Re-Discovering Old Workflows

As a freelancer, I find myself frequently switching my process based upon the needs of the client. My work projects often shift between photo-editing/compositing in Photoshop, minimalist vector work in Illustrator, digital painting back in Photoshop, and sometimes motion graphic work in After Effects, each with a different workflow.

Client’s needs run the gamut of styles, tone, or color palettes and consequently so do I. Practicing automatism as a form of meditation has been more consistent and it has helped me relax despite it being another process. There is no planning, no industry best practice, it’s uncomplicated (though the result can look otherwise), and it’s satisfying.

At times there could be months in-between using a particular workflow and just when you really get in the groove of one, it’s already time to switch gears again. I recently started looking into Pop Surrealism/Lowbrow art and found a lot that I enjoy about it but naturally I don’t have the time to fully explore it. Looking at the style did spur my imagination of just how I would go about making art in the Pop Surrealism space so I have been thinking of going back to a doodle style process I learned more than a year ago in illustrator that makes express use of the pencil tool and the all powerful pathfinder tool. In some ways, the process is tedious but it also has lots of room for planning compositions and has a simple coloring process akin to using the old paint bucket tool in MS Paint.

So I’ve dusted off some older work , found my cheat sheet of notes and went through a color study on this older piece…and wow it was very fun. I think we all need that type of variety in our work, it was familiar but still felt fresh.

A warrior of the Sea Peoples done in doodle style.