chicories💙: step by step pictures (explained!) + GIF + color palette🎨 (Patreon)

Hi! It’s time for another step by step post!

This time I took pictures in a little bit more organized way (opposite to the last time when I just took pics every 10-15 minutes)

For the context: I drew these chicories on the left a few months ago and forgot about them.

Let’s finish this sketchbook spread!

First off, the GIF!

Now it's time to show you the 14 steps of the process!

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I added a short description to each step of the process and listed colors I used in each step. Later in this post I share the full list of the colors so all these color codes will make sense, I promise!

Some pictures are a little bit blurry – it was a dark gloomy day. I hope you don’t mind!

1. initial sketch. As always, I use a light colored pencil for this step of the process. In this case it was light blue. I don’t know if you can tell based on this picture, but I planned this spread quite differently than it turned out. Initially I wanted to draw a few chicory stems here and there and add a little frame with a few flowers on the left bottom side!color used: pencil - 146.

2. a sketch! At this point I’ve changed my mind and ditched the frame idea. I felt like this composition isn’t completed yet but wanted to go to the next step anyway!colors used: pencils - 167, 120.

3. I started coloring from the flowers. I was really tempted to draw each flower from start to finish separately but have decided to fully embrace the ugly stage of the process instead. It looks messy! I’m quite pleased with the gradient on the petals in the middle bottom tho!colors used: markers -V518, P27, TB1, B29, B17.

4. base colors for stems and leaves! I still felt like this composition isn’t quite completed and decided not to color each element just yet.colors used: markers - G159, G178, CT1 (forgot to mention this one in the color palette!)

5. couldn’t stop thinking that there’s something missing in this illustration, so I’ve finally added a few elements! I have to admit that I struggled with merging this old drawing with the new sketch! They felt like two completely separate drawings. I hope these flowers make them look more integrated!colors used: pencils - 167, 120, marker - P27.

6.  now when I’m happy with the composition I've added base color to each element.colors used: markers - TB1, P27, G159, G178.

7. shading green, step 1!color used: marker - LG2

8. shading green, step 2!color used: marker - LG4

9. phew! at this stage I added shades to a few flowers, a few touches of pink and started adding some pencil details.colors used: markers - G178, PP2, B29, B138, B17, A8276, A556, G31, pencils - 120, 146

10. here I outlined chicories’ stamens and realized that I have no idea which color I should use to color them, especially for purple flowers. Let’s just ignore it for now!colors used: pencils - 120, 246, 249

11. time to add outlines to petals!colors used: pencils - A409, 249, 120, 246

12. more shading, more details. I realized the color I used to color purple stamens is too dark to the color I used in my previous chicory illustration but it was too late to do anything about it, oh well!colors used: markers - P27, P25, B17, PB23

13. more outlines, shading and details! it’s also time to sketch the stars! Would it even count as the completed illustration if I wouldn’t add a few stars? I don’t think so!colors used: pencils - 249, 120, 146, A503, 246, 188, 129, markers - P25, A556, G31.

14. Voila! Just after taking this picture I realized I forgot to add outlines to stems on the right side! I fixed it later.color used: marker - Y367

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As you can see, my drawing process can be quite chaotic. I change my mind while sketching, add elements to the composition later in the process, accidentally use wrong colors. But oh, how I love it.I hope I’ll get better at explaining and showing my process and maybe taking less blurry pictures, lol.Hope you liked it though!Here’s a full list of colors I used in this illustration:

and a behind the scenes picture of the color palette in the making!! I usually make lists like this after finishing the illustration and keep them in one place so I can use it every time I'd need it!

This post was long, wasn't it?! 

Thanks for being here!

Marta