I start with loose and rough sketches for a thumbnail, trying to decide what big shapes I want in a piece. Since I don’t use line art, I don’t want to get too married to the sketch. However, there are moments where I will get more detailed to help me figure out things later on in the run. I like to think of at least 2 different options for a palette for my illustrations. There are situations where I’ll have a set palette in mind, but that’s typically the case when I’m doing book covers or art inspired by existing media.

Once a palette is decided, I make a Photoshop file that fits the dimensions that I’m thinking about. I always make sure that the ratio of my thumbnails will match the size I want to work on. Of course, this is always subject to change if needed.

I paste the thumbnail sketch and resize it for reference. I also keep the original thumbnail and size pasted somewhere on the very top layer that I can turn on for reference. Since my original thumbnails are super rough, most of the time I will go in and redraw specific things, such as animals, at the canvas’ size.

After that, it’s time for loose color blocking.

The color blocking continues, and I start to get more detailed in areas. I like to work all over the piece versus focusing on one area first because it helps me figure out how it will all come together. Here, I focus most of my attention on the large cat because he’s the main focus of this illustration.

I also start putting in my signature waves and swirls. I typically block them out and then refine them later in the process or when I feel like I’ve completed the shape of whatever is covering them. This is because I don’t want a part of them that I’m very attached to to end up being unseen. I use a mix of drawing the big shapes and some lines by hand, while a rake brush handles the rest. This is because the rake brush I use for my pieces has to be handled a very specific way and can’t always exactly make the shapes I want! A lot of the time, I’m undoing and redrawing until I get the stroke to look exactly the way I want it.

The canvas has been made longer and the house now resides in a graveyard thanks to feedback from my professor and peers! Even outside of class, I’m trying to get various feedback and input from my friends to help with the illustration.

Here, we’ve reached the part where I think I’m completed with the piece. It usually takes me a day or so of not looking at the piece, paired with feedback, before realizing changes or things I want to add.

And we’re done!