Presto Sketching

Chapter 9. Bringing Out Your Style

PATS ON THE BACK ALL ROUND, you made it past the theory part of conceptual illustration! Honestly, the more you apply conceptual illustration in your work, the more uses you will find for it.

If you’ve been sketching along as you read this book and doing the exercises at the end of each chapter, by now you might be beginning to notice patterns in the way you sketch. Your own style is emerging!

This chapter is about giving you ways to put more vitality into your sketches, and to be more intentional about finding and enhancing your own style. This includes the following:

• Different ways to emphasize different parts of your sketches

• Adding texture and shadows

• Using color for emphasis

Would the Real Style Please Step Forward?

Suppose that you and I introduced ourselves to each other at a cocktail party,¹ and I said to you “Hey, I really like your work. I dig your style.” How would you describe your style?

For some professions, like music and fashion, it’s much easier to articulate a particular style.² But for most of us, it can be pretty difficult to think about even having a style, let alone describing it.

When it comes to sketching and visual communication, I reckon most of us would like a definite look to our work. But what is that look? And how do we know if it’s distinctive or attractive enough? And is it really us, or is the real style still waiting to come ...