Making a Picture - My Process

I am going back a bit to my old style of illustrating from when I was in fashion. I am bringing that look - to children's books, and well all of my illustration work, I think. I think I am really finding my confidence and voice again, which is more painterly than I had been going for since I began working digitally. But I am really pleased, and find it so much easier to paint this way. It kind of boggles my mind that I hadn't worked like this before, but I think it has something to do with finding the right tool in my software program for creating the soft outline that I like, and the translucent paint look. It is one tool that does it all, which is kind of amazing.

Today, while drawing this piece below, I met a young girl named Mia at the Starbucks who took an interest in my work and wanted to know how I did it. So, I thought I'd share with you, what I shared with her. This was completely drawn from beginning to end using Manga Studio on an HP Touchsmart TM 2050 Tablet Computer, in about 5 hours.

The first image is my rough sketch which actually is a combination of 2 rough sketches, background and foreground, that I merged together. The basic layout and some loose detail is seen.

Once I have the rough layout that I like, and more or less the expression that I am looking for, I am ready to trace over this on another layer, making my lines as soft and as clean as possible.  I much prefer this softer line, than the harder ink line I had been using before. I had always used pencils and pencil crayons for my lines pre-digital days. This has the same look. (Some areas were erased for the final compilation, and some areas were mistakenly coloured, I forget to switch layers sometimes :-P

 The next image is the painting/color layer. I don't really know what to say. I just start coloring. I use the pencil tool and play with it's natural transparency getting a layered coloring effect.

I then begin adding shading in various hues. 1st layer of light shading

 Then the 2nd, darker layer of shading more uniform in hue just to get it to pop a bit more, brings it to the final painting below.

a couple more images from 100 Futons

Here are a couple more images from my story 100 Futons, 1 Grain of Rice. There are, in the first image, 100 futons. I counted and made sure there were. Some kid is going to count them...you just know it. It took a while to do...each one has a different print. But the end result is worth it, I think. I still have clouds to add to these first two images. I may remove the transparency off the clouds on the second image. I think they look better solid after all. Decisions!

exciting news...Manga Studio interview & new works!

I am very excited about this! After having completed my bio on the About Me page here using Manga Studio, I was inspired to let them know about it. I was following them on twitter (@mangastudio) and they were following me! Their very enthusiastic and friendly blogger then invited me to interview with them for their site! Stay tuned for that! It was a fun interview and I can't wait to share it with you.

In the meantime, here are some works in progress from my book 100 Futons, 1 Grain of Rice. The first set of images shows my work from sketch to final. The sketch was hand-drawn then line-art and final colouring was all done in Manga Studio. I love the way it turned out.

 Sorry for the uncropped images...  

and the final art...

Here are a couple other illustrations from the same book...

new drawings done on my new tablet using manga studio.

"silly goose" 

this one above is for both one of my stories and a licensing line I am developing.

So, I am looking forward to seeing what you think of this new work and slightly different style. I am fairly pleased, but it will take getting used to this new look.

new tools - Manga Software + a tablet

Getting the right tools. It is so important. Certainly, once you have them, suddenly they are critical. Like having a great knife if you are a chef. For myself it comes down to the right computer and the right software. And I think I finally found all the right tools. Thank you technology!

I just got my brand new HP TM2 2050 tablet computer

 

and though there have been, and continue to be a couple of quirks, namely when I shut down in tablet position it stays there when I relaunch - so that at first, everything is upside down. That is easily fixed by putting the tablet back in tablet position and then back in computer position again. Another quirk that I haven't found an easy fix for is the pen sometimes goes in the opposite direction than the way I am moving - I found just closing and opening the program resets it...but I do wish it wouldn't do that.

I would like the descriptions in the 'context' menu for tools to show up above the tool rather than below as my pen and hand block the descriptions. I hope I can find something that will adjust that.

Otherwise, it is a dream machine and everything I hoped it would be. The learning curve on the new Windows 7 is a bit of a challenge. It would have been nice if they included more tips and instructions - especially for tablet users - as some things don't work the same way in tablet position.

Now, for Manga Studio.

I purchase the EX Hybrid version, which is the full professional version good for Mac & PC and it is priced at 299.99

this link will take you to the site AND get you 10% off the price. Save 10% on Manga Studio EX

Right out of the box this software was immediately useable and useful. The very user friendly beginner panel is right there. With a number of different tools and layer options to work with, I can create a sketch in 'blue pencil' and then when I am ready...the magic begins with inking. Now inking has thus far been my least favorite thing to do prior to getting this software. Now I think it is my favorite thing. All my lines are smoothed and perfected. The range of tools and the beautiful pressure-sensitivity I get from my pen tablet on the screen is amazing. It just looks so professional and better than when I draw with pen and paper. Editing is easier and no more smudgy pencil on my face, arms, hands etc.  I may never use pencil and paper again to sketch - this program is that good. I should add that the tools will, for the most part, be identical to those you are used to in Photoshop and that alone shortens the learning curve quite a bit. The language is familiar (nodes are called vertices though).

It will provide a number of layers and options (though it will allow only 2 colours plus transparency per layer) convert photos into tone images for use in drawings, and has a 3d design element as well - which I am not at all familiar with yet. It handles full color in CMYK or RGB. It also, within the same program, does VECTOR! It is like having illustrator and photoshop in one little compact and beautiful program.

So far, I have done sketching with amazing results, imported line art I did by hand and re-inked it so that now it is MUCH better. You can set it up like a proper book with pagination, doublepage spreads, a variety of layouts for comics and manga, and add text and more to it.

This program is fully compatible with Photoshop and I expect Corel Photopaint as well, since it will import and export all layers (if selected) as a PSD or TIFF file.

I look forward to sharing with you shortly some of my new work created with my new awesome tools.