Here is an example of the three main steps I use for completing an illustration:
1. Sketch it until you like it.
2. Trace the sketch in Adobe Illustrator and play with color.
3. Take the Illustrator art into Photoshop and texturize.
This illustration of nesting dolls ran with a
story by Karla Peterson about the hidden gems in San Diego's big attractions. This shows that most people go to the zoo to see the pandas, but the fishing cats are something not to miss. I loved how this turned out, but I especially loved the concept I came up with. I avoided brainstorming until I absolutely had to because I knew it was a going to be hard to come up with an idea. The idea showed up at the very last second and saved my
bleep. Then I spent a day extra working on it because I was enjoying myself too much. Needless to say I payed for it later and had to kill myself to meet my next deadline. Spending the extra time with the little fishing cat was so worth it!
This illustration was done for the January Water-wise garden section of the Union-Tribune. {story here} I thought is was a good example of how I worked. Sketch to Illustrator to Photoshop. The writer, Nan Sterman, complimented me by thinking this was an actual print. If only I had the time...
Here is an example of the three main steps I use for completing an illustration:
In general, this is the way execute most of my illustrations. I start with a pencil sketch. When I'm happy, or my art director is happy, I scan it in and trace it in Illustrator. This gives me the second image shown - a clean, vector image that has the basic color scheme of the final. Then I bring the illustration into Photoshop and give it the texture I love. It always feels a little like playing at this point. I add and subtract the texture until I feel it is isn't overdone or underdone. I'll tweak the colors and make some proofs until I'm satisfied or I run out of time. There is nothing like a deadline to help you along! Hope you enjoyed a peak into my process.
