Illustration Techniques

Step 7: Colorization Technique- "Drawing Like a Printmaker"

Once I developed the pencil sketches, I began to apply color to key illustrations in the book. My approach combines traditional and digital techniques in a process I have named "Drawing Like a Printmaker."

First, I scanned the original pencil drawing and printed it on watercolor paper. Then on the print, I painted with watercolor and popped details with colored pencils. To achieve highlights, blending, and texture, I scratched with sand paper and Xacto knife.

Next, to polish details and the characters' facial features, I scanned the painting and digitally overlayed it with the pencil drawing. Finally, I made edits to color and value contrasts using ProCreate and Photoshop techniques for the best printing results.

Pencil sketch drawing of a woman and dog watching a raven fly while another raven reaches for the woman's scarf.

Original drawing for scarf steal

Watercolor illustration of a woman and dog watching a raven fly.

Original painting for Scarf Steal

Image of a color illustration of a woman and dog watching a raven fly in a Photoshop window.

Photoshop editing of Scarf Steal

Step 8: Rationale for Black and White, Color Interior Illustrations

Traditionally picture book interior spreads are full-color. I chose to combine black and white with color illustrations to heighten the dramatic moments of the story.

The black and white illustration with a high point of view emphasizes great height and sets up Dink's first encounter with Buster. The opposite full-color page dramatizes Buster's surprise and Dink's shock. The low point of view shows the scene from Dink's perspective.

Black and white sketch illustration of a raven falling while flying.

Color illustration of a dog waking up to see a baby raven.

Step 9: Lighting and Seasons

Throughout the book, changes in the light, color, and atmosphere of the New Englad farmstead setting create an immersive sense of the ravens' world. These illustrations are based on my direct observations of how seasonal lighting, time of day, and weather conditions affect the landscape's appearance.

Color illustration of a house with rain and mountains in the background.

New England rainy day in mid-May. The verdant landscape becomes luminous and shadows flatten

Color illustration of ravens in their nest looking down on a snowy farmstead.

New England winter morning. Point of view faces toward the rising sun. Light is cold and long blue-violet shadows stretch across the newly fallen snow

Color illustration of a woman play fetch with a dog and ravens catching the stick.

Golden hour in late summer, facing the setting sun. Light is yellow-orange and shadows are a warm purple