Getting started!

smceccarelli

I have two different types of processes - planned and unplanned. I used to feel guilty when I was not planning (I studied visual development, so thumbnails are an ingrained habit and a mandatory expectation), but now I came to embrace the fact that sometimes ideas just pop in my head fully formed and I can go with the flow. I like the illustration world because it is not expected that you come up with 20 variations of everything as a standard...
But one thing is certain - I would rarely start on a finished illustration without 90% of the decisions made. How the characters look like, the composition, color palette, etc... All should be more or less settled beforehand in studies and sketches - even if it is only one sketch and one color study. I positively hate to scramble for color choices or lighting decisions or adjust composition while I am painting....
So sometimes I will have one idea, settle it down in sketches and work from it. Sometimes I will do many different thumbnails for composition, characters or colors and put a concept together that way. I like both approaches and I got good (and bad!) pieces from both.

bluesky71

Thanks guys for taking the time to write such lengthy answers,much appreciated

bluesky71

Just having a look at your work guys,so just looked @ amber.. Lovely well considered work,charming,alot of love and care goes into your work....a real mix of tec ability and imagination and sensitivity.Value your input......

bluesky71

@simona.....just had a look at your website...professional 101! Thanks for your input,feel privileged hun.So much talent on Svs feel like I've hit the jackpot....I know with feedback from here my work must improve.xxxxxx

Lydia M

I'll start with a story idea, usually a silly situation, and collect a lot of references online. A couple years ago I found myself not knowing what to draw so I stopped all together. I realized it was because I wanted to draw stories, not items, so I can't draw like one bird and be happy with that. So anyway, all those references get saved in my project folder on my computer. Then I do messy sketches. Teeny little thumbnails are tough for me because drawing that small feels cramped. I gotta throw my hands around for looseness. Once I pick a sketch that works I drag it over to a new canvas, enlarge it to fit, and then do a more refined drawing over it. I keep my characters and major items in their own groups in photoshop to stay organized. All my layers are named because there are so many. That's basically it.

bluesky71

Thanks Lydia......

bluesky71

Lydia,for some reason when I go on your web page only the header drawing shows???

Lydia M

What browser are you using? Nothing when you scroll down? It loads for me on chrome and internet explorer or whatever microsoft is calling it these days.

Kevin Longueil

@Lydia-M Your site works on Safari and iPad - it does not resize itself to the screen size on either though - i need to scroll to the right to see the page - work looks great!

Lydia M

I'm not sure what's causing that and I don't have an Adobe Muse subscription anymore

Kevin Longueil

@Lydia-M Just looks like the header is not centered over the portfolio .... easy fix?

bluesky71

I'm using my windows phone....will try my laptop and let you know....