MY ILLUSTRATION PROCESS

When Inspiration brings new ideas
Illustration of different food ingredients with faces, including wheat, flour, baking soda, eggs, water, and a baking pan, representing the process of baking.

Sometimes an idea crashes right into you, and you need to write it down. Maybe you saw a flower and you say, “That’s it, this is what I need!” or maybe you are with a friend and they say to you, “This is perfect for you.”

My favorite Illustrations are those inspired by nature, books, or my own experiences. Life can be documented in many ways; in this case it looked like creating bread monsters. 

From Idea to sketch

When I get an Idea, I need to write it down. Otherwise, I will forget about it and then poof the idea will be gone.

Initially, I will write down all my ideas. Even if they may not be very good at the start. During this time will ask myself questions to be able to expand on it more.

Once I get down the initial sketch, I will make a few iterations of the sketch until I have made a refined sketch that I am happy with. After that, I will lower the opacity of the sketch and make the final line art.

A comic strip depicting a process involving bread, coffee, and jewelry. The first scene shows a loaf of bread, the second a coffee cup, the third a jar, the fourth a telephone, the fifth a person's head, and the sixth a jewelry box. The last three frames depict jewelry making or arranging, labeled 'silk' and 'hearing aids'.
Black and white drawing of various beer-related items including hops and wheat, a frothy beer glass, a beer mug, a barcode, a pint glass, a beer tap handle, and a label with a beer glass icon.
Sketch of a brewing process with a person pouring ingredients into a large mixing container, surrounded by jars, bowls, and various kitchen utensils. Additional tiny characters are nearby, and there are abstract representations of plants, a plate, and a beverage. 
Process

I usually gravitate toward brushes with texture. I love the vibrancy and the different colors they create.

I start by putting down all the flat colors first. Afterwards, using a chalk brush, I add a darker shade. Then I add a medium shade and a lighter shade.

After adding all the shades using a chalk brush, I add highlights in places that are needed. Then I use a blending brush to blend out all the shaded added in places that need it.

Animated depiction of a wheat mill processing wheat into flour, with wheat grains flying into a grinding machine, flour and dough forming, and steam rising from the oven.
Illustration of bread, oats, flour, and a riot of baked goods with cute faces, showing the bread being mixed, baked, and toasted. 
Finishing touches

I change the colors of the line art and add highlights to the eyes of the bread monsters.

Afterwards, I use adjustment layers as needed. Sometimes I don’t need to add any layer and it’s fine as it is.

And that’s it. My process vary a bit depending on the project or if I use different brushes, but the main steps remain: Inspiration, sketches, and rendering.

Thank you!

Illustration of various breakfast foods with animated faces, including toast, a syrup bottle pouring syrup, a piece of bread with a dollop of peanut butter, a waffle, fried eggs, and a biscuit, all with expressive faces on a beige background.
Screenshot of photo editing software layers panel with adjustment layers for hue/saturation, levels, and curves.