The Making of This Sketch. Vol. 2 [Pen & Colored Pencils (Art Multi 8)]

Hello! I'm Kee.

This time, I'd like to share more details about the production process for one of the pieces I introduced in the summary article of the live drawing event I posted the other day.

With the theme of "Morning Cafe Time", this piece is inspired by a cafe sketch featuring a cafe latte and cookies.

You can find the live drawing event report article here!

I have also uploaded an event report video on YouTube.

I think the video conveys the atmosphere of the event better, so if you are interested, please check it out as well~💛

I share my sketches on YouTube! If you are interested, I would be happy if you could support me by subscribing to the channel!

Thinking about the sketch motif

First, I'd like to talk about the motif of the sketch.

The overall theme of this live drawing event was "Daily Life in a Certain Town", and the theme for the first day was "Walking Through This Town."

While each piece in this sketch series has its own theme, I wanted to draw something that connects them... something that makes you feel a story.

By the way, for the first piece last time, I drew a motif of "An old European-style cafe in the morning" with a dog.

The summary article for the first piece is here👇

If you have time, I would be happy if you could take a look at them in order starting from the first one.

Since I was conscious of a morning cafe for the first piece of the first day, I thought it would be nice to have a cafe time vibe as a sort of breakfast at that cafe,

so I decided to focus on food, inspired by a cafe sketch.

I thought about making it a more breakfast-like menu, but since I'm at a cafe, I want to eat something sweet...
so I reflected my own feelings in deciding the motif.

Following the first piece last time, for this second piece as well, I had AI (ChatGPT) create reference images for the sketch.

Behind-the-scenes story of sketch motif image generation

To be honest, when I had ChatGPT generate the first image, it didn't turn out anything like what I had in mind, so I really struggled with it (lol).

So, I assumed the second one would be the same.

When I was having the reference image for this second sketch created, there were actually two patterns for the exterior of the cafe from the first image.
Since there were two patterns, I decided to have ChatGPT create two patterns of food/cafe images for the second one as well.

After actually having the two patterns created and doing some practice sketches,
the result! The image I decided on for this second sketch reference was actually the very first one it generated (lol).

I couldn't quite get the image that connected to the other candidate for the first cafe to look the way I wanted, but since I had put in the effort to create it,
I was planning to go with the one I had struggled to make.

However, after doing practice sketches of both the cafe exterior and the food for both patterns, I ended up deciding that the first one I made was better.
So, the behind-the-scenes story here is that the exterior of the first cafe was naturally decided to match the second one.

By the way, here is the content of what I first requested in my interaction with ChatGPT👇

This is the other candidate, but it just didn't feel quite right☺︎

The reason it didn't feel right was that when I actually tried sketching it, it just didn't feel right (lol).

I posted this on Instagram as a memento.

Even for works where I failed or that didn't feel quite right, I think they are cute works in the end, and
I believe that because I went through that process, I was able to draw something I was satisfied with.

So, I'm thinking of sharing these kinds of works on Instagram, so if you're interested, please follow me on Instagram too♪

Here is the photo I ultimately used as a reference for the sketch.

I would be happy if it somehow conveys the feeling of, 'Oh, I'm inside the cafe from before!'

For those who, like me, aren't good at drawing with a story in mind, I think it's a good idea to create a connection between the first and second images instead of trying to force it all into one picture.

This time I drew them one by one, but I also recommend trying to sketch with a composition that fits both the cafe exterior and the food you ate into a single picture (just drawing both).
I think that alone can express a story!

Rough

I drew a rough sketch before doing the pen line art.

For those of you who have been following my past notes, you might already know this, but
I have drawn a lot of food sketches until now...
Because of that, I thought for a second that since the second piece is food, maybe I don't need to draw a rough sketch, but since it's an event and I didn't want to mess it up, I drew one anyway (long story).

Besides the food, there were other elements like a blackboard and windows in the background, so I thought it would be hard to balance, and as a result, I'm glad I drew a rough sketch this time. (I feel like I say this for every sketch)

Pen Line Art

I started by drawing the main food portion first, and then expanded to the background.

In the case of food sketches like this one, the food is the main subject, so I recommend starting with the part you consider the main focus.

Also, my special touch this time was daring to draw with a blue pen (lol).

The image of pen line art is usually black, but I thought that drawing it in blue had a sense of surprise,
and I felt that it led to a stylish look.

Also, since the colors of the plates and cups were in the blue family this time, I thought it would blend in well, which was another reason I chose a blue pen.

I realized the benefits of colored pen line art through this experience, so I'd like to do it regularly from now on.

Coloring

Just like with the pen line art, I colored the main food first this time.
Doing so helps me stay conscious of the fact that I am drawing a food sketch.

Since the food colors were in the brown family, after coloring things like cookies and coffee, I went on to color the brown parts like the table, and colored the plates toward the end.

The plate is part of the main food subject, but I ended up coloring it after the background,
but I think that's fine too.

Conversely, because I colored the table first, it might have been easier to imagine how intense the blue of the plate should be.

Oh! By the way, this might be the first time I'm revealing this on Note...!
This piece was created using colored pencils!

These colored pencils are a super convenient art tool called "Art Multi 8," which combines eight colors into one.

Even when I wanted to sketch at a cafe or somewhere while out,
I never had the courage to spread out my watercolors, so I always did the coloring at home (lol).
However, with this Art Multi 8, I can just toss this one pen into my bag and have everything I need to color.
So, the fact that I can color so easily while out and about is a huge selling point for me!

I thought it was wonderful how it felt like it was giving me a little push to go ahead and draw.

Because of that, the Art Multi 8 has become an essential item for me whenever I go out♪

Just like with the cafe in the first picture, I tried drawing the blackboard text with correction fluid.
You can use correction fluid right over colored pencils!

This part is the "connection" to the first picture.

This time, I also realized the benefits of colored pencils.
I'm happy that my range of work has expanded. I want to keep drawing colored pencil sketches with the Art Multi 8 from now on too✏️💛

Summary of Art Supplies Used

I used an AMAIN mechanical pencil for the rough sketch.

For the pen line art, I used a blue Tradio Stylo.

I used the Art Multi 8 for coloring.

The correction fluid is a slim type.

By the way, for the paper, I used Maruman's VifArt watercolor paper, cold press.

Thoughts on drawing this during a live drawing session

Looking back, I think the part I struggled with the most was deciding on the motif and thinking about the "connection from day one."

Maybe it's because it was a sketch right after the very first one...? That's what I think.

Also, perhaps because I usually color with watercolors, it was genuinely fun to create a piece using other art supplies for a change.
I'm glad I could make my colored pencil debut here.

Originally, I mainly drew digital illustrations using an Apple Pencil on my iPad.
Then I moved on to fine liners and transparent watercolors, and at that time, I decided that my analog drawing style was "pen line art x watercolor paints."
So, to be honest, I thought I was done with other art supplies.

However, by using colored pencils this time, I was able to realize that it's fun to draw using all sorts of different materials.
I'm telling you this just between us, but it also helped me understand myself better—maybe I'm just the type of person who gets bored easily and wants to use a variety of art supplies...? (lol)

And I was able to re-realize that Pentel's products truly support the "desire to draw" of so many different people.

The Art Multi 8 makes it easy to challenge yourself to draw.

So, for those who have the "desire to draw" but have given up on drawing, thinking, "I want to try drawing too, but I don't know what to draw, and maybe I just can't draw," I hope my posts can be the spark that pushes you to pursue that "desire to draw"!

By the way, I practiced this time as well.
Looking back, I was surprised to find I had practiced about 3 or 4 times (lol).
Here is one of those sheets👇

Once more! The sketch I drew at the live drawing event this time👇

In closing.

Following the last one, I'm glad I was able to look back on the sketch I drew at the live drawing event this time as well.

Titled "The Making of This Sketch," I introduced points on choosing motifs and shared some behind-the-scenes stories.

I hope that by learning about the background and story of the work through the sketch's creation process, it leads to a deeper appreciation of the piece...!

I have also posted the illustration making-of video I introduced this time on YouTube.
It's a video with a lot of casual chatter, but I think you can see "the making of this sketch" in a way that only video can show!
If you're interested, please take a look♪ I would be super happy if you did!

In addition to the sketch introduced this time, I plan to write summary note articles like this one for the other sketches I drew at the live drawing event.

It might be a slow pace,
but if you're interested, I'd be happy if you followed my note and waited for the next one.

Well then, I'll write & draw again soon!

See you later👋