Here is part of an article I recently wrote for members of Drawing Tutorials Online:

Successful Image Creation does not happen by accident. There is a certain process one must follow to get consistent results. Too many artists get frustrated because they start a painting or drawing and it never comes out the way they intended it too. There are certain laws one must follow in order to create beautiful images on a consistent basis.

Scott Robertson is a current student enrolled in my Tuesday drawing class. Scott gave me permission to include his work process in this article/blog post. Scott is a pretty serious student to say the least. I was really impressed with his work process. Scott followed through and implemented everything I taught in class. I was both grateful and pleased with his effort. Scott is still working on his painting. He is working through some painting technique issues but the learning journey Scott followed through with will stay with him forever.

You can check out Scott’s website here www.geshire.com

You can check out Scott’s you tube video here Scott’s Sketchbook Video

As an instructor I am privy to a wide array of raw emotion when it comes to creating artwork. There is always this background pressure in a classroom setting where everyone naturally wants to be the best they can be. A lot of students can become easily frustrated because they get inconsistent results. Inconsistent results in life drawing can mean one is simply going through the growing pains of learning how to draw. It could also mean the student has not drawn is a few weeks and is pain old rusty.

However image making is a whole other calamity. Image making with all of it’s perils including color theory, drawing, style etc can bring out the best of emotions and the worst of emotions. I know because I have had them all. In the beginning of my career as an illustrator inconsistent image making results delayed my career from moving forward. I was constantly frustrated and mad at myself. I would create one decent painting then two that were not good at all. I realized I needed to follow a consistent formula. A consistent work process where as I wouldn’t have to hope for good results I could count on them time and time again.

Resistance to any formula or work process for right brained artists is normal and very common. Most of my students resist following though with a work process. They associate it with going to the dentist for a root canal procedure. I was the same, I just wanted to start my painting having magic take hold and bam, a great painting would appear before my eyes. Process, screw process, that takes too long. I experienced this once again with my current drawing classes. This years students are extremely talented, I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by them on a weekly basis. I saw some pretty talented students become extremely frustrated with their results.

I struggled with trying to stay consistent for many years so I can sympathize with each and every students emotions both good and bad. I’ve made it my mission to help students avoid frustration as much as possible by providing them with some simple procedures and tools I discovered along my learning journey.

Recently I had both my Tuesday and Friday classes create 18″ by 28″ images first in black and white, then in color. Some of the students hated this whole assignment and some of the students loved it. Below is the process I explained in class. This a process you should follow if you want consistent results with your artwork. Whether you are a high school student putting together a portfolio to get into an art college, or a recent college grad putting together a portfolio to get work, this process with help you. Don’t skip any step. Like baking if you leave out an ingredient your cake will flop.

Once you decide on a topic for your illustration I’ve provided a list of steps below to follow to get consistent results. Coming up with an idea for your illustration is a topic for an entirely separate article. First I’m going to assume that you already have an idea provided by your own creativity. Second you are currently working on a real world illustration job and the art director provided you with direction.

1. Thumbnail Sketches: The first step in the process is brainstorming out thumbnail sketches in your sketchbook. I used to personally work on thumbnail sketches on the manuscript that the art director provided me with. As I would read the manuscript ideas would pop up and I would very informally sketch out the vision I had for the scene. Thumbnails don’t have to be a lot of work. Work on them small, perhaps one inch by two inches or a bit bigger if you prefer. Thumbnails are like a goal setting brain dump. They are simply an exercise in getting ideas out of your mind and down onto paper so you can see if they work. When working with a client I would never show to them my thumbnails. They were for me. You should complete a minimum of five to seven small thumbnails for one idea. A great place to complete thumbnail sketches in in your sketchbook.

I truly believe you will get the most from your thumbnails if you try to utilize the three value system. I also believe it’s very important to work with light and shade not just line. Ask your self questions like, what time of day is it, where is the light coming from? If this is an action scene perhaps you could incorporate three point perspective. Don’t be perfect just crank them out.

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