Last weekend was my local SCBWI retreat at which there was also an Illustrator’s Intensive. This was why I was creating a couple of pieces to bring with me (and give away here). I thought I would share a little bit about the assignment, what I learned, and give some insight into my process as an illustrator BEFORE I announce the winners of my prints.
The assignment had 4 parts:
- create something that you find easy to draw, using a medium you feel comfortable using
- create something that you find easy to draw (the same as #1), using a medium you feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with
- create something that you find difficult to draw, using a medium you feel comfortable using
- create something that you find difficult to draw (the same as #3), using a medium you feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with
I am most comfortable drawing animals, so I knew that would be my #1 and #2. I chose one of my pictures from last fall’s Inktober (the otters I drew). I struggle drawing kids, despite practice (which is also why I’m now drawing kids at church every week) so I knew that would be my #3 and #4 (one of my favorite doodles from those Sunday sessions). The medium I’m most comfortable working with is with traditional media (watercolor mostly, but more of a mixed media approach). The medium I’m uncomfortable with but working on getting better at is digital (I’ve been experimenting with it for a while now and pushing my knowledge of Photoshop).
This is #1 (though I created it AFTER #2):
This is #2 (which I’m not as thrilled with):
This is #3 (which I was surprised to not like as much):
This is #4 (which I liked more than my usual traditional media approach):
I was divided in my preferences, but the decision was pretty universal at the intensive: my digital work was preferred in both versions. Color me surprised! I explained how I was trying to go for the texture of traditional media in my digital media. I was told that this is starting to work and to keep pushing it. YEAH for progress! We had a great discussion on all the pieces and I felt like I was given some good insight and direction. Another yeah! It’s all a work in progress. =)
And NOW FOR WINNERS! I have three winners!