Breath of Dawn: Step-by-Step Process

So I felt the need to really set some time aside for me to work on this personal project. It was really refreshing just not having any deadlines, no one to please but myself, just working on a piece that came to me in steps. I've loved working on this piece, I'm rather sad it's all finished now. Means I have to get back to my commissions hahha.

Story time. I actually scribbled down the first draft of this image during a work meeting one night. I'd seen some really cool bird wing images earlier that day, so I guess I had that on my mind. But for some reason, out of all the sketches I'd done recently, I kept coming back to this one. So I found a reference photo I liked and set to work on a final design. Here's the sketch:

I LOVE sketches. I just like the way they look. I went to the Met in NYC once and my favorite thing was pages from Rembrandt's sketchbook. True story.

It's so difficult to tell what a picture is going to look like from the sketch, especially when you're going from dark on light to light on dark. So I had this to work with. Once I had the sketch more or less how I wanted it, I transferred it to a piece of 8"x10" illustration board.

Now, most people who are not poor like me have 3 options they use to transfer things: a projector (preferred method, as it works no matter the thickness of your paper), a light table, or carbon/ graphite paper (You know how when you were a kid, you'd scribble with crayon all over the back of a piece of paper, then set it crayon-side down on 2nd piece of paper, then press down really hard with a pencil and then lift the crayon paper and have a cool design on the 2nd sheet? You didn't do that as a kid? Oh...Well same basic principle nonetheless.) The fourth option, and the one I use because, as I mentioned, I'm poor, is to scribble all over the back of my sketch, which has to be done to scale, and then use that basically as poor-man's graphite paper. Don't say I'm not resourceful.

After I get the drawing transferred, I start inking. Now, me, I start with the easiest thing first and save the hard stuff for later because I'm just a procrastinator like that. I start getting the basic shapes laid out first:

I HAVE ARMS! And one and a half hands!

You might be able to very slightly see the outlines for the wings and sunburst. So this is a really important step, as it really sets the mood for the whole piece. It's now that I get all basic shapes in. I'll worry about details last. Any art teacher will tell you: "Work general to specific." This basically means, if you're drawing a head, don't start shading in the eyes before you've mapped out where the nose needs to be. Get your basic shapes down first, THEN go back and start on details. Proportions, unity, and flow are going to be a LOT better if you follow that one simple rule.

Okay art lesson over. So the next step is basically to just keep on trucking. At this point I've gotten everything either mapped out or inked already, so all I have to do is keep following my sketch (which is really, really hard to see, even for me!) I start on the wings next, and also add some details to her arm bands:

Yo, check out my ink.

I finish up the wings and decide to add a bit more detail to her hair. At the same time I thicken some of the stronger outlines (much like you'd see in Art Nouveau. It worked for them, why not me?)

I believe I can fly!

I was seriously this CLOSE to just calling it quits and leaving it at this, but then I started thinking of the sunburst in the background, combined with the wings, and this old church hymn that my mom always used to sing started playing through my head:

"And He shall raise you up on eagles' wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand."

I always thought the tune was a bit cheesy, but I like the words. It's inspiring and empowering and comforting all at the same time, like you can feel so mighty and bursting with the power of the Sun, but small enough that He wants to hold you close and keep you safe.

Anyway. So after that song SERIOUSLY WOULD NOT GET OUT OF MY HEAD I decided it was the Man Upstairs telling me to finish what I'd started, with the original vision I'd been given. So I went ahead and finished it up in one sitting, while watching Psych because let's face it, that show is awesome.  So here is the finished piece:

Copyright 2013. "Breath of Dawn," white gel pen on black illustration board. 8"x10"

Honestly, there are some things I love about it and some things I really wish I could change about it. I just about had a FIT when I finished it and realized it wasn't exactly what I'd pictured in my head. But I'm learning to like it, even with the flaws. It's a process. This is still probably one of my favorite pieces I've ever done. I really like this style and hope I'll be able to come up with a few more along these lines, so look out! Cheers to you all!