My Art Process – Creating 2D Artwork
Welcome to the second post in my series about my art process. This post will go over how I create art from an initial sketch to the final piece. If you have not seen my last post about coming up with ideas and finding inspiration, read that one first!
Step One – Sketch
The first step in creating an art piece is to sketch it out. This step will be done on your final paper or canvas. Make sure to take your time with this step, because it is setting the groundwork for the rest of the piece. Typically, you would do your sketch in pencil, but if you prefer to have a looser sketch you may use watered-down paint or another medium.
Step Two – Base Colors
This step may vary significantly depending on the artwork you are trying to create. For example, if you want your painting to be looser, this step would be to block in very simple colors and shapes. In more detailed painting, you are still blocking in your base colors, but they will be more precise and may include detail. When creating the painting on the right, I wanted it to be more detailed. So, instead of simply blocking out the main shapes for the sky, I went straight into the sky with detailed strokes to get a cloudy effect.
Step Three – Adding Details
Adding details to your artwork will most likely be the longest step, but it is also the most rewarding. If you have a reference image, look at it very closely and have it easily visible while you are adding these details. And while you do want to spend time with this step to make it look right, do not overwork your piece. Once you get to a point where you are satisfied with how it looks overall, leave it alone. If you are still not happy with how your piece looks, spend some time away from it and come back later. You may find that there wasn’t anything wrong with it at all, or maybe you will find an obvious mistake that can easily be fixed. If you are on a tighter deadline, ask someone you know to tell you what they think about your piece honestly. Getting feedback is a great way to improve your art.
Once all of these steps have been completed, you have finished creating 2D artwork! The next blog posts will go over creating 3D work along with photographing both 2D and 3D artwork.