Process and preparation

When preparing to digitise a new piece of work, my process is key to the success of the final piece. Ideas and sketches start on paper which I then photograph and use as rough guide for my composition. Having the option to move line work, change colours and add depth means studiously add layers for each piece of the image. Here is a screen shot of the whole illustration, showing each layer with it’s own coloured line work. Quite beautiful in it’s own way.

The background of this illustration is taken from a photograph I took at a local nature reserve, the texture of water adds depth and shade to the illustration and ramps up the organic ethereal style of the piece. In order to create the texture, the original photograph was made grayscale and the contrast turned up to highlight the beautiful ripples and movement. Sections of the final texture were positioned in layers to give the impression of the bottom of river and ground the figure within the frame.