From Reference to Little Home Illustration: My Process & Thoughts 💭🥰 (Patreon)

Hi everyone 🤗

For this month’s theme, I wanted to take you a bit deeper into my process. Not just how I draw it, but how I approach an illustration from start to finish. In this blogpost, I’ll share my thoughts and process, from finding a reference to turning it into a little home illustration 🌿🌸

Finding the right reference

When I start a new illustration, I always begin with searching for the right reference image. Mostly I search on Pinterest, because I can always find the most amazing cute images there. I don't look for a perfect reference, but one that inspires me.

Because my style is colorful and happy, but also calm, I try to search for references with not too many details. If I do have a reference with lots of details, I choose which details I want to include and which ones I don't. I try not to copy the reference exactly. Instead, I use it as a starting point and adapt it to my own style.

The things I always look for in a home reference are:

Greenery

Pots & plants

Homes that are cute, clean and simple (mostly white ones 😉)

Some flowers 🌸

Breaking it down into simple shapes

Before thinking about details, I simplify everything into basic shapes. This makes it much easier to understand the structure of the house and keeps the drawing from feeling overwhelming.

I usually start with:

Rectangles for the base

Triangles for the roof

Simple blocks for additional parts

Little square blobs for the windows

This step is really important because it creates a strong foundation for the rest of the illustration.

Focusing on details

Once I have the base, I start looking at the details that make the illustration look cute. Things like plants, flowers, and little details on the house help give a house its character.

Instead of adding everything at once, sometimes it helps to study these details separately first. This helps understand them better and makes it easier to include them in the final illustration. You can experiment how to approach certain details!

I also like to keep things a bit loose and imperfect. It makes the drawing feel more natural and lively.

Building the full illustration

After practicing the details, I bring everything together into a full scene. I start with the basic structure of the house again and then slowly add the details I practiced before. By building up the illustration step by step, it feels much more manageable and less overwhelming. 🤗

Final thoughts

For me, the most important thing is taking the time to observe, simplify, and build up your illustration step by step 😊.

I hope this gives you a bit more insight into how I approach my drawings and helps you feel more confident when creating your own little homes!

Let me know if you try this approach and I love to see what you all create this month! 🥰

Celyn 🌸