An Insight into my Process

Detail from my hand-painted artwork "Back Home".

The following is an excerpt from my thesis summary complete with my thoughts and sketches leading up to the finished production of my painting "Back Home". I completed this painting in a directed study with Kazu Sano in the Fall of 2009:

"This illustration is based on a view of a stage setting where an artist like Celine Dion may perform. The lyrics inspiring this painting were: “And yet through this darkness, there’s a light that shines through and brings me back home, brings me back home.” Depicted is a grand piano, a microphone, a couple of chandeliers and more.



Research

I looked through various shots of a stage set up for a performer, including personal photographs from past concerts I’ve attended like at The Fillmore in San Francisco that has unique chandeliers in its ballroom.



Thumbnails

At the thumbnail stage for this illustration I developed the idea of coming home to the “light that shines through”. I portrayed the chandelier alone to signify the lights, also a higher view of an empty stage and others.



Photo Shoot

I am fortunate to have access to a stage through my church and photographed almost the whole set-up for this illustration all at once in the right lighting. This included a grand piano, microphones, and strong light sources. I also brought my own props including a scarf, candles and feminine jewelry.


The initial line drawing done in pencil on Strathmore's smooth drawing paper.

Value / Color Comps

I completed the sketch for this illustration based off the photographs I shot myself. I developed the composition more and broke the bottom of the picture frame with an element. Also, to consider even more the atmosphere being a room in a home, or a stage, or a street scene. I was encouraged to go more surrealist and not worry if the perspective doesn’t make sense completely as long as I’m telling the story. I scanned the line drawing into my computer and completed the value and color studies digitally in Photoshop while playing with the placement of the piano within the frame.



Final

I was encouraged to study the description of light by American Illustrator Drew Struzan. As I had a lot of various light sources in this painting I explored also varying the lights’ vibrancy and color and paid attention to the perspective of the piano and the temperature of my whites. Kazu really enjoyed the green scarf."

See the finished painting here.