Category Archives: Acrylic

Phases of this Textbook Cover Illustration

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My Art Process for the Phases of this Cover Illustration

The Sketch

Element hired me to do the cover art for an English language text book.

– the idea is that by learning English you become more free to pursue whatever you want.
– that more doors are open to those who speak and understand English. And probable to those who know how to read and write English as well.
My client wanted me to illustrate some of the buildings in the shape of letters to further the language angle.

SEPARATE BACKGROUND Can be Used Multiple Times

I was asked to paint the background separate from the foreground so they can use it for other covers that we are currently working on.

Adding ELEMENTS

This is a challenge because as I’m painting it’s hard to control values and colors but here they are combined.

Final Cover Art

This is the final illustration, by me, Will Terry, with the cover graphics. Turned out pretty well.

Illustration Shortcut: Acrylic on Inkjet

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“I cut my painting time in half by starting in Photoshop”

Will Terry of Folioacademy used a shortcut to create this illustration for a greeting card for PK Press. He Painted, or blocked in the base in Photoshop, printed it on watercolor paper, then finished it with his famous acrylic, dry-brush technique. He is always looking for ways to maximize his efforts. Deadlines are ever present for the professional illustrator, and when you can figure out a way to speed things up, you’re onto something.

What used to take forever can be done in less than half the time.

It took so much longer with the old dry brush technique, laying in the background and basic shapes, can be done in less than half the time using the right tools. Embrace technology, it’s not going away.

pic of finished piece: Blwfish

“I was able to cut my painting time in half by blocking in the foundation in Photoshop.” ~Will Terry

Photoshoped in some spray paint and printed on Watercolor paper.

He used to start his paintings on paper, transfer it to paper, and paint the whole thing with his paint and brushes.
Awhile ago he took a leap of faith and tried something new. This became the phase where he would start in Photoshop and finish with acrylics. “I scan my sketch and paint flat color on it in Photoshop, Then print it on watercolor paper, add texture gel and paint acrylics on top.” He now paints most everything digitally from start to finish but this was a crucial step in that direction, you may want to try it.

A Will Terry Acrylic Painting Went for $300 at a Little Auction

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FolioAcademy is always proud our own Will Terry who is one of our accomplished artists.

He is always painting his guts out. Sometimes for fun, sometimes for mun, and sometimes for a worthy cause.  This is a little painting that he did awhile back for a fund raiser for Reagan Academy School in Springville Utah. Stephen Pratt, the school art teacher suggested He call it “Neighbor’s Cat”, and that’s how he came up with such a clever name for this whimsical piece. It auctioned for $300. It was a lot of fun to meet some of the other artists and catch up with friends in the local art community.

Stylized painting of a toothy dog with a small cat in it's jaws

Just think, this piece is probably hanging handsomely in someones house. Hopefully not the nursery. Why don’t more people have some original art work in their homes? That could be a whole blog topic some day?

 

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