Creating the Fairy Tale Tarot: From Idea to Publication (pt 2)
Final painting: The Nightingale as 6 of Cups
I’ve been using the same basic illustrative methodology since my late teens. That is not to say that I haven’t deviated from my technical repertoire, but the basic formula from initial sketch to finished painting has pretty much remained the same.
First comes the sketch. As you can see from the photo in part 1, I’ve filled many sketchbooks while brainstorming Fairy Tale. The purpose of these drawings-in-the-raw is to help me connect conscious deliberation with automatic delivery.
The sketches represent unfiltered, intuitive thought processes. Oftentimes, the initial sketch (design-wise) looks very much like the finished product. For me, over-contemplation of a drawing dooms it to failure. If it doesn’t flow, I leave it, only to return when inspiration strikes. Some ideas can be fleshed out with immediacy while others need time to ripen before the creative juices are ready to flow. While teaching, I used to tell my students to doodle a series of thumbnails and follow the designs that felt *right*. If it’s not working, take a break or turn to another task in the interim. It’s amazing how effective this was.
Then comes the refined sketch. At this juncture, I would research and acquire reference material such as pics of period costume, accouterments and photos as needed. Here you can see my husband assuming a pose as the spirit.
FINAL DRAWING & TRANSFER
Final Drawing
I then draw on tracing paper, rub the back with a 6B (softness of lead) pencil and transfer it using a 4H (hardness of lead) pencil to final watercolor paper. I use 140lb hot press Waterford paper that I’ve soaked in a bathtub for 15 minutes before stapling it onto watercolor board. As it dries, it tightens up like a drum, thus preventing the paper from wrinkling while painting. The paper I use is rather pricey, so once a transfer is made there is little room for mistakes. If one is made, I integrate the “mistake” into the piece sometimes with a surprisingly positive effect. The drawing is refined using a mechanical pencil before initial watercolor paint is applied.
FIRST WASHES
my wonderful, magical palette
The initial paint application is done in broad water-saturated washes using a 1/2 inch paintbrush (I’ve been using the same large paintbrush for 25 years–talk about quality materials!). Effects like the ones seen around the figures can be achieved by sprinkling salt directly on the washes (a technique I learned from the legendary illustrator/educator Lauren Mills back in the 80s). I love to see what happens as the salt separates the paint from paper, leaving a lovely texture filled with figments of my imagination ready to be born. This is when I paint additional images spontaneously—as I see them appearing out of the paint (some may see this as a sign of madness, I see it as being pellucid-haha). The figures are painted with deliberate technical facility (as I’m a stickler for anatomical accuracy) while the peripheral material is improvised.
The painting in progress.
As I begin to refine the painting, I will slowly limit the water and create details using a dry brush technique (very little water). Upon completion, I’ll put the painting away for a few hours and come back to it for a final review before taking it off the watercolor board. If my rhythm is good, I can usually finish a painting within a week or less, depending on the complexity of the image. How do I know a painting is finished? I listen to that inner voice that tells me “ahhh, it’s done”. 
~ Lisa
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bird, Cups, death, dream, evil, Fairy Tale, ghost, hope, king, Lisa Hunt, nightingale, oblivious, sleep, spirit, The Fairy Tale Tarot
Thank you for sharing this with me. So very interesting!
I have just put on my bucket list:
Trap Kris, Lisa, Joanna in a room. Give them things to make colorful art with. Sit quietly and absorb the energy.
Just for one day I would love to be a fly on the wall in each of your studios. I’d be uber quiet, promise.
Yes, it is always fun to see other artists’ working methods. Mine is similar, although I’ve switched this year from transferring (via light table) to scanning and printing on watercolor paper. SO much quicker!
And I can’t tell you how many pieces the husband and kids have modeled for.
It’s good to have handy models.
Lisa, it’s fascinating to me to read about your process as an artist. I know nothing about creating something like this, so I feel like I’ve got an “insider’s look.” It’s wonderful!
And I LOVE that your hubby gets to model for you!
Please keep posting about this. I don’t want to miss a thing!
xo
Thanks Kris, Julie and Joanna. Yes, most artists can relate to that “ahh” moment. It supplies momentary euphoria. Julie, the salt effect seems to work best with windsor colors (windsor blue, green etc.). And it seems to depend on the paper’s sizing (texture, processing). I use hot press so that I can paint detailed. I never know what the salt will do, but that’s part of the beauty. I also do selective razor-blading—for a white spot here and there. Though I try to be as purest as possible and plan for white/light areas before I even start painting.
Oh I just realized I copied Kris’ words – unconsciously though! And heartfelt.
Just beautiful, Lisa. I love hearing how other people work. I’ve never been able to make watercolor behave, and I’m envious of how quickly you can finsih a piece. Thanks for this peek into your process.
This is a wonderful post Lisa, I love to see how other artists work. And actually you aren’t a million miles away from how I work either!
With regards to working on a sketch & if it doesn’t flow, putting it away for a while until the muse strikes…I just can’t force a piece through or I end up hating it!
I too love the salt effect but it’s a bit hit & miss for me. Maybe it’s the paper.
What paper do you use btw?
I prefer rough papers to hot press, but I could do with experimenting with different makes. I currently use Bockingford.
xxx
I love the “ahhh, it’s done.” I know that feeling well–and it’s a lovely one! Thanks for giving us a peak inside your process.
Great to see your process here Lis.
I really like this image, and not just because I modeled for it.