*Nautili Process
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 03:23PM
First post in my new journal! Exciting! ;) I thought I'd start things off by going over the process on my latest illustration. I've had several people want to see more tutorials/works in progress from me, so that seems like a good way to go for now.
For my latest illustration, I wasn't sure what I wanted to paint aside from a portrait, so I started with some random shapes using the pattern chalk tool in Painter X (using mostly some patterns of the fibonacci spiral) and sketched a face within all that mess. This gave me a basic framework to start with, even though I still wasn't sure about the direction.
Using the Pattern Chalk tool is something I learned from Andrew Jones' tutorials here: http://theartdepartment.org/contributing-professionals/andrew-jones He obviously produces much better results (seriously, he is amazing. Totally an art hero of mine). I like to use the pattern chalk brush for getting some random shapes in my early drafts to generate some fresh and unexpected ideas when I'm lacking in inspiration. :)
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Next I started defining the face and shapes a little more (I also flipped the canvas horizontally). Originally I was thinking of making it all more abstract, but I've been finding it challenging to make an abstract look properly "finished." It either looks too sketchy, or it starts getting to rendered and realistic. One of these days I'll figure out it out.
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I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the spiralling forms on her head until I started realizing that they'd make awesome nautilus shells, so I started rendering them as such, and added a few other underwater themed elements and colors.
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The portrait is starting to take shape more now. It's still pretty abstracted; I wasn't sure at this point if I wanted to keep it that abstracted, or start really solidifying the forms.
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There are a few steps missing here; I accidently flattened some parts of my draft; sorry about that. :) I decided to make all the nautiluses face the same way to give the sense that they were all part of a moving swarm rather than just a random group clustering around the woman's head. I also started drastically changing the color scheme. I liked where previous drafts were going colorwise, but I'm such a sucker for bright colors that I have a hard time staying away from them sometimes.
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I expanded the canvas to include more of the woman's body and add more nautilus shells in the upper part of the image.
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Tightening things up a bit, rendering the nautilus shells and trying to figure out how the hands should be positioned..
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I decided the colors were too dull, so I set my brush to "Hard Light" and went nuts painting the sky purple and yellow.
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Around this point I was getting really tired of rendering all those darn nautilus shells. This was one of those illustrations that felt like it'd never be finished no matter how many hours I dumped into it.
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But finally it was finished! Here's what I ended up. Robotic bioluminescent nautili flying through the air with a robotic woman. On another planet or something. I like the composition and colors, even if the narrative makes no darn sense. ;)
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Reader Comments (13)
I've followed your work since I was in middle school (23 now), and this was always my favorite part of your stuff. I was a little disheartened when you got rid of the "sketches" section years back, but I'm glad you're showing your thought process again.
Thanks! You know, I'd considered keeping a sketch section up, but I kept hearing from other artists and art directors that you should only have your most current and best pieces in your main portfolio, and keep the sketches for your blog. I was worried about doing things wrong, so I just took them down for the time being. Now that I finally have a journal set up, I'm going to try to be more diligent about posting sketches and works in progress. :)
This was my first view of your work and I am fasinated by the thought process you have portrayed. I am glad you are sharing this step by step progression.
This is my first time viewing your work and it is fasinating. I love that you are sharing the thought progression that goes into the work. The step by step process is very interesting and gives a different insight into the world of the artist for those of us who can't draw a crooked line.
I just came across your site (via twitter links--though I remember the gorgeous Honeycomb art at Clarkesworld) and find the details of your process here on the journal fascinating. Thank you for sharing this!
I think it's kinda funny, I am also a twenty-three-year-old who has been a fan since middle school. I also miss your sketches section, as well. I think. Basically, I'm someone who is totally not Steve (promise!) saying, "ditto, Steve."
Heh.
I also vividly remember looking at your how to draw manga tutorials also in middle school. I was in 7th grade and would spend days glued to my computer monitor just to see how you were able to draw like that. I was (am still) such a nerd :). I'm 21 years old now, and from to time to time, I would visit your site to see any new artworks you've done. I still remember your Trigun/anime-related fanarts. Those stuffs were off the hook! I'm currently majoring in Illustration and have always found your works to be nothing short of spectacular. And thanks for sharing this wonderful knowledge with everyone. It's very insightful and helpful. Keep doing art! Best regards.
Hi Julie, about ten years ago I started to practice drawing manga characters from your online tutorials. You were the best source on the internet and a true pioneer in online manga drawing tutorials. I too, miss your sketches section. Thank you very much for sharing your creativity with us. Best regards~
Also a huge fan from back in the day. I had a quick question. I remember off one of your gallery pics back in the day was a sad boy with black wings named edwin. I think you drew for a friend's story or it was just posted for your friend. Anyway I use a lot of my schools printer paper to print the entire story at the time, but it got discontinued without any warning... I think it was also a french version of it too. I was just curious if you knew anything about it being discontinued or really if it is still up... I loved the character art for that story soooo much. Anyway, sorry to talk about non you things, but you know you're great already.
Damn, I have only just rediscovered your work. I, like alot of people apparently, first came across your work in school (when I had my own foolish aspirations towards illustration). It is a pleasure to see you still going strong, producing wonderful work. Thanks for sharing your process!
Wow Julie, such amazing fluid workflow and equally amazing result!
I remember seeing your work back in early 2000, in my anime phase lol and I was really impressed and inspired!
Its been a pleasure following your growth as an artist though the years...but your latest works, I mean last few years
have really stepped on to a whole new level :) Looking forward to more amazing stuff from you Julie!
Fascinating as always Julie. Like most people here I began checking out your work since I was in early college. Years later I still find myself stumbling into your site.. for inspiration and ideas. Thanks and keep it up.:)