Andrew Thompson’s love for working in his sketchbook with his trusted pens and pencils translates into an easy, fluid style, based in good drawing. Andrew, who works under the moniker of Sector 4, takes his drawings from the page and works colour into them digitally. But, the work on the computer doesn’t erase the pen-to-paper feel that we like. He tells us more about how he does it.
There’s nothing like responding directly and immediately to what you can see with mark making. The same can be said for the flexibility and speed of working with colour in a digital context. I try to hit a balance with my work between both of these techniques.
My typical image is thought through with a pencil and a sketchbook, hacked to bits on the computer and then redrawn before being transferred to the light box for inking. I use a brush to make the final drawing as I love the fluidity and flexibility in the marks you can make.
Colour is applied digitally using scanned textures, and marks to keep things from getting too flat. I always set myself a deadline, if there isn’t already one, as I feel this helps me to focus and challenge myself to improve.
Most importantly, from a process point of view, I try not to work to a style. A style, or a voice, is something that evolves the more you draw, think and create. Aiming for a cohesive style through all your work is a restrictive goal that can cause you to shut out ideas that ‘don’t fit’. If you try to work without any focus on style, I think you find your voice quicker.
© Sector 4 Illustration, 2012
