Many of you have asked how I create my drawings, so I am happy to share the process  of “Broken Moon” with you. For most drawings I brainstorm ideas for at least a week. The process for “Broken Moon” has longer history though. Ever since our daughter started talking she’s called the moon “broken” unless it was a full moon. So “Broken Moon” has been stirring around in my head for a few years and only just now coming out.

I wanted the “broken” moon to have a reunion, so I illustrated the coming together of separate halves. Our son loves trucks and everything construction related, so I couldn’t resist putting a crane and a mining truck in to help out with the event.

The fireflies come purely from memories of my childhood when I lived in Fort Story, Virginia. In the summertime, my brother, sister and I would spend a lot of time outdoors after sunset catching ‘lightning bugs’ in a jar (cruel I know) so we could take them home and watch them blink. My mischievous brother had other plans for them however. At bedtime, he’d take the lightning bugs out of the jar, smear them all over his t-shirt, turn off the lights and hide under his covers to see them glow in the dark. Completely gross stuff, but it was very cool to see that they still brightly glowed even all smushed up! And yes, he slept in the same shirt all night long.

“Broken Moon” is one of my favorite illustrations so far, simply because there is so much family history woven into it.

As for the drawing techniques, I start with a small sketch. This one is 6.5 x 5 inches and drawn with just a regular #2 pencil in a Whimsical Kids Canvas sketchbook.

Then I scan the drawing into my computer and trace it with paths in Adobe Illustrator.

I color the paths in Adobe Illustrator as well.

 Then I import the paths into Adobe Photoshop and add texture and lighting.

Our kids help me figure out which colors, shapes, and objects to put in each illustration and I always get their approval before considering it “done”.

I hope this inspires you to create some drawings – maybe one related to your childhood. You’ll be amazed as what you can create if you try.