First I sketch out idea thumbnails on the computer or on a scrap of paper. Once I get one I like I enlarge it in Painter 11 to the proper illustration size.
After that it’s reference gathering time. I gather anything related to the project from my files, reference books and the good old internet. If the figure(s) in the shot are human I either use my reference library, my Japanese Ball Jointed Doll, my roommates or in some cases myself. If the figure(s) is an animal I use my reference library, my large collection of figurines and toys or our studio cats.
Now it’s sketching time. I lower the opacity of my initial thumbnail and sketch on a new layer above that. When I used to draw my work on paper I would use blue lead in a mechanical pencil. Now that I work digitally I have customized a pencil in Painter 11 to respond the same way. The result creates a digital sketch that is nearly indistinguishable from my traditional paper ones.
Once I have the sketch the way I want it I lower the opacity and ink the drawing on a new layer above that. I use a custom designed brush to ink a clean copy of my sketch in Painter.
After that I turn off the sketch layer and place a layer beneath the ink layer. I then work up the base colors for the painting, for this I use a set of brushes I designed.
After that I place a layer above the ink layer and move in for the details pass on the illustration. When I feel the painting is complete I clone the file and either send it off to the client or upload it to my sites for our viewers to enjoy.
And there you have it, a walk-through of how I create my works.
