Playing with Procreate

When I first began writing Jasper and Wazza, I thought I would illustrate it as well. I got a stylus and tried working in Procreate, but I found it to be much more difficult than I expected.

So then, I tried hand-drawing the illustrations. And yet again, I realized that it's just...really hard. I got frustrated and put the sketches away. Pretty soon, I put the manuscript away too. Life happened: a wedding, a new career, a baby, a pandemic, another baby...and now here we are.

When I revisited my manuscript recently, I realized that there still is something special there. Hence, why I am pursuing publication and representation again. But I also found my old sketches, and honestly, some of them are not as bad as I remembered.

Since technology has come a long way in the past seven years, I ordered a NEW stylus for my iPad (which is a million times easier to use), and I purchased Procreate again. I follow a lot of illustrators and artists on Instagram now, and I've seen some of the tips they share. I decided to just have a go -- for fun -- at tracing my hand-drawn sketches in Procreate. And it's been really fun!

I think I am still going to find an illustrator because my characters are very dynamic, and I want to be able to convey their motion and expressions to the fullest. I've been happy with some of my initial drawings of the pets, but I have to wonder: can I really draw a crouching, angry Jasper? Can I accurately depict Wazza's nervous pacing? I'm not sure. There are also the background / setting images that have to be considered. It all feels a little overwhelming because I just don't have the practice (or skill, frankly) in art that I used to.

All of that to say, I've enjoyed drawing them to get my vision across. It's been really fun...and shouldn't it be? Sometimes, everything feels like such a hustle and grind. It's been nice to feel like I can create and experiment with no pressure. If I decide to illustrate my own book, it won't feel that way, and my perfectionism (and inner-critic) will take over. So for now, I'm just relaxing and enjoying the process of working with a new medium, stretching that part of my brain that doesn't get a lot of exercise anymore.

My hope is that I'll be able to find an illustrator who can capture the essence of my vision, while bringing their expertise and unique flair to it as well.