Process
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This illustration was chosen as the masthead by the Illinois chapter of SCBWI for the 2026 Fall Harvest conference. The theme for this event was "Community Gardens" and I tried to capture the idea of a diverse community working together for a common goal. The color palette reflects the cozy and earthy tones of the fall season.
Below are a few of the steps in the process I used to create the image. |
Rough thumbnails
Exploring concepts through small, rough, and quick sketches
Exploring concepts through small, rough, and quick sketches
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Cleaned-up pencil rough
After I selected the "Pumpkin" concept, this cleaner drawing served as the underlay for the final illustration
After I selected the "Pumpkin" concept, this cleaner drawing served as the underlay for the final illustration
Color Planning
Bright? Muted? Earthy? This is the phase where I try things out and get to a palette that works for the feel of the illustration
Bright? Muted? Earthy? This is the phase where I try things out and get to a palette that works for the feel of the illustration
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Character definition
This phase focuses on the characters, their expressions, and their details.
This phase focuses on the characters, their expressions, and their details.
Final art
This is the final art with characters complete and background and foreground elements added
This is the final art with characters complete and background and foreground elements added
FInal Illustration
Post-processing refinements like brightness/contrast and saturation adjustments are made in this phase. Text is then added and the illustration is ready to ship!
Post-processing refinements like brightness/contrast and saturation adjustments are made in this phase. Text is then added and the illustration is ready to ship!
