If you're like me, you love illustrating! But it can be hard to figure out how and where to start. That's why I'm here to tell you all about my creative process! Not only is it fun to share my process with you, but I hope that by explaining what works for me, it might inspire some people out there who are looking for new ways to get started drawing!
Step 1: Concept Development
Before I start any project, I like to spend some time brainstorming and researching. This could involve sketching out rough ideas, collecting visual references, or just letting my mind wander to see what comes up. However sometimes it doesn't happen so straight forward like that and I have to take myself out to look for inspiration. I like to go for walks in nature to find inspiration, travel abroad to see things that I wouldn't normally find in the UK, and even meeting friends and going to gigs and festivals have also helped my ideas flow. I work from home so sometimes when I stay there for too long without venturing places I get a creative block.
Step 2: Sketching
Once I have a general concept in mind, I'll start sketching out ideas in more detail. I love using Procreate on the Ipad and also good old fashioned pencil on paper - it depends what mood i'm in! I usually just begin by rough sketching out some ideas from my head and sometimes from photographs that I have taken to use as a reference. I'll also start thinking about colour palettes and other visual elements that will be important for the final illustration.
Step 3: Refinement
Once I have a solid sketch or two that I'm happy with, I'll start refining the details. This could involve working on the composition, adding or removing elements, or experimenting with different colour palettes. At this stage, I'll often work digitally so that I can make changes easily and experiment with different options.
Step 4: Final Art
Once I have a refined sketch that I'm happy with, I'll start creating the final art. This could involve working with traditional media like watercolour or fine liner, or working digitally on Procreate. I'll also pay close attention to details like texture, lighting, and atmosphere to create a sense of depth and realism in the final illustration.
Step 5: Delivery
Once the final art is complete, I like to send it off to the printers to check how the colours come out. I get so sooo excited when it's time to collect my prints and I see my work come to life for the first time! If I'm not happy I'll make some tweaks to the design and send it off again until I am happy with the outcome. I then like to take some mockup photographs of my print in a frame and style it with other home decor. This makes great social media content and is the perfect way to show my customers what my art looks like in real life. The creative process for me involves a lot of brainstorming, sketching, refining, and experimentation. But it's also a deeply rewarding process, as you get to see your ideas come to life and share them with others. I hope this glimpse into my process has been helpful, and I encourage you to experiment with your own creative process and find what works best for you.
Thanks so much for reading!
Lucie x