My Drawing Process (Kiko Yamada)
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| Author | Kiko Yamada |
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| Genre | |
| Published | EF Issue 2018.2 |
Publication date | Spring 2018 |
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| Pages | 9-12 |
| Website |
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Contents
Article Transcript
My name is Kiko Yamada. I am a caricature artist and aspiring children’s book illustrator. I was first influenced to become an artist by my parents, who were both illustrators. After graduating high school, I majored in illustration for two years at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, and then transferred to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where I also majored in illustration.
In between the summer from Ringling College to Art Center, I took my first caricature job at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado. I really enjoyed my summer doing it but did not go back to caricatures again until 4 years later, at Universal Studios Hollywood.
I usually look for inspiration on Instagram, but nothing is as inspiring as watching fellow artists draw live. I have been working digitally for 3 years. I got into it when I moved to San Francisco, where Salah Khudari introduced me to the world of digital caricatures. I use the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and draw in Procreate for digital gigs. To print my drawings I use a Canon Pixma ip110, and I display my drawings on a Samsung TV screen for the crowds to watch and be entertained. I am always working to improve my skill sets as an artist.
Step 1: Drawing the face
When drawing digital caricatures, I start with 2 layers to draw on. The top layer is for the line drawing and the bottom layer is for the coloring. To do my line drawing I use the ink bleed pen, but I have played around with the settings to make the edges smooth and I like the sensitivity of it. There are other pens which work well, but I like the little bit of texture this ink pen has and the sensitivity of it. I leave the pen size the same for the whole line drawing and vary the width with pressure. I have been experimenting with no presketch, and when I do that, I start with the face shape. When I use a presketch, I usually start with the features and work my way out.
Step 2: Adding color
For the coloring stage, I move to the second layer that is under the line drawing. I color the way I do for speed. I leave my coloring semi basic because it looks clean and is still fast. The coloring takes me about 2 minutes.
- I start by coloring the hair with a gouache brush that I have altered to make it solid and have a hard edge. I like the sensitivity of this brush and it is easy for me to control. I choose the color for the hair and outline the shape of the hair and connect it to make it one solid shape.
- To fill in the hair, I grab the color circle swatch in the top right corner, and drag it into the middle of the enclosed shape I drew and release. That fills it in similar to a paint bucket tool.
- I wanted to capture the salt and pepper in his hair so I added light gray. To color on just the hair shape, I double tap the layer that the hair is on and it brings up options to the left of the layer. I click on “select.” This makes it so you can only draw on what is on that layer. I throw a few highlights in if I feel it is necessary.
- Now it is time to add color for the face. For my skin color, I usually use a preset color from my color pallet I have made, or I alter the color a little bit using the color wheel.
- I’m going to color in the face by using the lasso selection tool and outlining the face.
- Then I choose a very large, soft airbrush. You can use any large brush you want.
- Then I use that brush to paint over the selection.
- For the last step, I use the gouache brush to add color details such as eye color, lips, clothes, maybe some shadows and whites for the eyes and teeth.
Step 3: The final image
- Once my image is complete, I save it as a JPG to my iPad photos first, and then I print it. I can also AirDrop it to people with iPhones.
Though I still do caricatures with traditional media, lately, the majority of my work is digital caricatures. I am located in Las Vegas, where I get half my work and the rest I get to travel to other states to draw at conventions as booth entertainment. I am thankful every day to be able to make a living doing something that I passionately love and enjoy.
YouTube Process Video
See Also
External Links
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