I’ll draw on top of my rough draft and create my base painting in black and white.

 

[1] Changing the canvas size

I enlarge the size of the rough draft to the size of the final canvas, and then I’ll start drawing on top.

From the [Edit] menu, I select [Change Image Resolution] and change the canvas as shown in the image below.

I changed it an A4 canvas at 350 dpi.

 

[2] Splitting the draft into parts

There are times when you can work on the entire canvas at the same time, but this time it was a bit hard to distinguish between the characters and other objects, so I decide to draw the background and the characters separately.

 

First of all, I cut out the characters in the foreground.

 

I use the [Tool] palette > [Selection] tool > [Polyline] sub tool to make the selection.

 

I use the [Polyline] tool to draw a rough outline around the characters, then copy and paste the selection to a new layer.

Note: When you copy and paste, the selected area will automatically be pasted into a new layer above the selected layer.

 

I use the same process to cut out the table.

In this case, I divided the draft into three layers: the characters, the table, and the background.。

 

[3] Making the base painting

After I’ve divided the parts, I start drawing the background in black and white.

 

I didn’t have a clear idea of the perspective when I made the draft, so I use a perspective ruler for the clean version.

The composition is from a slightly high angle, but I’ll start by making a one-point perspective ruler with the vanishing point at the top of the canvas.

Note: For details on how to use perspective rulers, please click here.

 

(1) I create a one-point perspective ruler from the [Layer] menu > [Ruler - Frame] > [Create Perspective Ruler], then, in the [Create Perspective Ruler] dialog box, select [1 point perspective] and click OK.

 

(2) Using the [Object] tool, I move the vanishing point, then add another vanishing point.

I select the [Ruler] tool > [Perspective ruler], and uncheck the option [Change perspective drawing method] in the [Tool Property] palette.

While clicking on the canvas, I create two perspective lines extending downward and set a vanishing point.

 

(3) Then, I drag this vanishing point further down to the right place, lining up the perspective lines with an easy reference such as the table legs of the sketch.

 

(4) Once I’ve set up my perspective ruler, I paint the background according to the perspective.

 

On a separate layer, I draw straight lines for the table tops and floors tiles aligning with the perspective.

I don’t draw directly on the perspective ruler layer but always draw on a separate layer.

 

It’s a good idea to lock the layer so you don’t accidentally draw on it.

I hide the perspective ruler layer while I draw the curved parts that do not follow the perspective lines.

 

(5) Once I’ve adjusted the background perspective and drawn in the details to some extent, I move on to the table.

I adjust the straight lines using the perspective ruler I made earlier, and then paint the fast food on top of the trays.

 

(6) Lastly, I paint the characters.

 

Since the composition is focused on the characters in the foreground, I paint this area more clearly than the background. For more distant elements, I make the lines blurry so that the edges do not stand out.

I also blur the window frame in the extreme foreground.

 

To make it easier to understand the personalities of the two characters I made in the rough draft, I added small actions such the hand on the shoulder.

 

I think that the character’s individuality can be depicted through their expressions, the way they wear their clothes, the position of the legs, and the movement of the hands and fingers. I draw in a way that creates a story, imagining what the situation is and what they are talking about while paying attention to small details.

I can add extra details at the coloring stage, so I finish it as much as I can for now.

I’ll use the perspective ruler until I finish the piece, so for the moment I just hide the layer without deleting it.

 

(7) Finally, I flatten all the layers into one.

Note: To flatten all the layers, I right-click the layer and choose [Merge layers] from the menu.

 

In the next part, I’ll color the illustration.