Friday, February 18, 2011

process





I saved this grocery list doodle a few months ago, thinking it would make a sweet little illustration; today I finally got around to making the art. Thought I'd take the opportunity to show how my work progresses, from beginning to end.

Once I have scanned the sketch, I make adjustments in Photoshop, and then, I print the file. Using a light table, I trace over the print on a fresh sheet of paper with my ink brush. First, I create an actual ink drawing that will become the top layer of the file. Next, I trace around shapes which will become templates for applying color. Before scanning, using a charcoal stick, I add cheeks, and, in this case, a shadow.
After the inking is finished and scanned, I colorize in Photoshop. The final step is to add texture, to give the image a screen-printing kind of look.

Voila!

7 comments:

Charla said...

Thanks for sharing this! It IS a sweet little illustration...and I've always been curious about your process! :)

shanna said...

Yep, yep. We are interested. Muchas gracias. This was really helpful. Really.

Unknown said...

So scanning & Photoshop. Do you ever work in Illustrator? Or is it a hand drawing thing?

Violet Lemay said...

Hey Julia! Sometimes I use illustrator for little things that I can't do in photoshop, but, by and large I'm a photoshop girl, for sure.

:-)

Connie Smiley said...

Hey, Violet, that is so darling! Loved hearing how you do that. I may try it sometime.

Molly K said...

So adorable! I love her!

Violet Lemay said...

Thanks Everyone! Just added her to my website.

~ v