A lot of you ask me how I work.
I'll try to take you briefly through some of the secrets of my
trade, with an illustration I called "Le Ménestrel" (The minstrel).

    
 
Step 1 : Sketches
    
 
The ideas for my drawings come from everywhere. They can come from my everyday life, from a sight I saw, a photograph I liked on the Net, a friend, someone I meet, or just some daydreaming I fell like putting on paper.

For "Le Ménestrel", I aimed to create a tender, both magical and private universe; some sort of a hijacked medieval tale... I started out with the idea of a cloister, full of life, with green everywhere,
its fountain, and also shades and lights playing here and there.

I always take in consideration the context of my pictures, not just the background. I really wanted people to feel the whistling of the wind in the leaves, the soft rustling of the water flowing into the pond. Thus, I didn't hesitate to blend in numerous details, to make the drawing more lively, not forgetting to center the tableau on our two lovebirds and their little courting session.

    
     
     
     
Step 2: The original drawing
   
The last sketch done, I now have a precise version of what I want the end result to be. That's when I start the creation of the final drawing.
I don't use a tablet and I always work with my own hands on Canson 224g/m² A3 paper, with my pencils, eraser and pens.

Drawing and Laying-out require great focus. The gesture has to be precise yet dynamic, and I willingly confess it is a balance I still have a hard time to find.
 
 
Step 3: Colorization
This is it, the original drawing is done and inked up, at last I can scan it and start the numerical colouring, which I do with Adobe Photoshop.

I already had a clear idea of the colours and the atmosphere I wanted to give this artwork the moment I started the preparatory sketches. There can be a playful side in the colouring, the creation of textures or effects often requires an elaborate strategy as a means to an end. I apply the colours, lightings, shadows and textures, and sculpt the shapes step by step while revelling in the sight of the picture emerging to life under my gaze.
 
 
Step 4: Finalization
The artwork is almost done, I've applied all the colours, textures, shading and I've worked the shapes, the only thing left is what I call the "Finishing Touch". This is when I tune the colours to give the illustration a "mood", a coherent set of colours.

For "le Ménestrel", I wanted yellow tones, maybe even golden nuances, in order to find both the spirits of a summer evening and of an old piece of time-faded parchment.

I hope these short explanations brought you some new clues about the way I work. PLease do not hesitate to ask questions if you feel like it, I'd be glad to answer them.

Sven