Creating an Illustration

I need to give Illustration Friday the credit for my renewed love for illustration. I’ve been participating every week for a month and a half and love the challenge. The basic premise is to illustrate a word or topic submitted by another artist. The last few have helped me work out some kinks in a style I think could work in for a while.

My hope is to share a few of the tricks associated with this style over then next few weeks. Here is a simple tutorial on how I start an illustration. Let me know if this is helpful!

Step One: Drawing
I usually sketch out my idea in light blue pencil on bristol. This provides me with a light, fast underdrawing. It’s easily erased and when I scan it later, it doesn’t read. In the past I would use ink for the next step, but I’ve been using an old number 2 lately. I try my best to apply the line work in a fast and intuitive manner.

Step Two: Background
It’s important to note that I usually have an idea of what I want the final art work to look like before I scan my drawing in. Once I’m happy with my drawing, I scan it into Photoshop at 300dpi or higher. I create everything in a printable size, so that I can print at a later date.

After scanning, I’ll clean up any stray marks or fix any errors. Then I open up the levels in Photoshop and adjust so that the pencil gets darker and the paper gets whiter. (This gives the illusion of pen on paper and gives the pencil a darker mark.) I then copy and paste the whole image, so that it’s a layer and not the background layer. This is very important! I then apply ‘multiply’ to the drawing layer. This makes the white drop out, leaving just the line work.

I then use a textured background layer behind the drawing. This time I used an old paper layer, adjusted the hue and saturation to the desired look.

Step Three: Under Painting
I use the term “painting” respectfully. I know many painters who paint using real oils or acrylics masterfully. I’m not one of them. I’ve never loved mixing paints and getting colors right. I can do it, it’s just not something I’m great at. The magic of Photoshop allows me to not mix paint and the freedom to change my mind on color choices.

I usally apply some ‘paint’ on a new layer underneath the drawing layer. How cool is it to paint underneath your drawing?

Step Four: Painting
I choose a contrasting color (dark purple) to my skin color (light orange). I like to have some of the purple show through. I apply layers of paint, usually in highlights and shadows. Lots of trial and error, though I try to remain loose and live with mistakes (not overusing the eraser or history functions Photoshop allows.) I’ll make sure I post a tutorial showing this process in depth soon.

That’s all for now. Check out the finished work here.

This is where I ramble on and you tell me about it below. Ok, I actually hope to do more than ramble, but the jury is still out.