Super free colouring downloads, posters for charity and general optimism in art.
We’ve been covering the effects of these strange new times on Digital Arts with in-depth reads on the impact on art publishing, stock imagery, signage and creative courses.
There have been all sorts of unique creative solutions that have caught our eye, too, like Animal Crossing exhibitions, virtual art shows, the need for illustration and AR in communications, taking photos of artwork at home, Coronavirus-themed picture books, CGI balcony GIFs, Slack communes and remote design tips.
With so much inspiration out there from the creative community, we thought it was high-time to round up the ten best free colouring downloads, charitable projects and inspiring works that celebrate the pluses of people and playful lockdown life during pandemic.
A smashing series of prints, postcard, colouring in & activity sheets with all profits to ‘Masks for NHS Heroes’.
19 Artists versus COVID-19
19 Artists versus COVID-19 is a limited-edition poster project by Italian paper manufacturer Fedrigoni, printed by PUSH London, in collaboration with 19 international artists including Noma Bar (above), to show support in the fight against COVID-19.
The posters are being sold online at 19vs19.co.uk for £19, with all profits going directly to NHS Charities Together. The first edition of each poster will be sold by auction at a later date. Once the lockdown is lifted and offices reopen, all 19 posters will also be exhibited in the Fedrigoni London Studio in Clerkenwell.
Says Emmy, “this is a series I have been working on in lockdown, diarising the positives, mundane moments, highs and lows that are occurring right now. Illustrated in a decorative style, with pastel colours and patterns, they hope to bring a bit of joy and resonate with others who can see themselves in these moments.
“The illustrations include depictions of scenes such as writing letters to my nan, running outside, sunbathing inside, staring out of the window at night time, longing for a hug from a family member, and reading up on how to stay calm in a crisis.”
An HeARTistic campaign to encourage organ donation
Heart at home is a project about donating and sharing #WorksofHeart to encourage people to share their organ donation decision.
There are some incredible artists and illustrators involved like All Good Co (above), both from the UK and internationally. You can see the list and artworks here: https://www.heartathome.org/portfolio-1
The campaign – run in partnership with the NHS and a collection of donation organisations – also offers support to those who’ve had or who need transplants, whom the government lists as the most vulnerable to the corona virus.
Hope & Love colouring sheets
Says Agency Rush, “we wanted to find a way to channel some Hope & Love and contribute in a creative way to bring, well, some Hope & Love to the stressful reality of living with and coping with the effects of the virus.
“Here you will find some illustrated Hope & Love – you can download to print, black & white versions to colour in and a blank template for you to create your own Hope & Love. So please download and post and send us your versions and your kids coloured in ones and we can build more and more Hope & Love. Remember to tag #hopeandlove and #agencyrush.”
The banner above is by Asako Masunouchi.
Designer Laetitia Rouget supports the NHS Charities
Laetitia Rouget has designed a new range of small gifts (including plates, artworks, cards and napkins) with 50% of the sales going direct to the NHS Charities.
Inspired by some of the themes of social distancing, and in keeping with Laetitia’s playful house-style, the range includes prints and plates with slogans such as ‘No Snogging Allowed’ and ‘Keep Your Distance’.
Cards Against Corona
Says design duo Oimachi, “we invited 55 designers from all across the globe to visualise the pandemic in their own creative way. Think toilet paper hoarding, video-hangouts, sanitiser-madness, social distancing, quarantining, Wuhan-bats etc.
“We are now excited to introduce Cards Against Corona to the world – a pandemic-themed card deck, co-created by 55 creatives to form a diverse and visually amazing set of playing cards. The artworks are made by illustrators, designers and artists from more than 30 countries and features both young, new talents and internationally recognised visual magicians. All profits are donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.”
To raise money for NHS Charities Together, Split’s creative director, Oli Bentley, has designed and printed some giant ‘thank you’ posters.
One and a half metres wide and a metre tall, they are hand-printed on the People Powered Press, holder of the Guinness World Record as the largest letterpress printing press of its kind in the world.
You can nominate someone to receive one of these massive messages of thanks through Split’s website, and they’ll receive their print in the post. All proceeds will be donated to NHS Charities Together.
Says Leo, “I was commissioned by MTV to create an ID that says thank you to the heroes of the COVID outbreak, the first responders: public health workers, doctors, nurses, administrators and hospital cleaning staff who are on the front lines of this pandemic.
“These people, often dealing with limited or rudimentary resources, are risking their own health and facing many challenges as they tirelessly work to support us. While we are staying home, they are stepping up.
“This ID is part of a series, and it’s connected with the MTV campaign #AloneTogether launched around the pandemic.”
Check out Leo’s recent Saul Bass-esque branding for a film festival.
A fab series of quarantine-inspired characters offering some humour and lightness to ease the heavy mood from COVID-19.
Related: Best new illustration prints
https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/illustration/best-creative-projects-celebrating-positives-of-people-in-pandemic/