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Workflow

A thorough project consultation and good agreements are the basis for a pleasant & productive cooperation,
and making a great illustration is the result of collaborative problem solving. 
In most cases the following procedure is applicable:

a.

Acquaintance &
consultation

In a personal meeting or by online consultation we will review your project in order to determine how I can help you. Free of obligations, we'll discuss the time frame, budget, project requirements, etc... Together we'll examen which solution is best suited in accordance to your wishes, taking in account the main purpose and the target audience. 

Sharing your knowledge and expertise with me is vital and any research & reference material that can help in developing the art is welcome and will be treated in confidence and with respect :

• Your research paper (if applicable) and any relevant publications.

• Examples of illustrations/photos that visualizes your subject.

• Any text or points of attention that are required in the illustration.

• ...

Afterwards you will receive a clear quotation and after approval I can start with a sketch design and proposal.

b.

the Sketching phase:
Design & conception

The sketch phase is where the first lines of the design are set in search for the optimal visualization. There is opportunity for steering & guiding this progress through mutual consultations, as things can easily be adjusted and realigned in this phase. Therefore, depending on the subject, two or three rounds of sketch reviews are included.

Hence, before starting with the final elaboration, a last check for correctness and approval will be asked before proceeding.

c.

final elaboration
& delivery

After approval, the final sketch is then carried out in the agreed traditional or digital media to achieve the targeted illustration. Once approved, the finished illustration will be delivered in the kind of media or file type you require or prefer.

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Rendering techniques

Many different rendering techniques are possible, in different combinations and in a more loose or more detailed elaboration.

In accordance to tradition, some rendering techniques are exclusively used for depicting specific subjects within a given scientific discipline, like the scientific botanical illustrations in pen and ink ; but all techniques and their combinations are widely applicable, exceeding disciplines.

BLACK AND WHITE
(LINE) DRAWINGS

(Photo)realistic or schematic line drawings in pen and ink or vector graphics. Ideal for botanical and archeological subjects, but overall very broadly applicable.

Moreover, if the possibility exists to use colour, certain parts & details of the illustration can be emphasized, creating a clear and modern image.

TONAL DRAWINGS

Gray shading can be used to indicate plasticity and depth in an illustration while maintaining structural integrity. It is a powerful and effective technique when the character and appearance of the subject are important.

COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS

A contemporary illustration made following fine art academic principles, elaborated in a traditional medium and/or digitally rendered. Scientific or medical conventional colour codes are, where applicable, always respected.

The exact choice of medium depends on the intended result & purpose of the illustration, but a high quality and aesthetic illustration with a modern, contemporary feel is always pursued.