Illustration is more than putting pen to paper or stylus to screen – it’s a creative journey. Each finished piece represents a series of decisions, revisions, and refinements that shape raw ideas into impactful visuals. Whether for children’s books, editorial spreads, or brand campaigns, the illustration process involves structured stages that balance creativity, technique, and problem-solving. Whether you’re a student, a professional illustrator, or simply curious about how visual stories come to life, understanding this process can help refine both creativity and craft.
Stage 1 – Brainstorming and Ideation
Every creative project starts here – brainstorming. Each artist has a different method that they find best for their ideation process, some need complete silence, and others need to talk their ideas through with other creative minds. No matter the method, every great project begins with a small, simple idea.
Gathering Inspiration and References
Every project begins from the seed of an idea. Artists gather visual references and inspiration from a multitude of sources – books, photographs, films, nature, or their own environment. Inspiration boards, whether physical collages or digital mood boards on tools like Pinterest or Milanote, help consolidate and grow these seeds of creativity. Studying other illustrators’ work can also help generate ideas, and it is up to each artist what inspirational approach works best for them.
Identifying the Purpose and Audience
Every illustration serves a purpose: to entertain, inform, persuade, or inspire. Identifying the target audience shapes design choices. An image for a children’s book may call for playful characters and bright palettes, while an editorial piece for a business magazine might require minimalism and sharp contrasts. Clarifying intent early ensures that the final product communicates your intended message effectively.
Exploring Different Styles and Concepts
The concept of each project is the perfect place to experiment with your personal style, but it is imperative to keep the context of the work in mind. If the project is a part of a series, does the art style match the previous editions? Does your art style add to or take away from the project’s message? Do you think the art style will be received well by its intended audience?
Within this stage, it’s helpful for artists to experiment with new illustration styles with which they may be more unfamiliar. Which concept art techniques would work best, sketching, iteration, or digital painting? Should the concept art process lean toward realism, surrealism, or abstraction? It is a productive use of this stage to discover which art style works best for the artist, but will also best represent the project’s goals.
Stage 2 – Sketching and Rough Drafts
After initial exploration, artists can begin to create their rough drafts and sketch more detailed drawings of their ideas. The minor details don’t need to be completely laid out by this point, but having a bigger picture idea of what you’d like to move forward with is what will launch you into the next stage of your project.
Translating Ideas into Initial Sketches
Sketching begins to translate abstract ideas into visible form. Quick, loose drawings capture potential conceptions without requiring too much detail. These rough drafts act as a visual illustration brainstorm, flexible enough to evolve while laying a foundation for further exploration. Check out this online guide to help with initial sketches during early brainstorming.
Refining Key Visual Elements
Composition is the backbone of effective illustration. Key components, such as backgrounds and major characters, are important for initial sketching. The goal of sketching rough drafts should be to create a rough blueprint from which you can move forward with the rest of your project, and it should assist in helping you to further experiment with what components might work best for your project.
Stage 3 – Developing the Color Palette and Mood
The colors within your composition are going to affect much more than just the cosmetics of your work. It’s best to choose your color scheme wisely, as it can affect your viewers on a subconscious level that they might not even be aware of.
Choosing Colors That Match the Theme
Color can define mood, symbolism, and theme. The psychology behind color is important to consider because whether you intend it or not your color palette will be impacting your viewers and their emotions. But once aware of this effect, it’s wise for an illustrator to use it to their advantage.
A palette for a children’s book might use bright pink and yellow to accentuate its story, while a mental health awareness graphic should aim more towards mutes blues and grays. Tools like Adobe Color and Coolors help artists test harmonious combinations before committing.
Using Color to Guide Viewer Attention
Beyond mood, color also directs focus. Additionally, keeping white space in mind is equally important in considering atmosphere and depth. Intentional color, and lack thereof, can draw the audiences eyes and shape a particular scene. Bright hues can highlight central figures, while muted backgrounds push less important elements aside. This deliberate use of color hierarchy ensures that viewers understand what to notice first. Be sure to keep in mind your project’s theme and message and how color psychology might affect your audience before diving into your illustration’s color palette.
Stage 4 – Detailed Rendering and Line Work
The line work and minor details of an illustration might seem like the smaller, less important parts, but it’s the small things that make a big difference after all. It’s up to every artist’s individual style for how they would like to use their line work and rendering, and how they will let it affect their work.
Building Depth and Dimension
It takes time, dedication, and patience for an illustration to come together. As with any other skill, continuously practicing line work is the best way to improve upon it. Experimenting with different writing utensils, patterns, and pressures is the best way to discover what works best for you and your project. A little goes a long way in moving from flat images to fully realized artwork through layering, shading, and perspective.
Adding Textures and Fine Details
Effective illustrations use both what is drawn (positive space) and what is left blank (negative space). Strategic use of negative space prevents clutter and overstimulation, emphasizing focal points and even adding symbolic meaning. Establishing your light source is a crucial step in rending your illustrations, accurately placing shadows and highlights to truly bring your work to life.
Stage 5 – Feedback and Revisions
One of the most important stages of every artist’s work is revision and critiques. Every artist must endure critiques, but learning the most effective ways in which to absorb, process, and implement constructive criticism is a skill that even the most experienced artist struggles with.
Seeking Constructive Criticism from Peers or Clients
Feedback is critical to every illustration project, and inevitable. Whether from fellow artists, mentors, or clients, external perspectives can catch issues the illustrator may overlook. Environments, characters, or themes may not resonate with the audience the way that the illustrator intended, and might even give the wrong impression. Or the illustrator could be pleasantly surprised to hear that their color choices convey the message they had intended.
It’s helpful for both the artist and the critic to approach the subject with pre-prepared questions and topics in order to hone in on areas in which you might be seeking more feedback. How does this piece make you feel? Does this piece feel finished to you? What do you think about the subject matter? If the illustrator is able to hone in on areas where they might feel more insecure about their work, it might allow for the feedback to feel more manageable and to their advantage.
Constructive criticism highlights both strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring that the final product stays true to the artist’s intentions.
Revisiting Problem Areas and Adjustments
Based on feedback, just a few subtle changes might go a long way. In some cases, suggested revisions might require more major overhauls. At the end of the day, it’s up to each artist how they’d like to balance external input with their original artistic style and intent. While adapting to feedback is necessary, staying true to the concept prevents the illustration from losing its authenticity or impact.
Stage 6 – Finalization and Delivery
Ensuring High Resolution and Proper Formats
It is best practice to typically export files as JPEGs, PNGs, or PDFs as these are the most common file types, however the client’s preference should always come first. If it is not clearly expressed by the client it is best to ask before exporting or submitting.
When considering image resolution, you should consider what will be the final use of your work. For printed works aim for 300 DPI or higher to ensure a sharp and clear image. For web display 72 PPI is standard, and is generally sufficient for most images. Once again, consulting the client for their requirements is usually best practice.
Protecting and Presenting Your Work Professionally
Illustrators often watermark previews or use password-protected links for sharing drafts. Portfolios should present finished work cleanly, with contextual information that highlights the project’s purpose and digital illustration process.
Ensuring a clear and consistent file naming system across all projects will best serve your personal organization as well as your client’s. Common file naming conventions will include detailed project information so as to remain as clear as possible (e.g. Project Title_Project Completion Date_Client Name__Artist Name_File Number). The sooner you are able to implement this process within your own work the easier it will be to keep your files clear and organized.
Tips for a Smooth Illustration Workflow
Finding the most effective personal workflow takes time, and plenty of trial and error. This can include a number of factors from environment to equipment, but for artistic practice it’s wise to start with consistency and accountability.
Time Management and Setting Milestones
Every artist’s goals and schedules are going to look very different, especially from project to project. Breaking projects into stages with smaller deadlines prevents being overwhelmed by the impossible task of one large, final deadline. Time tracking apps or project management tools help artists allocate hours effectively across illustration brainstorming, sketching, rendering, and revisions. Digital tools like Procreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator can help to streamline workflows with layers, brushes, colors, and scaling.
Bringing Ideas to Life
The illustration process is both structured and fluid. Each stage, from ideation to final drafts, provides opportunities for experimentation, refinement, and storytelling. By seeking inspiration, exploring new techniques, and embracing feedback artists can elevate their craft and produce work that is both impactful and authentic.
Ultimately, illustration is about more than images – it’s about connection. Whether for a children’s book, a magazine article, or an advertisement, illustrations shape how people see and understand the world. With a clear process and dedication to craft, illustrators can bring ideas to life in ways that resonate far beyond the page or screen.
Looking to Enhance Your Illustration Projects?
Both RMCAD’s on-campus Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration degree and online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration degree focus on creating depth in art, providing students with an opportunity to develop advanced digital illustration skills as well as explore traditional illustration techniques. The skills-based curriculum for the illustration degree program enables students to become proficient in the leading illustration techniques while learning to create visual impact in art. Request more information or apply to our program today!
