Friday, May 9, 2014

Peek Into Watercolor and Ink Process

Click images to view larger.

Halloween art debut at Surtex 2014, Booth 221 - Parcai Designs

 

Don't you love seeing how other artists work? :-) Here is a peek into how I create art for licensing using watercolor and ink. With this one, I am using a fine point sharpie marker and some tubes of guache and watercolor.

First, I scratch out some ideas (above). There were several more that I ended up tossing out. They just were not tripping my trigger. I usually scan in my ideas and print them our larger, cuz then they are easier to paint.

Next, I will trace the enlarged print-outs with ink on watercolor paper. When I do this, I am only using 90 lb. paper so I can see through it on my light table. I have been doing the inking first, because then I can scan in high resolution line art with no color. Comes in handy for rubber stamps. You can set up a "computer-colored" version of your work etc.



Once the line art is all scanned in and cleaned up, I finish painting and scan it all in again. I am not saying you SHOULD do it this way - just something I have been doing lately.

I really had fun creating this brand-spanking-new Halloween collection! Came up with some really cute patterns to go with it :-) Below is a peek of just a few of the things I did with this collection.

Artists: Let me know if you ink first or last, and how that helps (or why you like it). Maybe you don't ink at all!

Manufacturers: See the whole collection and a bunch more of my new art at Surtex in NYC, booth 221 or visit http://www.parcaidesigns.com


Thanks a bunch for stopping by and commenting. I love hearing from you :-)



22 comments:

  1. Great process and certainly makes sense. Beautifully clean lines is what it's all about isn't it...and I do love your images here Annie; as I do all your work. See you at Surtex...

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    1. Hi Madeline :-) Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

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  2. Always love your art Annie… You've got a fun mind. I can't do things like that. I have to work from a picture…. I can create the insides of my pieces from my mind, but I can't just create critters and cutsie things like you do. xoxo Love the new things… you always rock!

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    1. Hey Jo! THANK YOU for such kind words!! You made my week :-D You know I am a BIG fan of your work!

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  3. Hi Annie - I always felt that 'proper' artists inked before they painted because here in the UK it's known as 'pen and wash' (with the 'pen' first). But although I've always been confident drawing with pencils or pastels, for a long time, I wasn't confident enough to 'pen' first. It seemed less risky to 'pencil' first, 'wash' second and finally 'pen. But as I've grown more at ease with using a pen, I've started doing it the other way around and it usually works out OK. Hope this makes some sense! Have you seen the videos of Quentin Blake (on his website) creating his illustrations? Although he does it the 'right way around', I was very much encouraged a few years back, to see his dirty paint water and his somewhat 'ad hoc' method of mixing colours - all very refreshing! :)

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    1. Hi Judy, I do think sometimes I would like it better to ink last. THANKS for letting me know about Quentin Blake - off to check it out!

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  4. Darling collection Annie…I agree with whimzicals, you've got a fun mind!

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    1. Hey Kim! Thanks so much for the blog love! Will I be seeing you at Surtex? (sorry, can't remember if I already asked!?!)

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  5. Hello Annie,

    I'm a pen and wash artist. I work in very much the same way; lots of quick pencil sketches to work out an idea, then pencilling it out on my art paper for the composition, Indian ink with the pen and then watercolor. Though with the landscape often fading off into the distance, I'll apply the wash first and see later where a little pen work may help define. In that case, I dilute the ink to fade the intensity to be in line with the reduction in color saturation with the distance. I love the black cat, by the way!

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    1. Hi Perry! Thanks for sharing your process! I thought I was doing it backwards :-) You should leave a link so we can all see your work. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

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  6. This was very helpful. I love the light desk idea and have often struggled with how to get my initial sketches onto the watercolor paper. I've tried carbon paper but hate that the marks are not erasable. Using graphic to transfer is a messy pain. Had not thought of using thinner watercolor paper and a light desk - this changed my world! Thanks so much.

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    1. Hi Caryn! Glad this was helpful :-) I have a love / hate relationship with thinner watercolor paper. The thick is just so much nicer! I started using the thin when I was doing a lot of watercolors for a builder and basically was tracing the front elevation they provided to me. Before I was given the light table, I used to tape stuff to the window to trace it :-)

      Great to connect with you!

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  7. Enjoyed viewing your process. Love your Halloween images! Great idea about the 90# paper - I usually use Transfer Paper. I generally ink first and then watercolor. For a softer look, I don't ink my images. Best of Luck at Surtex!

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    1. Hey Darlene :-) If you do try the 90 lb. paper, let me know what you think. (I like the thick paper much better ;-) BUT I like the speed of tracing on my light table!

      Thanks for the well wishes and blog love

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  8. Very nice collection, Annie! Glad I discovered your post... I enjoyed reading your process.
    Lisa

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    1. Oh MY Gosh! Your work is amazing!! So glad you found my post too! Check it out everyone! http://lisapalombo.com

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  9. I still tape to the window and trace to this day.... some day..... :) If I am going to ink, I generally have been doing that last. I'm not sure why I do it that way. I think I usually am making up my mind about whether I will ink or not through the painting process. Sometimes I like the final outcome without ink so I'm glad I didn't start off inking. Mostly I don't follow any hard fast rules.... for ANYTHING! haha

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    1. Hey Lisa - Windows are great! The right price too :-) I noticed you have a clip art website - what a neat idea! http://cottoncandyclipart.com

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  10. I loved you article and art. I, after numerious pencil drawings on tracing paper to refine the design, ink on velumn tacing paper, then scann, clean up and transfer to watercolor paper with a light table. I am experimenting printing my ink drawing to different watercolor papers. I oftet scale back the black computer ink lines to about 70% so they aren't too dark if I want a softer look. I also use brown acrylic ink to draw with for a softer look and scan that into the computer for the art. I like the line art printed on, if it isn't too thick it doesn't resist the watercolor so I use a very thin rapdiograph pen. I love your art and am always looking for new ways to design and speed up the project! www.shersartstudio.com. I am working my way into licensing and have a great agent. Sher

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    1. Hi Sher! First, you DO have a wonderful agent! :-) Thanks SO much for sharing your process - I am going to try printing to watercolor paper :-) Your work is just wonderful!

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  11. Anne,
    Thanks soooooo much for that glimpse into your creative world. I'm going to get some 90 lb. Water color paper myself, I always end up using graphite(did I spell that right,even spell check can't help me sometimes)paper and tracing the image on to something else.

    What kind of program do you have on your computer?? Photo shop?? I think I might need one. What kind of things can you do with photo shop?? I'm clueless��������

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    1. Hi! Deborah :-)
      140 lb works too - just harder to see through. It will buckle less if you don't stretch your paper (I don't, I just tape it down well). I have Adobe Creative Suite/cloud subscription. I have been a graphic Designer for a long time http://AnnGraphics.com.

      I prefer Photoshop since I am creating my art the old fashioned way :-) I also use illustrator, but mostly for logo design etc.

      Great to connect with you and thanks so much for stopping by the blog!

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