I can illustrate using in a number of mediums. I’ve used acrylics, free flowing watercolors, pencils + copic markers, and vector programs. Currently, my favorite thing to do is to sit down with my sketch book, pencils and copics.
Here’s a look at my process.
Stage 1. Hand Sketch with copics.
The first thing I do is sketch out my figure with pencil. This image is of my actual sketchbook page (complete with pinky finger shadow) so you can see an accurate image. I render my color with copic markers and outline with either copic or micron fine art pens. My goal is always to do as little digital retouching as possible so I try to get the illustration pretty close to perfect at this stage. I made a few mistakes in the bend of the hair over the chest. If I had not made those mistakes my illustration I would’ve been done after stage 2.
Stage 2: Digital Outline
In this stage I simply upload my image and I go over my original work making the lines as clean and crisp as possible. No matter how thin your pen there is always a little bleeding and I like my lines very sharp. I use my iPad, a vector program and my finger. No stylus for me :). On an ideal illustration my work would be done, but my mistake on the hair means there is one more stage to go.
Stage 3: Digital retouching
This is the final stage of every illustration. I use a vector tool to fix my mistakes with the hair and add more dimension. I also made the color on the lips and skin a little more smooth. The last step is to sign my name and Voilá, my illustration is complete!
Until next time,
Nicole Updegraff
drawing the life you want!
