Drawing an outline on top of a sketch seems easy enough, until you realize that what looked pretty descent in a sketch is because of the suggestion of the sketch, what you imagination tells you what the final result could look like. A sketch is nothing more than a promise to the client, and one of many steps in the creative process. A sketch is a visualization of what the artist sees in his mind’s eye. So, in effect, it is step two of any serious illustration, drawing or painting.
Making that solid outline drawing from a loose sketch proved to be a hard part. There’s the unfamiliarity with the tools (Paint Tool SAI), but also thinking in volumes in order to make it somewhat believable. This means you must have drawn a lot from life, so you have internalized how shapes fit together, even if those shapes are part of an illustration or drawing from imagination. The outlining stage draws largely on a lot of experience. At least, that’s how I see it.
I’m sure, with practice, I can do much better than this. However, isn’t that always the case? Perfect is the enemy of done, which means that most art is imperfect by definition, only good enough to serve its purpose. Artists need to eat too, you know.
