(^5) Create the background
Paint a distressed
background then scan it in.
Select the distressed area
and delete the rest, this leaves
a texture on a transparent layer
which is then laid on top of
a solid colour.
(^6) Create the lily pads
Sketch the lily pads and go over
them in pen and ink. Scan them
on to your computer.
(^7) Create the flowers
Sketch the flowers. Go over them
in pen and ink and scan them.
(^8) Add colour to the flowers
Place the flowers onto layers.
Select the outlines and change
the colour from black to white.
(^9) Add colour to the lily pads
Place the lily pads onto a layer.
Select the outline and change
the colour. Take some of these to
50% opacity and add a texture
and a solid background colour.
(^10) Add a shadow
Now, all the layers are complete.
Add a semi-transparent shadow
around the dragonfly. Finally,
save your finished artwork as
a .psd file and also as a smaller
.png file to upload and share on
social media.
S
al Meddings is an
illustrator living in the
historic port town
of Bideford in North
Devon. Her image of a dragonfly
is created from pen and
ink drawings, which
are scanned
into her iMac.
She adds
colour with
Photoshop.(^1) Draw and
scan the wing
In pencil, draw a
dragonfly wing then go
over this in pen and ink (I use
a lightbox). Rub away the pencil
then scan the drawing on to your
computer (l use an iMac).
(^2) Draw the dragonfly body
In pencil draw the dragonfly
body, go over it in pen and ink,
rub away the pencil, then scan it.
(^3) Use Photoshop layers
Put the wings and body onto
different layers of a Photoshop
document. Select the
outline and change the
black to brown.
(^4) Add colour
Add the solid
colour of the wings
onto another layer,
and add a texture.
Next add the solid
colour of the dragonfly
body onto another layer.
Then merge the wings and body
layers and create a drop shadow.
(^) Sal‘s pictures begin with
carefully observed drawings in
pencil, accentuated in pen and
ink ready for scanning.
After 25 years in magazine publishing working
as a graphic designer, I went back to college
and completed an illustration degree. In
my work I combine mixed media, sketching,
painting and the digital wonders of Photoshop.
I’m inspired by mid 20th-century design and
am fascinated by the wildlife and ocean life of
North Devon and Cornwall. You can buy my
prints in shops in both counties. I also
sell mounted and digital prints
through my website:
http://www.salmeddings.co.uk.
MORE INFORMATION
OFacebook: Sal Meddings
Illustration
OTwitter: @SalMeddings
Capture the fragility and beauty of a
gossamer-light dragonfly in pen and ink
and Photoshop with Sal Meddings‘ tutorial.
Dragonfly
Sal Meddings
MATERIALS
OPencil, pen and ink
OPaints
OAdobe Photoshop
Combining traditional
art skills with digital
painting processes
will create unique
artworks.