This illustration is Pete Lloyd’s visual response to Jack Kerouac’s experiences that were journaled and compiled into his book ‘Lonesome Traveler’. I found his journals really transportative and I wanted to channel his spirit of adventure along with my own love of the wilderness and outdoors.
Kerouac spent 63 days during the summer of 1956 as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak in Washington State, a truth-seeking and spiritual adventure documented in the chapter ‘Alone on a Mountaintop’ – still one of my favourite ever pieces of writing.
As with most of my illustrations initial sketchbook work in pencil was the starting point. After completing the rough I scanned it and then built the scene in vector form in Adobe Illustrator before adding some finishing touches in Photoshop.
Below is a shot of myself on location, I have always had an affinity for the Pacific Northwest and have been lucky to have explored it on a couple of occasions!
Please feel free to take a look at some more of my Pete’s work on his website, facebook page and Behance.
You can also find a limited run of prints here, thanks!