Tuesday, August 5, 2008

My illustration process

First off, let me explain why the big copyright on illos from now on. Unfortunately, in this new world of technology, folks just don't understand that it is illegal to lift images from the web to use for their own purposes without asking permission first so from now on, I will be putting my copyright on all images that I own the copyright for.


OK, now back to blogging...

Here is a sketch I did for my portfolio a year or two ago for the tween market. I thought it might be helpful to share my process.

First, my sketch done on the Cintiq



and then a color study(which I don't always do), done in watercolor washes


and then, finally the acrylic final.
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8 comments:

  1. BLUEANGLERAugust 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM

    This is great!! Thanks for sharing! Phyllis

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  2. Kathleen RietzAugust 6, 2008 at 12:36 PM

    Hey Phyllis. This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I have never seen this illo before, and I really like it. The colors and composition and characters all work really well.

    I am considering acrylics foir an upcoming book. Just curious, what type of board did you use for this?

    Also, if I can suggest one thing about this illo, the heart shaped pillow seems to be competing with the reclining girl's head....I think maybe you need to dull the magenta just slightly so it falls more into the background. That's my 2 cents.

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  3. Phyllis HarrisAugust 6, 2008 at 1:03 PM

    Thanks Blueangler and Kate for the nice comments.

    I used Strathmore Bristol vellum on this piece and that's what I use for most of my traditional acrylics these days.

    Great suggestion on the heart pillow, Kate. I didn't notice that until you pointed it out. I'll see what I can do in Photoshop first and then fix the original.

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  4. Stephanie Roth SissonAugust 6, 2008 at 1:11 PM

    Hi Phylis-

    These are fun-

    Have you had a problem with people stealing our images?

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  5. AnonymousAugust 6, 2008 at 1:12 PM

    Ok, here's a stupid question! When you say you do a watercolor wash, then acrylics, are you doing those by hand or by computer? --
    Your idiot cousin Kris

    PS: thoroughly enjoying your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phyllis HarrisAugust 6, 2008 at 1:24 PM

    Hi Steph,

    Not personally, that I know of besides people putting them on blogs, etc. but I have other artist friends who have so I thought better to be safe than sorry. Kinda sad we even have to worry about it, though.

    And Kris, there are NO stupid questions my dear! I work both traditionally(with actual brush and paper) and digitally but these were a bit of a mixture and probably why you were confused. I sketched it digitally on my Cintiq and then printed it out on Bristol vellum and painted it the old fashioned way. ;o)

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  7. Anthony VanArsdaleAugust 6, 2008 at 6:12 PM

    This is Awesome Phyllis!!! I still don't know how you get the acrylics to look so good.. I have no luck with them at all!

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  8. Paige KeiserAugust 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM

    Ohhh this is great! Thanks for sharing your process, and I love the final piece. Those colors are delicious.

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