Layers.
I’ve been flexing my muscles in a new venture in illustration. Layers of cut papers as well as sections enhanced by painting in gouache or adding depth with colored pencil has been fun as well as challenging.
It makes me have to think ahead, which is really good for me in this time where I feel like I’m coming out of the brain fog of the whole COVID situation. We could all do with a bit of focus in moving forward in each new layer of our life.
Depth.
After recently having some of my portfolio pieces reviewed, one comment given was to keep in mind the contrast in the piece which I feel always adds to the depth of the overall scene. I can be timid with my colored pencils on larger pieces. The layered paper pieces help with that situation. I started out using this process intending to have a more childlike and inviting simplicity, but as I move forward with another manuscript and dummy pieces I want to add a little more realism to some of the layers to give them a richer feeling. I hope to entice the reader to look and think a bit deeper than what is presented before their eyes.
Keep in mind as you illustrate and write to encourage your audience to look for the depth in the scene and the story. It’s important not only in literature and art but in how we view life all around us.