This is my latest painting of a little character I created named Polly. I wanted to show, maybe in excruciating detail, all the steps an illustrator sometimes goes through for something out of their imagination.
The first two images are doodles from my sketchbook.
After I've decided on which sketch, I want to use I start fleshing things out. I scribble a lot. I really like the action and movement of the scribbles.
Now you can see I'm starting to refine the images. Naturally, I go for the vampire bunny bats first. I love vampire bunny bats. Cute, cuddly, dangerous, just like most of the women I've known.
I haven't done it much on this one, but off to the side you can see some of my doodling. Whenever I can't figure out how something should look I work on it on the border of my paper.
Now comes the part I like the least. Bluuuccckkk. Projecting, tracing, whatever. It has to be done.
After a couple of days without seeing it, I realized it needed some heavier outlines around a number of the characters: the pestle, the snaky/lizardy green teapot, etc. Also, the scissors guys pants are too light, so I darken them up. Also, I've added musical notes to the singing cannon. You'll also notice, if you compare the painting to the photoshop image that the shadows are much harder in the computer image. I think it works okay, but it just didn't work in the painting. It was too distracting, so I softened it up.
Now you can see I'm starting to refine the images. Naturally, I go for the vampire bunny bats first. I love vampire bunny bats. Cute, cuddly, dangerous, just like most of the women I've known.
After the drawing is done, I put it in photoshop and try and work out my colors. Photoshop is a dream. It's fast, clean, and forgiving.
Now comes the part I like the least. Bluuuccckkk. Projecting, tracing, whatever. It has to be done.
Now, I'm blocking in. This is acrylic. I've worked in oils for over twenty years. Most oil painters don't like acrylics and vice versa. I like both, because I understand the positive qualities and limitations of each. I'll discuss that in another blog.
After a couple of days without seeing it, I realized it needed some heavier outlines around a number of the characters: the pestle, the snaky/lizardy green teapot, etc. Also, the scissors guys pants are too light, so I darken them up. Also, I've added musical notes to the singing cannon. You'll also notice, if you compare the painting to the photoshop image that the shadows are much harder in the computer image. I think it works okay, but it just didn't work in the painting. It was too distracting, so I softened it up.
