Preparing for the final illustrations

By the Illustrator, Lisa Mertins


I’ve been drawing like mad for the past month and I’ve had to put everything else on hold the last few weeks. However, I can show how I create texture in the final art before I begin the drawing process while I wait for the shower to heat up (kidding!).

I begin with a thick drawing paper. My preference is Strathmore 500 but when I can’t find that, it’s the 400 series. I tape off the drawing size so the edges will remain clean then paint the entire surface with red acrylic paint:

When that is dry, I coat the surface with gesso, a medium that I can draw on with a pencil:

Working quickly, before the gesso dries, I put paper on top (I like unprinted newspaper that’s used for student drawing or scrap bond paper I collect) to create texture:

A majority of the gesso is removed when I pull off the paper (I smooth the paper then remove it immediately) but once the surface is dry, I can draw and be able to see the lines for the next step. I’ll show that next week!