Bar Necessities

“Bar Necessities” started with a simple concept: a bartender sketching cocktail ideas and recipes on the back of a napkin. After several versions missed the mark, frustration pushed me toward a looser, rougher approach that ultimately became the foundation of the design. Using expressive white sketch lines and only a few bold accent colors, each drink took on a raw, energetic feel. I finished the piece by hand writing the cocktail recipes and layering enlarged faded versions into the background. Even the muted blue-gray backdrop happened by accident and became one of my favorite colors I’ve used in a design.