I just wanted to share a few photos of what is going on in my studio.
Rapunzel as a work-in-progress. You can click each photo for a closer look, if you want to see a little more detail.
So, first things first... sketch.
After I sketch out my illustration, Sophie and Somersault check over my lines, making sure they are perfect.
Somer is a perfectionist, so she always tells me where to erase if she doesn't think my sketch is up to snuff. Notice how she is using a Pink Pearl eraser... the only kind I use.
I really hope you know I'm kidding. I may be Crazy Cat Lady, but I'm not that crazy.
(I'm not kidding about the Pink Pearl eraser part, though. Pink Pearl erasers = magic)
Face always goes first. If I mess up something as simple as a nose, or the shape of her lips or eyelid, its back to square one. Things like hair, or background, or clothes I can always fudge if I mess up, but the face has to be perfect, or there's no point in moving forward. The face is my favorite, but its the most nerve-wracking.
Somersault inspects everything. She's checking to make sure my pencil shavings are in order.
Again, kidding. But seriously, its a bit of a challenge sharing my studio with a 2 year old, a 4 year old, and two rambunctious, curious kittens.
Okay, moving on. As I work on foreground, I always have to consider my background.
This illustration is going to be a mixed media collage... so here is my ripped up text (from a vintage fairy tale book) as I glue it onto bristol board.
(pssst! Book lovers, don't freak out. The fairy tale book was badly damaged and not worth a cent!)
Then I paint! I love getting my fingers messy. Here is a peek at my 1/2 painted background. There is a LOT more to do... from finishing the paint, to adding in the layers of colored pencil, to the detail.
Just a close-up as I work on that stone tower. Lots of blending and shading to bring out the stones.
And your last sneak peek is a close up of the stone tower with roses... not quite done yet, but close. I still have to do some detail work in the roses, to bring them and the leaves out.
Stay tuned! This illustration will be done in the next couple of days. I can not wait to have her finished... and to begin the next one -
Cinderella!
13 comments:
Dang! You are SOOOOOOOOO talented! She is lovely! Looking forward to the finished product!
Very cool! I didn't realize how talented you are.
Gorgeous! I'm always amazed at how much you can do with two kids (and now a couple of kittens. . . I love that one of them is named Sophie. LOL)
thanks for a peek into your studio, cute lil kittens, lol!
she's looking lovely already, can't wait to see the end result!
I loved seeing the steps, thanks for sharing!
Your work is so beautiful! And I love the way you pieced together those pages and painted over them, you gave me an idea! Lovely work miss, and super cute kitties too!
♥
She's gorgeous! And I decided that when I come to visit (whenever that is) you'll have to teach me how to draw and I'll teach you how to crochet. :o)
I appreciate you sharing your creative process. A very lovely princess. Fairytales are special places for fantasy and happiness. I still recall the joy I had from looking at illustrations of fairy tales from a little girl to still this day!
I just love seeing the process. I really do. I can't even begin to imagine the insane amount of patience it takes to work on the detail and blending...especially when two little people and two furry people are "helping" you out.
Your talent is mind blowing! Cinderella...oh my...I have a feeling I might be buying another print from you for my decor project.
So neat to see your process :) I love Rapunzel, well most fairy tales really. Do you remember Fairy Tale Theater? I love that when I was little. Except the Rumpelstiltskin one always freaked me out.
PS Your kitty helpers to such a great job ;)
You are very talented and I love your helpmates!
So beautiful!!! I love looking behind the scenes. I can not wait to see both of them done.
Just found your blog and work! Gorgeous. I love it. But I can now see that its the kittens that are such an integral part :=D
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