I started this design in July, right after launching my new artist handle "strangebug". At the time I was visiting San Francisco, where I got to see the sea lions off of Pier 39. They like to bask in the sun on the floating docks, laying on top of each other and make strange sounds. I liked how chill they were, floating peacefully with the waves, so as soon as I got home I started sketching! Over the next couple of weeks I iterated on the project, 3D modeling the sea lions, rigging them with bones to pose them, and painting their body textures. While looking for reference images I came across these cute videos of sea lions sleeping on ocean buoys, and decided to scrap the first scene and rebuild it around a floating red buoy. This scene's animation is a perfect loop, driven by the base ocean simulation. The buoy's motion is derived from the waves below it, copying their rotation and location which is inherited by the sea lions and seagull sitting atop it. Each animal is animated independently, with their keyframed skeletons returning to the same position by the end of the cycle. The result is a peaceful slice of a sea lion's life, basking in the sun and floating with the buoy on the summer waves.

This first month has been a time of learning for me as I set up my process for the first time. In addition to the 3D modeling and animation skills I've been developing, I've had to learn about graphic design for the back side of the postcard, paper and printing types, receipt printing for the envelope inserts, and setting up an online presence for the brand. Thank you for your support, and stay tuned for postcard no. 02 next month :)