Subscribeprocess/mediums/info
I’ve gotten a couple of requests in the comments to share about my process and what mediums I use in my work. So while I have a few little bits I need to keep to myself, I thought I’d share most everything else:
First off, I do all my sketching on tissue paper. Because I don’t consider myself an excellent drawer, I find tissue paper easiest to work with… making a few initial drawings and then choosing bits and pieces of each and piecing them together by overlaying the paper. This also makes for some built in mistakes and odd perspectives, which I think makes the work more interesting. This also means that I don’t have a formal “sketch book” where I draw out all my ideas. It’s all loose papers, and I tend to throw them all away after a job is done because 1) I don’t want a bunch of clutter in my studio, and 2) because I don’t really care about all the physical sketches that lead up to a finished piece of work. (They are saved digitally anyway.)
After I get approval on a sketch direction, I start painting. I use simple acrylic paints. I like Liquitex from the art supply store. They mix well to make good custom colors and the consistency is nice too. I usually just use a handful of colors and mix… unbleached titanium, cadmium red, neutral gray, cerulean blue, etc. I paint out everything on paper as well. I really like Hahnemuhle paper, but I’ve been out of that for a while, so I just use whatever’s laying around. Usually a sketch book page ripped out.
The brushes I use have been collected over the years. So they are kind of mixed and matched, but usually pretty good quality. (Cheapy kids brushes fall apart after a few uses.) I use a few small tipped watercolor brushes for fine details and a bunch of big flat brushes for flat color blocks.
My favorite brush that is used most often is a flat Grumbacher with a plastic handle. This is good because the bristles have held up well over the years, and I can forget about it for days in the water jar and the handle doesn’t fall off.
I then do my linework (or typography depending on the assignment) on another separate sheet of paper. Sometimes in ink — typography is good and clear in ink. But linework for paintings is more often done as a monoprint that gives me rough textures and organic mistakes (I call it grunge) here and there.
I then take all the parts and pieces and scan them into photoshop using a Canon Canoscan 8800F. Then compile it all digitally, creating a final piece that I can easily send off to the art director via email or ftp. I used to work all on paper, creating one final physical piece, but I’ve found that it’s much easier to change and revise things when it’s digital. And I can easily adjust color if it’s not feeling right. Or I can play with placement or off-setting the elements a little more if it didn’t quite come out the way I’d envisioned in on paper. I work really fast on the computer too, which helps me be more prolific.
I don’t use a wacom tablet or digital color in photoshop because I like the hand-made quality to real paint. And I never quite got used to drawing with a wacom, unfortunately (that might have saved some paper I suppose).
After the job is completed and approved by the art director, I toss all the parts and pieces and prelimary work into the recycle bin and start the whole process over on the next job.
:)
I hope that helps! If you have questions, please leave a comment and I’ll try to answer there too.
Happy Friday!
Penny, Are you a lefty? Curious lefties want to know : )
Heidi: hee! Nope. I’m right-handed. :)
Thanks for sharing!
You say you´re not an excellent drawer and I wonder if this is another case of self-exigencitis? I mean, I´ve been struggling with it for quite some time and it´s easier to spot on others than on ourselves, right?
Taken from the work you post, I think you´re an excellent drawer.
Happy Friday!
Thanks for sharing this — and so glad to know I am not the only one who leaves brushes in water for days at a time. Good to know of a brush that holds up to that type of abuse, too!
Now I just have to try to emulate the part about throwing out the sketches. Why do I cling to everything???
Thanks for sharing some of your magic, Penny!
Thank you for letting us in on the secrets (or most of them at least…). I am one of the ones that reqested your process a long time ago so it is great to see it.
yes, thanks for sharing this! I’m always curious about artists’ process. as a former art director I was interested to hear about your scanning and digitally adjusting your art. I remember getting shipped finished pieces of art and I’d have to digitally manipulate things. . . i always felt kind of squicky about changing the artists original work though, so it’s nice that you have that control.
Brilliant! of course I love the photo of you in your Mac screen the most! There’s a neat article in the Nov Vanity Fair about Norman Rockwell’s process you may find of interest. much love xoxo
you are magic dearheart! xoxoxo
A very interesting read. Thank you for writing about your process!
I love this, partly because I wasn’t entirely clear on the process myself.
I also love that katie said “squicky”!
I loved reading this – process is fascinating.
penny, thank you for this post. you truly are blessed with a God given talent.
not a good drawer you say? rubbish I say, you ARE good.
thank you so much for sharing your process! many artists keep to themselves but i appreciate your genorosity so much. your work has such an interesting quality, the transitory nature of the tissue paper & scans make sense. :)
Thank you Penelope!!! :)
Thanks for sharing – always inspiring to read about someone else’s process.
Interesting read thanks. I love using acrylic paints with my work.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been wondering about the paint and paper you use — now I’m glad to know. It’s inspiring when artists share their process. I returned to art as an adult after watching the Mister Rogers episode where he visits Eric Carle in his studio. You are a blessing!
I think I was one of the ones asking. It is always so interesting to hear about what other artists use etc… This is a lot what I do for my digital work. One of my pieces in particular I did this way, I had at a show and everyone wanted to know if they could buy the “orginal” sometimes its hard to explain that the print is as orginal as it gets. I am curious, your “personal” fine art work do you do is the same manner or do you have a completed physical piece? (Only because I have had an issue with this).
Thanks for sharing! Really inspiring :)
Thanks for all your comments everyone!
Alex: In the past, my personal fine art work has been all traditional mediums, without the digital aspect. So they are indeed paintings or drawings instead of digital compositions. But I’ve been thinking about changing that for the sake of 1) wanting to do personal art more in my illustration style and 2) ease/time restraints.
So yeah, I can see why that would be difficult when people ask for the original. But I think as time goes by, it’ll become more clear. :)
Good question!
pen-this is really COOL, i’ve never known how you worked. wow! tissue paper! i think i’m going to try that!
I love reading about how other people work! Thanks so much for sharing. And so interesting about people asking about the “original”…
hi p!
so nice to know that you use monotype methods in your work. i thought so when i gazed upon their wonderfulness. i think that is what gives them their extra wonderfulness. personally. i am partial to that process and your grunge is fab.