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Thinking Ahead

The following are some personal notes on certain ideas that I want to start implementing as I do pieces. It may not be applicable to you. In general, careful planning can go a long way towards making something interesting to look at, but it seems that it is often neglected as people rush towards the end result.

Phase 1: Imaginative Exploration

Think up a story involving some subject matter that is of interest to you. How can this be depicted within a scene? Write out the details. Make a very rough Annotated Sketch if necessary.

Phase 2: From Mind To Medium

Divide the Format in a way that would make sense for that scene. For example, how can the subject matter be arranged according to The Rule of Thirds into a Foreground, Midground, and Background? Set up Focal Points / Focal Areas so that the eye travels through the scene while avoiding Tangents. Iterate with very simple thumbnail sketches until something pleasing is found.

Phase 3: Refining The Form

Create the corresponding Perspective Grid(s) on a full sheet / canvas by taking note of the Eye Level within that thumbnail and any parallels that would converge if it was more detailed. Use it to build up characters and items as Primitive Forms connected by Rhythm Lines. Make sure that they follow the Perspective! For example, Draw Through as necessary (e.g.: to verify that separate things do not intersect arbitrarily, that they exist on the same Ground Plane, that they are not tipped past their own Line of Gravity, etc.). Make Silhouettes clear and repeat Shape motifs without allowing it to become monotonous (e.g.: put something Symmetric among something Asymmetric). Do not forget about any Negative Space as well.

Phase 4: Final Rendering

Set the type and direction of the Light Source(s), then test the overall Contrast of Light and Dark areas by making thumbnails (i.e.: Value Sketching). When Rendering this on the final piece, make sure that the Lighting follows the surfaces of Forms through Shading (e.g.: Outlines use varying Line Weight according to their distance from the Viewer, and gradients are made with Hatching along Cross-Contours). Blend smooth and add Texture(s) as desired. Research / draw upon your Visual Library for specific details.

If using color, the Palette is based on the Tones already used (e.g.: relate Warm and Cool colors to Local Values in Greyscale). Color selections should generally follow some type of Harmony.

Conclusion

This is not applicable to every type or style of art, but it is a useful outline when attempting to create highly polished illustrations.