Illustration process
Everything I illustrate is hand-drawn, digitally. I draw in the conventional sense, but I use a digital rather than a physical medium.
Step 1: Sketch
I start every illustration with a quick sketch. This enables me to map everything out, which with my research and any photographs you have supplied, helps me with the composition.
Keeping in mind the ideas I have discussed with you, I incorporate the elements that make your project unique to you. I either use traditional pencil and paper or draw directly on my iPad in Procreate. Procreate enables me to sketch exactly as I would onto paper, but is compatible with my iMac, which is helpful for stage 2.
I draw one, two or to multiple sketches to plan your illustration so that the final artwork is just right.
Step 2: Transfer
I transfer my sketch to my computer, once I am happy with the design and composition.
I use a scanner to upload pencil sketches on paper, and air-drop digital sketches directly from my iPad to my iMac.
I use my sketches as a guide for the final illustration, by saving them as a “layer” on a transparent background in a Photoshop file.
Step 3: Draw
This is my favourite bit! Using a combination of Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, I work underneath my sketch layer, to draw the lines previously drawn in my sketch.
I draw separate shapes, filled with block colours and save them as distinct layers. I label each layer so that I can identify it later (e.g. “Face”). On a technical note, all of this is done in Procreate and Photoshop. In Procreate, on my iPad, I use the apple pencil to draw directly onto the screen (like you would on paper). In Photoshop, on my desktop, I use the Pen Tool to create the paths, and the Paint Bucket Tool to fill them – I do this drawing directly onto my graphics tablet (again, like you would onto paper).
Once I have drawn all the “shapes”, I add detail and texture. I use my hand-drawn PS brushes to colour everything, working through the illustration, refining areas as I go, and checking it against any photographs. My sketch guides this stage, but it never becomes a “paint-by-numbers”.
Step 4:
Finally, I email the finished illustration to you. Upon approval and payment of the remaining balance, hardcopy prints and framed prints will be dispatched directly to you, and digital copies will be sent via email.
