Crafting Illustrations: The Process of a STEM Girl-Turned Author-Illustrator
My early training as an engineer - then as a researcher - taught me to value processes. I use process in how I approach my illustration and in how I approach writing. “Process” to me means that I create a repeatable method or approach that is used to produce a final output.
My illustration process brings me so much joy! It all starts with a movie playing in my head. Before I even pick up my pencil, I close my eyes and imagine the mood, the colors, and the sounds of the scene I want to capture. I get so excited because I can really see the story before I start to illustrate it!
Step one is all about capturing the mood. I ask myself which colors and textures will best convey the story's feeling, the time of day, and who the characters are. I love picking out the perfect color palette, it brings me so much joy! I usually go for a limited palette because it really helps me to create a cohesive piece
Step two is all about choosing the perfect color palette to match the mood and story. I think about what colors are associated with the location, season, and weather. I love auditioning color palettes and choosing the perfect combination. It's like a puzzle that I'm putting together.
Step three is my favorite part! I get to do research and gather inspiration from actual locations. For example, if I'm creating a beach scene, I'll research popular beaches around the world and design the scene with features that can be found on a specific beach. I love searching for reference photos to capture the perfect emotions and perspectives for my piece
Step four is where I start to bring everything together. I see the images in distinct shapes and think about the overall composition of the piece. I design my illustrations spread-by-spread and think about the golden ratio and the rule of thirds to create a visually pleasing layout.
Step five is when the magic really starts to happen! I open Procreate and begin to audition potential patterns and textures to bring the illustration to life. I create a simple sketch to lay out the shapes that represent the environment and think about the color values and how they will impact the eye movement.
Step six is when I start to bring in the characters and place them in the environment. I love using collages of vintage papers and textures to add depth and interest to the piece. I really focus on capturing a specific moment in time and bringing out the emotions of the characters.
Step seven is all about the verbs and actions of the characters. Are they dancing? Singing? Laughing? I audition different verbs and think about how the other elements in the picture support the main character's actions.
Step eight is where everything starts to come together! I carefully arrange all of the elements on the page, paying close attention to the focal points. I think about the layout and how I should lay everything out. I love zoning in on a specific rule of thirds quadrant and placing my focal action on that point.
Step nine is where I begin laying out the words with the images. I use two different layout pieces of software in the process. The initial layout is done in Canva. I export my images from Procreate to Canva, and then in Canva, I add the text and determine if where I need to tweak the image. I then navigate between Canva and Procreate until the image and text flow well together. Once the Canva step is completed, I import the images to Affinity Publisher, to create the finalized Dummy there. Eventually, I’d like to go from Procreate to Affinity Publisher, but right now, I work slowly in Affinity Publisher, but fast in Canva, which is why Canva is the intermediate step between Procreate and Affinity Publisher.
Finally, in step ten, I revise and revise until my piece is perfect. I get feedback from critique groups and partners and take illustrator classes to make sure my work is the best it can be. It's a long process, but it's worth it to create something beautiful and meaningful.