Creating an abstract image of wetlands in Washington

February 8, 2024

Deciding what to draw
To begin with I greatly reduce the elements into simple shapes and forms, and look for ones that have good contrast like shadows, or well-defined shapes. I started this ink drawing by identifying the key elements that make up a wetland setting – water, vegetation such as reeds, cattails, flowers, seed pods, and the interaction of light and reflections on the water surface. 
I use lines, shapes, and patterns to create a sense of movement and rhythm within the design, mirroring the dynamic and ever-changing nature of a wetland ecosystem.

The sketchbook pen and ink drawing

Transitioning to color
To develop the shapes for color, the ink drawing is scanned so that I can create a vector map of all the shapes. This takes interpretation, as the ink drawing does not use filled shapes like the color version does. See the blueline image below for my conversion to vector shapes.

Once that is completed, the work of developing a color palette begins. Once I am happy with it I apply it to all the shapes. There is quite a bit of going back and forth involved, changing the colors to achieve a balance that feels good.

The photos show me sketching in the wetlands of the Skagit Valley, Washington on a sunny day in late summer. Mt. Baker is seen in the distant background.