Blog: how to start as an illustrator

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How to be an illustrator?

How to start as an illustrator ?

Every illustrator has their own techniques of working, in the post below I will be elaborating on mine.

If you are reading this post, you like to draw. You find yourself picking up the a pencil and drawing on any blank surface you can find, or having an urge to draw as soon as an idea hits.

Voila! You have the most important thing to be an illustrator: The Passion !

Next important thing is what you bring in as an illustrator : Yourself ( Your individuality)

When you were a kid, you were taught how to hold a pencil and trace alphabets and so was the kid next to you. Then how was your handwriting different than your neighbor? It’s because your handwriting reflects you as a person.

Same concept applies to illustration. You will observe and perceive things differently than others.

Now all you need to do is practice to develop your style, which will mold depending on your thoughts, observations, emotions and personality.

CHECKLIST:

Draw Daily

Learn how to analyse and simplify

Learn how to draw facial expressions and gestures

Tell a story, have a purpose.

Learn about color

Carry a sketchbook/notepad

Challenge yourself

Draw Daily :

Take 30 mins in the morning to draw. This was part of my school curriculum we had to draw gestures in 1 min or under. I mostly hated it, but later learnt how important that was. It really made my drawings more fluid and expressive, and also help me find my style. I still use this when I have a art block or feel rusty.

Analyse and Simplify:

Drawing Characters and objects can be hard at first. Simply it by analyzing its basic shapes. Start by drawing stick figures and adding shapes on it.

Facial expression and emotion:

There are many ways to do this, use a mirror, make faces and draw them. Or the simple way by checking the emojis on the phone.

Tell a story, Have a purpose:

Any drawing you make should have a subject heart. Start by thinking about a subject to draw. What story is the drawing conveying.

Example you want to draw a portrait of your self, dont draw it standing still. Give it a pose, make it wear your favorite outfit, surround it with your favourite objects.

Learn about colors:

As an illustrator, your job is to express yourself with visuals, colors is the best way to get an emotion across.

Carry a Sketchbook:

Take a sketchbook everywhere you go. Draw all the things you observe. Or write down the ideas you have

Challenge yourself :

There are various challenges you can do to push your self to draw and improve faster.

Go out and draw: Go to a park and draw the objects, people and trees around you. Make it fun by going with your friends or by forming a club with your fellow artists.

Draw using just a pen: when you cant erase the mistakes you make, you try to become innovative with the mistake.

30 Day challenges: Challenge yourself by drawing everyday what you find hard to draw. Eg. Hands, architecture, bikes etc.

Tools I Use

Pencils and Pens

Colored pencils: I will always start by use in a color pencil ( preferably red) to put down my shapes an ideas. Then use a darker color or a HB or 2B pencil to define the shapes expressions etc.

Black Gel pen: I use a simple black Gel Pen to do the outlines.

Software:

I mainly use Procreate to do quick drawings.

If the illustrations requires lot of details and layers I use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

Devices:

IPad Pro 9.7 inches or Wacom Intous A4 size ( 12 inches)

Brushes:

I like to use Ink bleed and Dry brush in procreate. In Adobe Photoshop Dry Brush set ( one with a crayon like texture)

SketchBooks and Notepad:

I use a Grafit 909 sketch 41lb sketch book from Claire Fontaine

NotePad : I use a Matrix premium notebook A5 size to write my Ideas and To Do Lists.

Sometimes i like to make my own sketch book with A4 sheets folded and stapled.