Every story has a beating heart, and for mine, that heart usually starts as a few rough sketches on paper. Lately, I've been completely lost in the world of illustrating a new children's story—where everything begins with a few simple lines, colored pencils, and a sketchbook.
Watching a character slowly take shape from vague initial strokes, seeing their innocent eyes open up, and watching their autumn outfit fall into place is the most fascinating part of the world to me. I first mapped out the designs on paper, cleaned up the extra lines, and once the main form emerged, I moved over to the digital realm.
I picked up my iPad and used Procreate to add color, detail, and the final touches to this character. The best part is that every single step from point zero was recorded!
To let you share in this wonderful feeling and the magic of creation, I’ve shared the time-lapse video of this character's design process below. Hit play and watch how this little story doll emerges from a web of freehand lines.
(Since English isn't my native language, I use AI to help translate my posts so I can connect with you all more easily.)