my process

Hi everybody! I just got back from an inspiring visit to Montreal & New York, and I am more than ready to get back to the drawing board. *smiles* Just wait until I introduce you to Freckles the alligator!
 

But first, just before leaving on my trip I did an interview for InspirU Coo Coo and I’ve included below my answer to the question ‘describe your illustration process’. For the full interview follow the link.
 

Hugs everybody. Good to be back, and I can’t wait to go visit you all soon.
 

1 - I CHOOSE A THEME 

‘scruffies’: term I use for the comfy and by no means sexy clothes I wear when working in my home studio.

2 - RESEARCH and INSPIRATION

3 - THUMBNAIL SKETCH

I draw a thumbnail sketch... here is an example of an actual thumbnail sketch and the respective final image 

4 - PROCESSING

I scan the thumbnail and enlarge it, then print it out and use it as a backbone for the detailed drawing on the light table.

5 - PERSPECTIVE

If relevant, I figure out the perspective points. I often tape multiple extensions to the image for the perspective points and use really long rulers. 

6 - PENCIL WORK

I draw the basic image in pencil

7 - INKING

I then ink the image

8 - TEXTURES

Finally I fill in the texture. I sometimes scan the image and test different lighting gradients on my computer before applying them in ink.

MY TOOLS

However when I doodle, I just put pen to paper and try not to think too much.

Have a great day, and again you can find the rest of the interview here.

boy in a bear suit

Hello Tuesday that feels like a Wednesday!

I don't have any big lovelies to share just yet but in my blogging absence/abstinence I started a doodle blog on the side.

Boy in a bear suit is a blog to host a little challenge I’ve set up for myself. The criteria - ‘keep it simple’, 'just characters', ‘post daily’ and ‘no bunnies’

Do not fret, Zoe and Dante will be sharing lots more adventures right here as usual! Hugs!

undead toys

one little bunny

It's December! Time to spread the yuletide bunnies!

November was crazy -  between work and PiBoIdMo (Which was amazing by the way.) Participating in Picture Book Idea Month yeilded oodles of new story ideas, that have been faithfully scrawled into my writing book - I even discovered a new character that isn't a bunny. Don't fret lots of bunny tales where discovered too.
 

This month will be big with the drawing though - I have a sketchbook project sketchbook to fill and naturally I'll be posting some of the pages here - Yay!



turn that frown upside-down

As cosmic timing would have it, my oldest friend booked a trip across the pond earlier this spring neither of us knowing she would be here for a time when I would need her the most. I've deeply enjoyed having her and her baby here - a new life in the flat felt oddly comforting. But time flew and my friend is back across the pond and I - I am loving the joy of getting back into the inky delights of drawing bunnies - And it's about time! Don't you think?

(This little rascal is a bunny tribute to my friends baby, whose greatest relish was finding carpet fluff to eat)

SPX 10, fairy bunnies and robots

I went to the Small Press eXpo 10 this weekend and bought lots of goodies! Unfortunately I've been too busy to post about it till now. So here comes a sprinkling of my favourite buys...

As soon as I found 'The Gigantic Robot' book I fell in love! It is written and illustrated by Tom Gauld and is simply poetic and wonderfully graphic. What doesn't come across in my photos is that the book is printed in superb quality and just the tactility alone makes this purchase worth it!

My other favourite buy is a Swedish mystery graphic novel called 'mumiens blod' (the mummies blood) written and illustrated by Ola Skogäng (book seen at top) sadly I don't think it has been translated to English.

rescue a dust bunny - don't spring clean!

time flies - but spring is crawling

I’m really looking forward to spring getting into full swing, but alas as recently as last Sunday it snowed. I guess all my balcony garden dreams will have to wait just a bit longer. The bunnies are getting restless and I’m keeping them busy as I work on a new post-apocalyptic illo - sneak peek can be viewed above.

getting muddy

There are two kinds of people in the world - those who love getting muddy and those who love getting others muddy

Under every rock

No need to keep looking under every rock - I was only taking some time off from my computer over the Holidays, but now I’m back. I have some shiny new illustrations which I hope to post soon and Zoe and Dante have a multitude of curious adventures they can hardly wait to share.

So here’s to 2010! To our visitors, We love and appreciate you all! : ) Lots of hugs - Emily, Zoe and Dante

now in living color - skinny alphabet

beads in the wind

I got some lovely beads by snail-mail today from Janne in Norway! She has a dreamy page called spindlemaker that is definitely worth a peek! As you can see, Dante has already strung together a dashing necklace.

follow me with bloglovin

happy fathers day

Today is swedish fathers day - so this one is for you daddy!

skinny alphabet

Every proper school kid should have one - follow this link to see it in living color - Yay!

coo coo ratatouille

I wanted to draw an image for IF based on this photo I took in 2007 in Hanoi. I thought it would fit the theme - alas I just wasn’t ‘fast’ enough.

On a happier note, I have a new Zoe and Dante illustration in the works. I’m almost done with the pencil work and will start inking tonight - so come back soon!

For now - I leave you with a quick sketch from my moleskin. BTW - the post title is a reference to David Mc Kean's wonderful graphic album ‘Cages’

big ideas come in small packages

Did some brainstorming for the IF theme this week 'wrapped'. I experimented with the textures of wrapped materials such as plastics, paper - banana leaves. The process gave fruit to, hopefully, a great new addition to the Zoe and Dante saga so stay tuned. Well, back to drawing now - Cheers!

new life

I recently got home from visiting Montreal… I had the privilege while there to witness the first days of my dearest friend daughters’ life. Here is part of the card I made for her first day home. Cheers!

at a current tally of 5

Though a bit - well, rather truthfully, very deeply on the strange side - We are still receiving sticks in the mail. I still don’t know from whom they origin or what to make of them, but the bunnies sure seem to get along with them so I’m just choosing to just go with it.
Finished writing the next Zoe and Dante today, and I started the corresponding illustration - So stay tuned.

spring parade

quick little ditty just for fun

Literary hierarchy or just a mess?

I’m doing research at the moment that I hope will end in a suitable top ten list. For now though it is mostly an adventure - Thanks Pia for the inspiration.