Drawing Lily & Duke
Welcome! Today I thought I’d share how I approach drawing illustrations by hand, but I always seem to scan them in and touch them up, so this example will be no different.
Many of my drawings start as doodles in my head. Sometimes I use photos, but only for reference. I never copy an image. I use art and photos as inspiration to create something that is my own. If you copy a favorite photo or piece of art, think of it as an exercise in understanding the artist or photographer who created it and their creative process. It is natural to emulate those you are inspired by, but you should always work to create your own style.
Click on the video above to see, in fast-motion, how I create a drawing of my main characters. I use a non-photo blue pencil to sketch Lily and Duke out and a brush pen to ink them in. After that, I scan the image and remove the non-photo blue pencil lines. Then I touch things up digitally. I start coloring when the drawing is just the way I want it. I love seeing an image come alive with color and tone! It's the best part. Like putting on the frosting after baking a cake. (I like cake)
If you noticed, I touched up the original drawing. I never get things perfect on the first try. I will realize a head is too small or the figure looks too stiff and unnatural. Mistakes are part of the process of learning. Does anything come out perfect the first time you do them? So try not to be disappointed in not getting the results you see in your mind or what you think others expect of you. Keep trying. A masterpiece is not created by sitting down and picking up a brush pencil, or stylus. Remember to have fun, and over time you will get better. We are all learning and that goes for me too!
Click on the image above to get your free coloring page of Lily and Duke. Take a picture after you color it in and send it along, who knows, it could make it onto my next newsletter! Have fun coloring!
Click on the image below for an EXTRA BONUS!
As a special thank you for reading my newsletter you get a collector's card of LILY and DUKE! It's the first in a series, so look for the next one!
STAY CREATIVE and always remember:
• There is nothing more powerful than imagination!
• Your creative ideas matter a LOT!
• NEVER beat yourself up for trying and failing!
• that doubt and self-criticism are part of the process.
• Keep going and stay in touch!
