Mendl's Courtesan Au Chocolat

Some of my more popular items in my Society6 shop are Wes Anderson-inspired illustrations.  I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely love working with this site.  Having my artwork printed on apparel has always been a dream of mine, and this site makes it possible for an artist like myself. 

It is also full of artists that I admire!  There is so much talent on the site; so much that you have a hard time choosing which piece to buy.  The best part: every other week, Society6 offers a special promotion.  For example, this week is FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE (through August 31, 2014 @ midnight PDT).

That is why I consistently go back to this site to add more of my illustrations.  Today, I would love to share my process with you!  This is basically how most of my custom pieces happen as well, so it is quite a behind-the-scenes post for Cozy Reverie. 

The Inspiration: Mendl's Courtesan Au Chocolat 

First, we begin with a little inspiration; I'm sticking to the Wes Anderson theme today.  After watching The Grand Budapest Hotel, the most memorable part for me was the creation of the courtesan au chocolat at Mendl's bakery.  It was so pretty and looked so delicious!   Check out the below clip from the movie, and you'll see what I mean. I have never been much of a baker (unless you count pre-packaged cookie dough), so the closest way of me making one is by drawing it. 

The Process: Ink sketch with marker for color.  Digitally draw and color with Sketchclub app.

I used to sketch in pencil, but have recently turned to ink pens.  There is something much cleaner about these pens, plus I feel really fancy using them in my sketchbook.  Sometimes, I will use watercolors to color in, but for early sketches, I used colored pencils and/or markers.

1. Ink sketch

2. Color with marker

3. Final sketch

4. Digital version

Create files to Society6 specifications and that's it!  Ready for purchase! 

Every item on the site requires a specific size to get the best quality for printing.  I typically focus on having art prints, tote bags, and pillows available for all designs.  When I have more time, I will add more items to the shop. 

That's pretty much the process!  The majority of the time is spent to sketching and reworking the design.  Once that is complete, uploading to the site take relatively 5-10 minutes.  I love working with this manufacturer.  It is ideal for artists and shoppers - win win!