No matter how hard I try to come up with fresh concepts for my posters, the main character of every piece remains His Majesty the Aircraft.
Today I’d like to show you how the creation of a new model begins — using the Diamond DA40 NG as an example, which I’ve just started to draw.
From this small set of simple lines, a white model will eventually emerge. Gradually, the aircraft’s outline will take on more recognizable shapes: it will literally grow wings, acquire landing gear, and gain an airscrew. Then the sketch will begin to fill in with fine details. Once the final touch is added, the model will be ready to serve as a template for depicting a specific aircraft.
The next stage follows a specific commission. The model is detailed with a livery, registration number, and technical markings. A custom‑designed landscape will appear around the aircraft. At the bottom of the poster, there will be a description telling the airline’s story and listing the aircraft’s specifications.
Finally, the poster will head to the print lab, be carefully packaged for a long journey, and set off to some distant land where our friends are waiting. Somewhere on the other side of the Earth, the finished poster will be framed and hung on a living room wall.
Years will pass, the number of stripes on the uniform will grow to four, and children will follow in their father’s footsteps. But this aircraft will forever remain that one — your First.
All that lies ahead. Right now, it’s just a simple set of lines on a blank white canvas. Let’s wish it luck.