Inside the Sketchbook: Traditional Botanical Art Process
Every character in the Plookiss collection has a story that begins long before it ever appears on a digital screen. While many digital vector illustrations start directly on a tablet, my creative process is rooted in hands-on fine art—specifically sketching from live plant references and experimenting with physical art materials in sketchbooks.
The Pencil Sketch & Botanical Concept
Before turning an idea into a finished character, everything begins with observation. Working directly from live botanical references—usually real cacti and succulents sitting in the studio—I use a Micron pen to capture quick, rough line studies. Working straight in ink encourages quick decision-making, keeping the silhouettes raw, fluid, and full of natural character.
Playful Mixed-Media & Colour Exploration
Once the initial outline and structure are on paper, it is time to play with colour, tone, and personality. Rather than sticking to a single technique, I experiment with whatever materials are to hand in the studio—layering soft watercolour washes, wax crayons, colored pencils, or gouache.
This experimental phase is all about exploring warmth, texture, and playful palette ideas in a zero-pressure environment before anything touches a screen.
Digital Vector Tracing in Affinity
With the physical sketchbook artwork complete, the final design makes its transition to the computer. The sketchbook page is digitized and imported directly into Affinity, where I carefully trace over the original hand-drawn lines to build precise digital vector artwork.
This hybrid process offers the best of both worlds:
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Handmade Charm: The original character shapes, quirks, and gestures from the live sketch are fully preserved.
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Flawless Quality: Precision vector tracing ensures the finished designs render crisp, vibrant, and scalable for art prints and gift wrap.
Explore the Collection
Want to see how these sketchbook studies turn into finished art prints and eco-friendly wrapping paper? Browse the latest character-driven botanical designs straight from the studio.
