I pulled out my beloved pastels a few nights ago & thought I’d share the process I used to make this:
I knew I wanted to collage it together in photoshop so that I could really make the edges of the shapes crisp, so I made the flowers on blue paper (thinking it would contrast well with the red).
Here’s the sketch that I started out with:
I transferred the sketch to the blue paper by coloring the back of the sketch with graphite & using a ball point pen to transfer the drawing. I used some crazy bright red to punch up the sketch, then put in the shadows with a lighter blue/gray and greenish/gray (technical color names, I know). Here you can see as I start to add white:
And this is what my desk looks like when I work (A MESS!)
Once the pastel was finished, I scanned it into photoshop & collaged it onto the red background (which is actually just a 4×4″ square of red pastel on orange paper that I blew up to fit the image). I didn’t use any fixative (it always changes the drawing & I’m sad after I spray it).
I’m going to be working on a few more this week & then hopefully I have some more to show you.
Now, my question for you: Is the bee getting lost? Do I need to make him bigger/more contrast/more highlights? Any other comments or suggestions?
xo
I’ve had a little time to work on my OWN projects the past week. It’s very nice, but every time I’m in-between projects I start to get a little-oh-my-gosh-what-if-I-never-get-another-job!!! Don’t mind me, I’m just paranoid. So here’s the project I worked on this past week:
I used Pigma Micron pens to ink in the lines, then watercolored on top. You probably didn’t notice, but the doors are all primary colors & their color opposites on the buildings (blue/orange, yellow/purple, red/green). Yeah, I thought it out a bit. I actually did a color study in photoshop first. It looked like this (very, very technical):
Last night I printed out thumbnail sketches for a new book idea & my goal is to have nice sketches done this week & one final. I’m thinking about using pastels & gouache. It makes me happy just thinking about it. Messy, but SUPER FUN!
Felt is SO FUN to work with. (Not that I’ve been doing any illustrations with it, but I have found some inspiration on etsy…) A few months ago I joined a felt food swap with some ladies. We all made 12 copies of a felt food, mailed them off to the organizer, and got a fabulous package back. SO FUN! I think Ella may love them as much as I do!
Pictured: Sugar cookie, carrot, strawberry, short stack, french bread, PB&J, teeny tiny pea pod, spaghetti, and pickle (by moi). LOVE.
