Content Summary 

For this traditional media workshop, I will discuss my favourite tools and how I like to use them. Going forward, as I work towards creating a final illustration, I will share my knowledge of storytelling, character development and world-building. Based on the chosen story, I will guide you through a real-time, step-by-step process of how I create a traditional illustration, from sketch to transfer to the finished, photographed piece. 

Day 1

Introduction to project, tools, and storytelling

– Introduction | My art journey: From childhood to the endless back and forth, to now. 

– My current goals as an artist & hearing your goals!

– How should you start your portfolio based on your goals? 

– Introduction to storytelling in illustration: 

– What makes an illustration stand out?
– Project Introduction: The idea, breakdown, and final art!
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– Project Start! Let’s fill some sketchbook pages! 

– Storytelling I: Finding an idea & pushing it further 

– Mindmap, Ideation, and Reference gathering 

– Introduction to my sketching tools! 

– Favourite Sketchbooks, my favourite papers, and sketching materials.

– Exploration of tools & techniques 

– Character Sketches based on narrative!
– Warm up with shapes & silhouette

– Character sketches & costume design

– While I do this, I will give you tips on posing, expression, etc.

– Giving your character a prop or companion based on narrative! 

– Prop designs for your character – from basic to whimsical!

– Putting them together! 

Day 2

Creating a composition & transferring it to paper

-Thumbnails 

• Composition checklist & perspective tips!
• Bringing your chosen composition into Procreate (or Photoshop, etc.) 
  • Cleaning it up! 

– Introduction to how I choose colour palettes:

– Choosing a colour palette that suits what you’re trying to evoke.

– Applying different combos to your digital sketch. (this can also be done traditionally). 

-Final Sketch Transfer! 

– Explaining my tools & final art papers – and how I use them.

– Transferring a digital sketch to traditional paper. 

– Applying base paint to the traditional media paper. 

Day 3

Introduction to base and final rendering. 

• Intro to all the tools I use to colour a drawing! 

• • Tips on what to watch out for, etc. 
  • Exploration in sketchbook and different papers. 
• Sharing my rendering process. 
  • From background to foreground. 
  • Colour building and detailing. 
  • Mixing more than 2 colours together. 
  • Troubleshooting when problems occur. 

Polishing & Detailing: 

– Applying different tools to darken, mask mistakes, and apply extra details. 

The final artwork & how I photograph it!
– Lighting, angle, composition.
– Editing potential shadows, discoloration from the photograph, etc.
– Saving format

* I will answer any question during these sessions, so don’t be shy to ask. If you’re too shy to speak out loud, you can email me and I will answer before and after the workshop.
* I will be looking at everyone’s work before and after workshop hours and will communicate feedback through email.

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Recommended & Optional material:
– For sketching:

• Sketchbook.
• HB pencil, eraser, sharpener 
• [Optional] Coloured pencil, mechanical pencil (red/blue col pencil) 
• [Optional but recommended] A tablet for digital sketching.
  • This can also be done traditionally; it may just take you more time. 

– For final artwork:

• [Suggested, but optional] Cold-pressed watercolour paper! (any size is good) This is suggested, not something you HAVE to get. Although that’s what i’ll be working with. You’ll want to have a paper that is thick enough to absorb water and heavy pencil crayon marking. 
• [Optional] Coloured pencils. If you want to work with markers or any other medium, you’re welcome to do so, but this workshop will mainly focus on coloured pencils. 
  • I work with Caran d’Ache, Prismacolour, Arrtx, and other brands. If you’re new to pencils, you don’t need anything fancy; affordable is the way to go. 
• [Optional but suggested] Light coloured markers, OR [primaries of watercolour] (yellow, blue, red). 
• [Optional] I often use white (or other light coloured) paint (gouache, acrylic pens, etc) to finish/embellish an illustration. You don’t need this, but I thought I’d share it here since I’ll be using some. 

**** To fully benefit from this workshop, you should have at least a sketchbook, a few colours you like (dark to light), and a sketching pencil!

**** Any level is good! Learning is learning.  

I’m looking forward to meeting you all! – Poopikat 🙂