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.

dirigibles and submersubles TWO

It’s February and officially the Year of the Rabbit! Trust me, Zoe and Dante are not letting this one slide by unnoticed. Zoe first insisted that we should celebrate every day this year like it's their birthday... but when I argued that it would make her out to be in her mid 300s by the end of the year she decided that one birthday a year was just fine.

 

Here's the second of three peeks into the making of my Sketchbook for the sketchbook project 2011 - I hope you like it.

dirigibles and submersibles ONE

I'm so excited about this sketchbook for the 2010 sketchbook project. And it almost goes without saying that Zoe and Dante are in on the adventure. So please, enjoy the first sneak peak.

I made a movie

I’ve been so busy with about a million little projects keeping me from getting anything posted - silly girl!

Anyhow I hope to show most of what I’ve been up to soon - starting now with Dantes film debut!

The movie is 21 seconds long and consists of over 60 individually hand drawn stills, digitally colored and assembled in a rudimentary movie maker - old school, and sooo much fun! I will have to do more movies I am afraid, and get a bit more savy in the process perhaps?

I made it for my sidebar just above my followers as a part of my plans to revamp ye olde blog, but I'm posting it here as well - hope you like it.
 

what I did...

Decided to post the process… from lines to glow. I am not entirely satisfied with it, will probably poke at it some more… an artist’s work is never done...

all shiny and new

As beginner at blogging I have been exploring what’s out there, and can really feel the learning curve to come! There are so many talented people out there doing beautiful work, it would be easy to get depressed. I have however decided that to wallow isn’t really my thing, besides seeing all those creative endeavors has set my inspiration aflame!

These past years I have been neglecting my drawing… I do not mean I haven’t been drawing, just not really enjoying it, a rut of sorts you could say, or even under stimulation. Most people know that you can’t just wait for inspiration; you have to work with the time limits at hand, well last night I was so inspired I didn’t fall asleep till 4am!

the process

Half the fun is the process… An idea, taken to paper, mulled over and then step by step conceptualized. However the final products turn out, I often find myself surprisingly endeared with how I get there! Test models and sketches… strewn across my floor along with scraps, raw materials and a half dozen teacups.

My latest project was a Christmas calendar filled with candy. What started as a drawing with numbers took a wrong turn…when I got hung up on planning the compartments! Meticulously outlining each number to make a pocket big enough to fit the goodies… things took a turn for the worse as I realized my need to make even this sketch look aesthetic! I blame my schooling… When presenting a project; we are often encouraged to include sketches of the process, in other words every step has to become presentable and selling. This approach works as long as you realize not every sketch has to be perfect. For me it the ultimate way to develop my ideas…if sometimes into the wee hours of the morning!