sheya

Behind the scenes + process: Yesterday Once More - Pinwheel

Added 2022-09-01 07:00:07 +0000 UTC

This post introduces the cover art for my series Yesterday Once More.

1. Source of inspiration

As this piece is the cover for the whole series, the main focus had to be something that can convey the comfort and nostalgia of one’s childhood—which is why I chose pinwheels. I did lots of research on pinwheels; this one is a traditional Beijing pinwheel and you can also see it in China’s other areas.

2. Draft

According to the reference pictures, I drew a rough draft: a close-up shot of a little girl holding a multi-wheeled pinwheel with her big eyes gazing ahead, as if she recalled something with the pinwheel.

I bought a Beijing pinwheel at the beginning of the research stage, so I shot some photos to refer to.

3. Color reference

At first, I wanted the cover to have a colorful and warm feel, so I prioritized my search for warm toned works.

4. Color Drafting

Colorblock in the base layers underneath the sketch. Recursively in the order of face, hair, pinwheel, and eyes. Each object has its own layer.

5. Refine the character and pinwheel

After the layout was determined, the layers were gradually merged, leaving only the pinwheel and the character as the remaining two layers.

The subsequent refinements were basically adjusting the character's face and the tone of the image. I think I'm better at illustrating in a cartoony style, but this series required a more realistic style, so I tried many times to adjust the style of the girl's face.

Finally, a partially realistic human face gradually came out!

The existing pinwheel pole divided the face perfectly and made it look stiff, so I broke off the middle of the pole in a later refinement. The girl's face looks more airy and the gaze looks more like it is looking through the gap of the windmill into the distance.

6. Add background color and flowers

Add a blue background and organic flowers to break up the current overly square and geometric shape of the image.

Add the flowers and the projected shadows of the pinwheel and by the flowers.

7. Final adjustment and completion

Darken the blue color of the background to enhance the contrast of the characters.

Add Gaussian blur to the pinwheel and flowers around the girl to give the image a stronger sense of space and reality.

This illustration is successfully completed!

One thing I regret is that the view is too close and there is no room to draw the girl‘s hand! If the lens is properly pulled away, I guess the effect will be better.

There is really no time for major changes since it’s a rushed print… but am happy to see that the final printed cover turned out pretty good! :D