I illustrated the illustrations on my iPad, using an amazing program called “ProCreate.”
In recent years, illustration on the iPad Pro using the Apple Pencil has become a serious competitor to good old Photoshop. Working on the iPad is much more convenient and faster, and the software is super professional and allows you to work just like in Photoshop (and even better).
I started drawing with a pencil sketch, it takes a long time to get exactly the look I want.
The process includes a lot of erasing, enlarging, shrinking, and lots of attempts to achieve a proportional and expressive figure.
Once the figure looked good, I created a second layer on top of it, and went over the rough sketch lines with a fine ink pen. I also did this step twice, so that it came out perfect.
Then, I placed a background-like image on the canvas that I photographed on the day of the shoot, so that I could match the colors to the background itself, and so that there would be no situation where the figure was swallowed up in the dark background.
The process of coloring the character is my favorite step.
By using many layers, I can create colorful depth and a sense of light and shadow.
I decide which direction the light source is coming from, and that’s how I illuminate the figure. With each layer added to the piece, the figure will feel more and more complete and finished. I could really go on drawing forever, but there comes a point where I have to force myself to stop and move on to the next figure.
After my character is illustrated, painted, and ready, it’s time for the shoot! This time, unlike most studio shoot days, we won’t be shooting stop-motion animation, but a time-lapse video. This cool time-lapse effect is created by taking one picture every half a second throughout the entire process of creating the final frame. In the end, we’re left with a lot of frames that together create a fast-paced, cool video that shows the work process in fast motion.
Just like in the video we shot for Fitness, in the production of YOLO I worked closely with the extremely talented stylist Talia Hadar-Eshet Style.
In order to create a perfect composition with the illustrations, I imported them into the stop motion software.
This way we can see the illustration along with the frame we are designing live!
We built the entire composition (which was, of course, meticulously planned in advance) on top of the illustration itself. Together we designed the frames, illustrated stars and clouds, and placed (or rather Talia placed with tweezers) coffee bean after coffee bean so that they would sit firmly in place.
Talia’s impeccable work and precision transformed the rough sketches into meticulous and beautiful frames. Throughout the day, I also shot videos that would serve as behind-the-scenes stories for the coveted brand. (Which were, of course, also planned in advance.)
And that’s it! After the photos were taken, I pasted the illustrated character onto the photographed frame in Photoshop, added some glitter and sparkle, and the frames were ready!
I hope you enjoyed reading about the process, we had a lot of fun working on the project.
(Especially after I had a whole cheesecake left in the studio, and a whole bunch of YOLO cups! Yaaaay!)
Want to see how it turned out? Click here to watch the videos
