Lisa J. Michaels
Illustrator, Author, Artist
Here's how it's done...
Like most artists, my work starts with a simple pencil sketch. I use "Bruynzeel" Design pencils (made in Holland) because I really like the softness I get from them. It's so important for me to get the highlights and shadows right in the final sketch.
After that, the look I'm shooting for decides whether I ink it in, or move right to my scanner. If I want my illustration to have a realistic quality, then it goes right into the scanner as is. If the assignment calls for a cartoonish look, then I ink over all of the pencil lines, clean it up afterwards and then scan it into my Adobe program for the coloring phase.
Here's an example of a pencil drawing that didn't need inking. My coloring program allows me to add layers of color to inhance my pencil shading, producing a finished bunny that almost makes you want to touch him! Because of the fact that I'm using a fine pencil, I can add in a lot of detail that I wouldn't even attempt with ink.
