Lots of goodness in here but I am most struck by the idea of TWO ipad pencil grips! Is it a game changer?! Can’t believe I never thought to go beyond the one!
Hahaha! Yes, it was a game changer for me. When I was working on my graphic memoir for hours a day, I was really feeling the pressure of the top part of the pencil against the knuckle on my index finger, and the second grip saved me!
This was a fantastic tutorial on procreate! I’ve been using the program for little projects but never see how other artists use it. Thank you for the extra links and especially sharing how you did the tracing for the READ newsletter. Your work is so inspiring!
I’m so glad to hear it! As I said to someone else, I feel like the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled back—I’m just fumbling around! But to me that’s the point: we just need to fumble around and find what works for us.
It’s funny that that line about reading a few pages of 5 books didn’t end up in the final post! But I’m a slow reader and need variety. (When I do it at night, I fall asleep right away!)
I know a lot of people probably don’t need the whole technical breakdown of my process, but enough have asked, so I thought I’d share. :)
Thank you for these insights! I use Procreate too, and also the square panels. What I do is grouping layers, so I have one file for each ten-panel comic that I make (to keep my gallery from cluttering). Each panel has three layers: sketch, ink and color. The final file has 30 layers, collected in 10 folders. I then save every panel individually as JPGs for Substack.
Ooh, thanks, Margreet! I’ll look into how to do that. (Or maybe you can do a post??) The only issue for me might be that each of my panels has at least 10 layers where I’m trying things out and moving things around, etc.
Step 5! 😂 Yep, every single time. Walking as vigorously as I can after every post so I can try to convince myself the racing heart is from exertion not panic. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes! Loved it!
Gah, right?! It's so stressful!!! I couldn't remember this when I made my post, but I just searched back through my Notes, and it was @Nino Van Vuren who called it "the post-publish funk"!
I feel you created this post for me. Thank you very much Kelcey. I have a question. How do you get the the textured look like the green highlights on Panel 4?
This was such a joy to read. I don’t draw, and your shtick is not my shtick…but I was so delighted while I read this. So full of admiration of your skills and ideas and commitment and practice. I just love it, and if I could have clicked the like heart over and over again as a way of showing how cool I found it, how energised I was by reading it, I would have done so. So good!
Oh wow, THANK YOU, Nicolas! I wish I could click the heart button a million times on this comment, and on your wonderful restack/note! I especially appreciate your acknowledgment of different schticks because I’m often most in awe of artists and writers who do something I don’t do/can’t do/would never even attempt to do!
Thanks SO much for sharing your process and the Timelapse videos, Kelsey. It really made me realize how using something like this, particularly your first video where you kept revising your narrative, would be incredibly helpful for showing the writing process to my students. They so often think that composition is a one step process, and since most students aren't drafting/revising/editing with a pencil anymore, it's hard to convey how much back and forth is necessary. Your video really demonstrates that thinking process necessary to compose thoughts into words.
I will also check out your resources for Procreate classes and brushes. I am in need of dire Procreate help right now. Thank you! --Kat
Thanks, Kat! And YES. I think the technical Procreate info is what many are curious about, but I totally agree that the time-lapse really highlights the WRITING process. I didn't realize how many different starts I'd made until rewatching the video! I just knew that I had to get to the first beat--"the deck guy is coming"--in my first panel. There was so much other writing process work across panels too, not to mention the 8 cut panels with additional content. Maybe I'll share this with my students too :)
Congratulations. Please check out "How To Be An Artist." Essays and process about projects and how to maintain a life-long career making art. Your Substack is engaging and so informative.
And congratulations on winning the badge, it’s well deserved.
Yes, and it is well deserved. Brava Kelsey.
Thanks so much, Carol and Neera! ❤️
Lots of goodness in here but I am most struck by the idea of TWO ipad pencil grips! Is it a game changer?! Can’t believe I never thought to go beyond the one!
Hahaha! Yes, it was a game changer for me. When I was working on my graphic memoir for hours a day, I was really feeling the pressure of the top part of the pencil against the knuckle on my index finger, and the second grip saved me!
This was a fantastic tutorial on procreate! I’ve been using the program for little projects but never see how other artists use it. Thank you for the extra links and especially sharing how you did the tracing for the READ newsletter. Your work is so inspiring!
I’m so glad to hear it! As I said to someone else, I feel like the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled back—I’m just fumbling around! But to me that’s the point: we just need to fumble around and find what works for us.
I also read at least a few pages out of generally 5 books each day, although in my case in the evening.
Thanks for all the how to. Though I'll never do it, I bet, I do appreciate watching you doing it.
It’s funny that that line about reading a few pages of 5 books didn’t end up in the final post! But I’m a slow reader and need variety. (When I do it at night, I fall asleep right away!)
I know a lot of people probably don’t need the whole technical breakdown of my process, but enough have asked, so I thought I’d share. :)
Fascinating!
Thank you for these insights! I use Procreate too, and also the square panels. What I do is grouping layers, so I have one file for each ten-panel comic that I make (to keep my gallery from cluttering). Each panel has three layers: sketch, ink and color. The final file has 30 layers, collected in 10 folders. I then save every panel individually as JPGs for Substack.
Ooh, thanks, Margreet! I’ll look into how to do that. (Or maybe you can do a post??) The only issue for me might be that each of my panels has at least 10 layers where I’m trying things out and moving things around, etc.
I can't get enough behind the scenes from other artists. This was great!
Thanks, I love them too! (But it filled me with some anxiety to share my own!)
Step 5! 😂 Yep, every single time. Walking as vigorously as I can after every post so I can try to convince myself the racing heart is from exertion not panic. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes! Loved it!
Gah, right?! It's so stressful!!! I couldn't remember this when I made my post, but I just searched back through my Notes, and it was @Nino Van Vuren who called it "the post-publish funk"!
Congratulations, Kelcey - your posts are really refreshing, beautiful, and exciting! I always look forward to their publication!
Thanks so much, Christine! 🥰
✒️❤️!!
Thanks for showing us your behind the scenes process. It was super helpful!! Now I feel like I can do something like this too.👏🏼❤️😃
So glad to hear it, Karine!
I feel you created this post for me. Thank you very much Kelcey. I have a question. How do you get the the textured look like the green highlights on Panel 4?
You and several others who asked! :) The textured look is built into the watercolor brush I mentioned. Link at the bottom of the post.
Thanks Kelcey.
Thank you for sharing your process, Kelcey. And congratulations on getting the Badge! It's well-deserved.
I look forward to your newsletter every week, especially seeing how time-consuming it must be.
Thank you, Jana! That’s so nice to hear! ❤️
This was such a joy to read. I don’t draw, and your shtick is not my shtick…but I was so delighted while I read this. So full of admiration of your skills and ideas and commitment and practice. I just love it, and if I could have clicked the like heart over and over again as a way of showing how cool I found it, how energised I was by reading it, I would have done so. So good!
Oh wow, THANK YOU, Nicolas! I wish I could click the heart button a million times on this comment, and on your wonderful restack/note! I especially appreciate your acknowledgment of different schticks because I’m often most in awe of artists and writers who do something I don’t do/can’t do/would never even attempt to do!
Thanks SO much for sharing your process and the Timelapse videos, Kelsey. It really made me realize how using something like this, particularly your first video where you kept revising your narrative, would be incredibly helpful for showing the writing process to my students. They so often think that composition is a one step process, and since most students aren't drafting/revising/editing with a pencil anymore, it's hard to convey how much back and forth is necessary. Your video really demonstrates that thinking process necessary to compose thoughts into words.
I will also check out your resources for Procreate classes and brushes. I am in need of dire Procreate help right now. Thank you! --Kat
Thanks, Kat! And YES. I think the technical Procreate info is what many are curious about, but I totally agree that the time-lapse really highlights the WRITING process. I didn't realize how many different starts I'd made until rewatching the video! I just knew that I had to get to the first beat--"the deck guy is coming"--in my first panel. There was so much other writing process work across panels too, not to mention the 8 cut panels with additional content. Maybe I'll share this with my students too :)
I love seeing the process :)
Thanks, Jenna! Glad to hear it!
Congratulations. Please check out "How To Be An Artist." Essays and process about projects and how to maintain a life-long career making art. Your Substack is engaging and so informative.
Thanks so much, and will do!