradient Map. Next, invert the arm, & delete the background using the Rubber device.

Step 14

Place the arm on your picture, copy & flip it, & arrange both. Work some final details in to the piece to add interest. A simple, yet effective piece, created in next to no time.