I’ve always been intrigued (and slightly baffled) by the process by which illustrators create their beautiful imagery, so I’m very happy that one of my all time favourite artists Kelly Smith (aka Birdy & Me) has agreed to shed some light on her process – from the first idea all the way through to the finished piece.
For those of you out there not familiar with her work, Kelly has the type of talent that most of us can only dream about – the ability to create whimsical and yet life like imagery that merges fashion and beauty to perfection. In short she draws life as we would all like to live it, full of flowers, pastels hues and perfectly tousled waves. Her illustrations have been commissioned by an awe inspiring number of magazines and brands, including Vogue, Net-a-Porter, H&M and Elle, and she is just about to publish the second book in a series entitled Sticker Fashionista. I couldn’t be more chuffed that Kelly took some of her precious time out to show us how she creates her amazing pieces, perfect for following along if you feel like honing your illustration skills (admittedly she makes it look easy when I imagine it’s anything but). Take it away Kelly!
There are so many different styles and techniques in illustration, and there’s definitely no right or wrong way to do it. Everyone has their own method and that’s what makes us all unique! So what I’m going to show you today is my process in 10 steps.
What I use:
- Paper
- Pencils (HB, B, 2B and a super soft lead like 3H)
- Eraser
- Watercolour paints & brushes
- Scanner
- Adobe Photoshop.
1. INSPIRATION
Inspiration is the first step in any creative process. If you don’t have idea immediately, turn to what inspires you; imagery, nature, films, music – it can be anything. Once you have an idea you can start to gather images that reflect your vision.
2. REFERENCE IMAGERY
Create your reference image. Some illustrators work from their imagination. Others, like myself, work from reference imagery. I like to photograph my own images and collage them together with various others to create one picture to draw from. I’m pretty exact with this due to the realistic style of my work.
For this particular image I photographed myself holding an object of similar size to a skull. I then used images of flowers that I had photographed, along with the hair and facial features of various models that had been collaged together.
3. START SKETCHING
Using your reference image as a guide, start sketching out an outline. This will help you keep your proportions in tact before you start finalising the pencil work. Some people like to draw up grids to keep to scale. As I work on quite a small scale I prefer to draw rough lines over the reference image only so I can easily see where certain features or body parts line-up.
4. KEEP SKETCHING
Start refining your lines and existing pencil work. Don’t worry about going too thick or dark as you can erase these markings as you start to develop each area. We’re essentially ‘filling in the lines’ and developing depth and tone with shading and more refined pencil work.
5.TAKE A BREAK
Step back from your work. Have a break – grab a coffee or a cup of tea– and take 5 minutes out. Sometimes when you look at the something for too long, you can start to lose perspective. It’s really nice to take some time out and focus on something else for a little while and come back to a project with fresh eyes. This helps you to spot any flaws in the work, which you can then fix up or change.
6. SCAN
The next step is to move the finished illustration onto the computer. I like to do this as soon as I’ve completed all pencil work, especially before I apply any paint or other medium. It means that you have a perfect digital copy of the work, just in case you make any mistakes! Unlike pencil, paint or ink does not rub out!
7. ADD WATERCOLOURS BY HAND
Sometimes I just add a little bit of colour digitally in photoshop, but this time I’m adding watercolour. It’s good to build the colour up slowly, so start with the lightest colour first and then add darker shades to create depth and texture.
8. RE-SCAN
When the paint is dry, scan the illustration again. Be careful to keep it perfectly straight on the glass so that both scans line up when you overlay them.
9. EDIT
Adjust the layers/contrast/shadows on the original scan until you’re happy with the tones. Clean up any dust or smudges. I use the clone tool. Do the same with your painted scan.
10. LAYER IMAGES
Finally, overlay both of your scans so that you’re left with one image. Create one, or two, more layers, depending on how much colour you want to apply digitally. I like to add subtle colour to the face – digital make-up if you will!
TA DA!
Now that I’ve finished – save, save save! You should now be left with a perfect digital file of your illustration.
Thanks so much Kelly! You can purchase a print of one of Kelly’s drawings here, and make sure to check out her website for more of her gorgeous work and updates on her new book to be released this month.
Gorgeous results.. and process!
Awesome work! Love Kelly’s illustration, so detailed :)!
that is so cool! thanks for the step by step!
http://www.thatgoodgirlchi.blogspot.co.uk
What a beautiful idea – how to illustrate/make illustrations in a “quick” way:)!
I just wonder how easy it seems to be (with some practice):)
Bye,
NIKA
Such beautiful illustrations! Love this!!!
http://theeleganter.blogspot.co.uk/
http://theeleganter.blogspot.co.uk/
thank you so much for sharing this! so interesting to read about. my mom is an artist so she’d be super intrigued by this going to send her the link so she can enjoy it! I on the other hand am not so great at the whole illustrations thing but now I’d like to try again. xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ http://www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
Omg, gorgeous!
This is stunning but unfortunately I can’t even sketch that nice, so there won’t be any beautiful illustrations like Kelly’s, lol.
Fab idea!!!! Great post!
SSSx
http://www.stylestreetstalker.com
This is brilliant! I just love how she draws her hair, it really gives the realistic touch to this illustration. I wish I could draw like her!
LOVE her process of creating amazing work! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Birdy & Me (sorry, proof-reading nerd).
Love the recent guest-blogger posts!
Amazing!
I’ve never really been a great at drawing, but this has really inspired me!
Thankyou, I might actually give it another go, it looks like so much fun! 🙂
Thank you for introducing me to Kelly and her work – she’s definitely amazing.
This was a great tutorial and Kelly makes it look easier than it is. The trick about creating layers of the same image is super helpful. I never would have thought of that!
Thanks for these useful tips c: the
illustration turned out greatly! I do
have a question: what kind of
printer & paper do you use? Thanks!
xx http://icepandora.blogspot.com
so lovely! I will try this!
Wauw, absolutely beautiful!
Wow! This is amazing 🙂
This is amazing. It has been such a help and motivation for me and I needed that!
Ah, Kelly’s work is so wonderful! Thank you so much for producing this post with her <3
This post is so so pretty! You are very talented, I love watercolours too 🙂
Xx
http://sarah-nunn.blogspot.co.uk
i dont think these 10 steps would help me create something sooo beautiful 😀 you’re great at this!
http://iamturquoise.com
This drawing is amazing! I wish I could draw like this the final outcome is so beautiful! Will definitely be practicing my drawing skills soon hehee
xxx
sarahslittlegems.blogspot.co.uk/
Kelly’s work is spectacular…so incredibly talented. Thank you for sharing this…great post!…xv
http://vickiarcher.com
Seriously useful post! Absolutely beautiful picture as well. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 xx
Lemon-freckles.blogspot.co.uk
Wow, Kelly makes it look so easy!
Love her work and imagery, she’s pure inspiration
Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.sundaydesire.blogpot.com
Wow, this is amazing … if I could only do half the stuff she does!
incredibly awesome
http://www.vasilievablog.com
this work is so, so lovely!
This is ridiculously amazing! I’ve been an avid illustrator for years but as I got busier with work, that part of my spare time seemed to drift away. Really want to get back on the saddle now 🙂
x
I think it would be quite therapeutic to take some time every weekend to draw, even better if you have even a little bit of talent. x
This is amazing, thank you for sharing. Such a wonderful piece.
this is beautiful! drawing so frustrating to me even though I was an art major in college, I always hated drawing, but this makes me want to give it another go. thanks for sharing!!
Great to hear we have inspired you. xx
If you ask if I can draw I say yes but when I see this I’m not that sure any more. Gorgeous illustration! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
I love this, she’s my favourite illustrator! She gives me such artistic envy, whenI draw/paint I do it in a similar style but sadly am nowhere near as good!
I’m sure over time you will get much better 🙂
wowwwwwwwwwww perfect!
nasty-lady.blogspot.com
The talent behind this is amazing! The mediums Kelly uses work so beautifully together! Life drawing was defiantly not my skill at fashion school lol I envied all the girls that could draw.
Kelly Smith is just Fabulously talented! Wish I could draw like that : )
http://www.fabulous-femme.com
Amazing post! So helpful too! Kelly is incredibly talented xo
this is just too gorgeous!
http://www.styleandshades.blogspot.com
What an awesome post! Incredible detail in her instruction (and illustration). Makes me want to give it a go – thank you for sharing, I’ll definitely check out her site.
You should, her pieces are all to die for and you can buy a print from her etsy store!
3H is actually a harder pencil lead than a B.
Sorry if it sounds confusing – I was referring to the tone of the lead. 3H is a really light, soft pencil. I use the Hs for light line work and to develop skin tone.
This is SO cool!!! I love it. Thank you for sharing this!!
http://www.queenofmayhem.com
http://www.queenofmayhem.com
http://www.queenofmayhem.com
This was great; I really love seeing and reading about other people’s processes. Thanks so much for the insightful feature! (I also love the coffee break; definitely necessary!)
Her little tea cup is so cute! I wish I could take time out with her and relax when my head fills with work…
Thank you to everyone for your kind words, i’m so glad you enjoyed the process.
Thanks to Geneva for the invitation x
We are so lucky to have you Kelly, the finished product is divine and I can finally rest easy knowing how you do it (although that doesn’t make it any easier).
I’m in awe of how stunning it came out. Absolutely lovely.
Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂 Kelly’s illustrations are beautiful. Really enjoyed getting an insight into her process.
🙂
i love this. so pretty!! unfortunatly i don’t think reading this will quite get me to that level!
xo, aiyanajane || http://www.citystylecountrysmile.com
OMG that is soo fab! I wish I could draw like that
I don’t think I’ve sketched since high school, which is surprisingly considering how much I loved it. this really makes me want to pick up my pencils again
x karen
http://www.thechicndamned.blogspot.com
Glad to hear we may have inspired a revival!
The illustration is beautiful. I tried so many times but I still can´t illustrate 😀
GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG
xx
glamdevils
Nice instructions but uuhm, I don’t think It’d be that easy to make something so beautiful!
Hahahaha I know what you mean, to be honest it’s more of a behind the scenes into Kelly’s world. I think her amazing talent isn’t something you can just pick up, but as they always say – practice makes perfect!
Great pictures!
I’m so amazed. Brings back the memories when I used to do this. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
rottennuke.blogspot.com
Wow! So beautiful and elegant! Even though I doubt I would be able to draw with such skill it looks fun to try 🙂
Nina xx
http://www.inspirebeautyblog.blogspot.com
Kelly is so talented! That drawing is just perfect! I’ll keep practicing until i am that good. 🙂 Let’s be patient…
OMG this is awesome!!!
http://imaginarymi.blogspot.com/
That’s a really nice tutorial. I just want to say though, that I don’t think what you added digitally was nescessary, but I’m a fan of the all-by-hand-style anyway, so maybe Im a bit brainwashed from that. Beautiful coloring.
So glad you like it. Almost all of the drawing/painting is done by hand, the main reason Kelly puts it on the computer is to make sure she has a digital copy before she starts watercolouring and also fine tune it prior to printing. xx
such a great illustrator!! Thanks for sharing
This is so amazing! wish I had the dedication to try and develop a talent like this! x
This is amazing!!!! 🙂
I have been a fan of Kelly Smith for a while, and i have always wonder how she done her illustrations. It def made me want to run to get a pencil and paper and start attempting at it.
This is sooo lovely!
I am so impressed with your sketch! You are fantastic, and a wonderful inspiration. Awesome.
Oh, you are so talented! How can you do that!? 🙂
Beautiful! Thank you!
that looks beautiful!!!!!!! i love the incorporation of all three pieces together. thank you for the step-by-step.
Wow. This is absolutely stunning. You are so talented.
xox
[…] Source: a pair & a spare […]
[…] Source: a pair & a spare […]
Beautiful illustration…
http://lttreasure.blogspot.co.uk/
This looks amazing! It reminds me that i should start drawing again
Amazing!
gorgeous! my tattoo actually is really similar to this illustration haha!
Jessica
http://www.jumpintopuddles.com/
Oh, if only “sketching” wasn’t that hard for me 🙁
I came across this post on Bloglovin’; I don’t usually read art-related posts, mainly because of my inability to create such beautiful things haha
This post is so great that it made me kinda sad that I can’t draw like that, but it definitely made me wanna try! So, if I’ll end up doing a work similar to this one, it’s definitely thanks to you, Geneva (and Kelly, of course)! 😉
Have a lovely day,
love,
Jenny ♥
I’m studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins and we have to do fashion illustrations, I must say, this is gorgeous and I love the step by step. May I ask what’s the best way to transfer the 2D drawing to the computer digital version? Scanning or taking a picture and then adjusting it on photoshop? Cause with scanning, light pencil marks tend to disappear, I really hope you’d reply on my blog or email! I just had to follow you on GFC! <3
xx The Provoker
http://www.the-provoker.com/2013/05/handy.html
wow what a helpful tutorial. Thanks! Beautiful beautiful work!
[…] Pair & A Spare shares illustrator Kelly Smith’s process. The final project is to die […]
[…] what a great mother’s day present! kelly smith, an illustrator I have been dying to work with talks about her work process Erin Jang, one of my favourite designers, never fails to impress […]
What a beautiful drawing, she sure has a lot of talent!
[…] from a list of ideas I have to get through, but it was actualised thanks to Birdy & Me I read this post on how she does her illustrations, most of it was somewhat the same as most illustrators except how […]
[…] Kelly makes the sketching process sound so easy, her work is amazing {Image 10} […]
wow! it is amazing!
Oh my god, it is so beautiful! I wish I was that talented. xx
Wow this is so awesome, beautiful illustration. Thank you so much for giving a look into your kitchen, inspires me to start drawing again!
Thanks for the post. Such gorgeous imagery and creative insight. Love IT!
[…] HOW TO: ILLUSTRATE IN TEN STEPS […]
Wow.. am amazed….
Thanks for introducing me to my new obsession, Kelly Smith! 🙂
WOW! I would love to try this. Great job, it looks beautiful!
-The Fashionista Tourist
wow what a beautiful drawing! & very handy tricks!
I love Kelly Smith’s illustrations, I really need to start drawing with some passion again. This is an amazing guide thank you x
Wow this is so amazing love it!
[…] blog- A pair & a spare- that not only provides an array of great DIY tutorials but also “How to illustrate in 10 steps“ by Kelly Smith herself. This is a process I had been trying to figure out and replicate […]
this was brilliant
Think you for the illustrate of the drawing very interested.
YOURE INCREDIBLE. best blog I have ever seen on the entireeeeeeeee internet. and thats coming from a designer! gahhhh i love it xx
wow! this is some amazing work! I really wanna brush up on my art skills now!!
http://annaindeed.blogspot.com
[…] “I’ve always been intrigued (and slightly baffled) by the process by which illustrators create their beautiful imagery, so I’m very happy that one of my all time favourite artists Kelly Smith (aka Birdy & Me) has agreed to shed some light on her process – from the first idea all the way…” […]
really totally gorgeous work, amazing!
Awesome
This is absolutely inspirational and gorgeous! Definitely gonna be a new weekend project for me. Thank you for reviving the creative side in me, Kelly! Xx
i realy appreciate for this awesome post… imressive art.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
WOOHOO! You are such a BadAss! Keep making women proud everywhere 🙂
[…] I’ve always been intrigued (and slightly baffled) by the process by which illustrators create their beautiful imagery, so I’m very happy that one of my all time favourite artists Kelly Smith (aka Birdy & Me) has agreed to shed some light on her process – from the first idea all the way… […]
[…] I’ve always been intrigued (and slightly baffled) by the process by which illustrators create their beautiful imagery, so I’m very happy that one of my all time favourite artists Kelly Smith (aka Birdy & Me) has agreed to shed some light on her process – from the first idea all the way… […]
Wonderful tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing your creative process, it’s very helpful. I’m just a beginner and I can’t wait to try these tips now!
Hi!
I just wanted to say that I really like, no scratch that, i really love your blog and i just checked all of it and I was really inspired and kinda jealous haha! But most of all, I loved your all of your diys. And especially this one! You can do everything! Keep it up!
And oh, I’m Philippines 🙂
Wow this is amazing. How do you know what to search?
My inner artist just got inspired. Thank You!
Wow gorgeous
It’s so wonderful to see the behind the scenes of such a beautiful illustration ♥♥♥
THIS has changed my life in the last year. But I would really like to know more about your simple and beautiful digital make up techniques. Any tips? <3