"Have a little faith" - WIP compilation

 Right, to start off this sketchbook blog of mine, I thought I'd respond to the following request alongside posting a WIP compilation of a rough illustration.


"I would like to see some sketches, that depict how you start an image. Not a WIP, but the thoughts before you actually start it, what it will look like and such." - Arlièn

In general, most of my inspiration for the artwork I create comes from other visual artists, music, roleplay games and animations / movies. I often have a rough idea in my head of the concept I wish to convey, but the end result may be very different from the initial sketch. This also depends on whether I am just brainstorming on the canvas, doing a spontanious speed painting or if I am working on a commission I have been given very precise guidelines for.

How I start an image varies quite a lot because I like to play around with a bit different techniques and styles. This can determine the workflow. The style or technique of the image could be inspired by another artist or be determined by the atmosphere I intend to convey.  However, while years ago I would typically first make a detailed lineart and then colour it, these days I most often draw just a rough sketch before I start painting over it. This way I can quicker work on the overall mood of the image, which for me is the most important thing in my personal artwork.

Lighting and colours play a major role in creating the atmosphere, and working this way reduces the waste of time in case I want to change the character's pose for example (in comparison had I made a clean, detailed lineart first). I often start off with a relatively small canvas size focusing on the main shapes first to ensure the idea of the image comes across when viewed in small size, and enlarge the canvas later. This helps building a strong composition before moving to smaller details. I sometimes make several small thumbnails or drafts of the concept to choose from.

In case of this particular image, I had a rough idea of the composition and colour scheme in my head before I started working on it. The main character's pose was inspired by a stock photo I had in my reference library on the computer. You can view the photo here [click!]

Progression shots of the image. I usually begin with quite muted colours and build up more colour on the way. (Click on the image for bigger view)

I worked on the image on three evenings on my spare time, but it did not take very many hours. Though I did not plan to make this a very detailed or polished piece, I found it good to put the image away a couple of times and return to it with fresh eyes. When I was a teenager I had the bad habit of rushing my illustrations to post them up as soon as possible, but patience pays off because I usually notice many things I'd like to change about the pictures I make after taking a break from them for a day or two, sometimes longer.


I think that's it for now! I am sure the topic will be pop up again in the future. If Arlièn or anybody else would like to know something more, please let me know by dropping a comment below. :)