This will always be one of the biggest challenges we face when setting goals for ourselves. Would you believe me if I told you that when I first began running art bootcamps, there were prompts every single day?! Well, let’s just say I definitely listen when you provide feedback 😅 and now we’ve got a cushion day in between.
However, even prompts every other day can be difficult to keep up with. I know this firsthand! So I want to share my experience, along with my full sketching process.
I’m unpacking my process from this week’s prompts in Procreate Bootcamp as an example, including admitting that I could give a million excuses as to why I hadn’t created either of this week’s prompts yet, but the truth is that I was having a big creative debate with myself but blaming it on workload, time, etc.
Sometimes the challenge is to figure out just how much of a challenge we want to take on. Or maybe the beginning of a prompt sparks an idea that we get really excited about, but then you read the additional requirements, and they don’t fit that vision (although I always encourage you to figure out how you might be able to make it work 😉).
I’ll break down how I created this artwork with two sets of requirements (because I cheated and blended two prompts into one):
Idea generation
If you’re new to my bootcamp structure, I assign a handful of requirements, including:
- an overall theme
- a subject
- a time limit
- a random must include item
- a specific technique or effect to use
- a color palette
Processing my ideas for the first prompt this week admittedly took longer than it should have, but I’m not mad about it.
The theme was "imagination factory” which got me really excited and brought me to that whimsical feeling of being a child and exploring amusement parks and getting lit up at the idea of a toy land, and that in itself feels enchanted. Then I thought about glowing eyes and a bit of a cute, yet eerie vibe (welcome to the other side of my mind that loves abandoned funhouses and midnight carnivals). I even sketched a few concepts for tattered stuffed animals (what do kids say these days? plushies? stuffies?), sewn back together, with subtle glowing life behind their empty eyes.
But then I tapped into the playful and colorful part of my mind and I knew that I really wanted that scene. I wanted the atmospheric buildings and the billowy clouds and the rainbows and the whimsy of it all. I wanted it to tell a little story.
Sketching phase
As soon as I started sketching out how I wanted this scene to play out, I realized I was a bit in over my head with the amount of time it would take. I knew I wanted a simple vibe, but I also knew that I wanted to pay attention to making those simple elements stand out.
In hindsight, I wish I’d done a set of thumbnail sketches because I think it would have helped me visualize my overall idea better from different perspectives.
Color blocking
After sketching, I turn the sketch layer’s opacity down, but I personally keep it at the top of my layers. I do this because I want to be able to see all the elements on the sketch still. And when I turn the opacity down, it doesn’t interfere much.
I like to begin working with a minimal color palette but I don’t define what hues or shades I’ll be using in the final piece. I just like to have a starting point. My colors continued to shift the more I worked on this piece.
At this point, I hadn’t considered blending prompts yet, so I was strictly following the requirements in the first prompt of the week, the color palette being a twist on primaries. Since I don’t fuss over exact colors during the first stages of blocking in color, I snagged any ol’ red, yellow, and blue, with each color isolated on its own layer*.
*Note: Although each color has its own layer, that actually means they have designated layers, plural, because of background, mid, and foreground placement of objects.
For example, here’s a peek at my layers:
Project pivot?
As I worked on placing colors (essentially drawing the final objects to build out the scene), I realized that time was quickly passing and I knew I wanted to spend more time on this project. I previewed the next prompt and I froze because I was so eager to continue working on my project in progress. Instead of changing my project, I adjusted the rules to fit my vision. ****I reviewed the requirements for the second prompt of the week to see if it would be possible to somehow combine both prompts into one. Luckily, it works. It’s a stretch, but it works.
Here’s how I combined two prompts into one:
After checking the boxes for the first prompt, I asked myself how I could incorporate the theme and subject from the new prompt into my already polished scene. Turns out a lot can be up to interpretation (or what I like to call creative decisions).
- Theme & Subject requirements for the new prompt: A dream junkyard and pile of treasures for these paragliding mice would easily consist of cheese. So I turned my already drawn flags into cheese. It’s a subtle addition. Subtle, yet powerful cheese flags, indeed.
- Technique req: Since I hadn’t started on shading yet, I could apply the required technique and do so with hard shadows.
- Must include item: I popped a little mouse tail underneath the stairs.
- Color req: I took the liberty of omitting the color palette for Prompt #5 since I’d already done the work on my palette for Prompt #4’s color requirements.
Adding shadows for depth
I kept this part simple, especially since the new prompt called for hard shadows. There were no gradients or fading to consider, so I focused only on placement.
I like to apply shading with black and then apply a blend mode so it interacts with each color uniquely. My go-to blend modes for shading are soft light, overlay, or multiply.
Final touches
I can’t resist adding texture, even in flat color illustrations. For that reason, I imported a couple paper textures and adjusted the blend modes for both of them (I used the Divide blend mode for this piece but I choose depending on each project). This adds a delightful noisy grit to the piece that lights me up inside.
Reflection & takeaways
Looking back on this self-made challenge, I’m really glad I allowed myself to bend the rules and blend two prompts into one. Not only did it let me invest more time into a single piece that lit me up, but it also encouraged creative problem-solving—something that I believe is one of the 👏 most 👏 valuable 👏 skills 👏 an artist can develop.
If there’s one lesson I’d share with anyone tackling art prompts or creative challenges, it’s this: use them as a guide, but don’t let them box you in. Challenges should inspire you, not stress you out! If you find yourself stuck, look for ways to make the prompt work for you rather than forcing yourself to work so strictly within its constraints.
If you’re working through a challenge and finding it tough to keep up, don’t be afraid to pivot. Whether that means combining prompts, simplifying elements, or even skipping a prompt here and there—it’s your creative journey. The most important thing is that you enjoy the process and keep making art.
Also, next time? Thumbnail sketches. Definitely thumbnail sketches.
Also also, since we’re talking about it, make sure you’re on the waitlist for Procreate Bootcamp and Sketchbook Bootcamp so you don’t miss the next round!
