The Glow Beneath
A watercolor and ink piece exploring the boundary between the real and the imagined. Fish drift through air, gold catches light before fading. The figure exists somewhere between waking and dreaming.
Hand Drawing
Water color, Ink
Size
10.3 × 7.8 in
Nov, 2024
01
Process
I started with a pencil sketch to plan the composition, then built up layers of watercolor and ink, finishing the physical piece before any digital work. After completing the drawing, I brought it into Procreate to make a few final adjustments - softening edges where the figure meets the background, and brightening the gold highlights to make them read more clearly.
02
Exploration
Before starting the final piece, I used Procreate to work through the early decisions, testing background tones, the figure's gaze and angle, and different surrounding elements like jellyfish and koi. I also explored brow weight and eye style to find the right mood. The process helped me narrow down what felt cohesive before committing anything to paper.
03
Final Piece
The final piece brings together the watercolor washes, ink linework, and gold accents, finished with subtle Procreate adjustments.
