Vancouver coin designer Calder Moore is offering an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at the 2016 $20 pure silver coin, “The Loon,” from the Geometry in Art series.
Moore, who’s a senior 3D designer with DHX Media, used a stylized portrait of two common loons in a pristine, natural setting to express the majesty of Canada’s wilderness. His “thumbs and thoughts”—his initial ideas and drawings as well as his “post thoughts”— are included in the first part of his Behance posting. While the first part focuses on the loon, the second part explores the trees, for which Moore explains he “wanted to spend some time to develop a good shape.”
“Pulling inspiration from where I grew up, I based the tree designs from the flora we see surrounding the quiet lakes here in British Columbia,” writes Moore.
The third part shows Moore’s various work in progress shots—a dozen in total.
MINT DESCRIPTION
“Geometry, technology and art intersect as the entirety of the image is presented in a low poly art style, bringing together multiple polygon shapes in this depiction of an adult loon and its offspring,” reads the Mint website. “In the foreground, the adult loon is a picture of grace and elegance as it calmly floats on the surface of a blue lake, surrounded by the tranquility of an evergreen forest that is rich with detail and colour. Underwater, the young loon demonstrates the species’ remarkable diving abilities as it uses its webbed feet to propel it forward like a torpedo, its beak quickly closing in on the small fish that will provide it with a well-earned aquatic feast.”
Moore has also designed the 2017 Peace Tower clock coin; the 2017 “Whispering Maple Leaves” coin; and the three-coin 2016 Canadiana Kaleidoscope set, among other Mint products.