A bit more drawing for the Lavender Blue book cover. My usual practice when working out a design for a cover is to draw many of the elements separately on loose paper and then trace them into place on a piece of translucent layout paper or with a light box. I do this because it allows me to draw freely and assemble without tightening up in order to make everything fit properly. Also, assembling in this way brings a slightly random aspect into your composition as items drawn separately are combined and made to work together. I first started doing this many years ago in animation school where all your drawing is done on a light table. It was such a great way to compose a layout that I never really found a better way to put a picture together. This process will not work for everyone but I find it quite helpful.
Larry, your sketches continue to enchant and amaze. Absolutely wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI use the same technique for layout sketches, except now all the elements are scanned into photoshop layers. They can be instantly resized, flopped, and altered—all while in a transparent state. There is great room for 'happy accidents'.
Thank you for a glimpse inside your process. These are lovely as always!
ReplyDeleteWow, I never would have thought of that. I have Photo Studio and I imagine that might be useful actually; never would have occurred to me that illustrations wouldn't all be assembled and done all at once.
ReplyDeleteThanks Craig :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Thomas - I'm still pretty old school when it comes to piecing a picture together. I really ought to update my approach.
ReplyDeleteO.D. and I.H. - thanks guys :)
ReplyDeleteI am a convert! What can I say? I love your work!
ReplyDeleteP.C.M. - thanks so much :)
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