Costa Rica Wildlife

The Process

A hiker with a backpack walking a dark volcanic beach lined with palms under a heavy sky, Corcovado National Park

1. Field Trips

Many of my collections begin with inspiration sparked during a wilderness trip. These outings are not just a source of creative ideas but also where I gather most of my reference photos, capturing the natural beauty that informs my work.

An open wildlife field guide and printed reference photos of monkeys spread across a wooden desk

2. Research

I dive into research through publications, websites, and field guides, carefully selecting subjects that are not only interesting but also lend themselves to compelling compositions.

A layout sketch of monkeys on tracing paper, taped together with pink and yellow tape on a wooden floor

3. Sketches

My sketching process varies depending on the medium. When working traditionally, I rely on cutting and pasting tracing paper to craft the desired layout. In a digital workflow, I create sketches on separate layers, allowing for easy adjustments and refinement.

A hand shading a coati's ringed tail in graphite pencil on white paper

4. Pencil Rendering

Once the layout is finalized, I begin shading and adding tonal values with graphite pencils. Even in digital work, I replicate this technique using a pencil brush in Procreate or Photoshop, ensuring a consistent style across both mediums.

Stacy Hsu painting watercolour washes over a pencil rendering of sloths at her desk

5. Color Rendering

I layer watercolor washes over the pencil rendering to bring the piece to life, building up rich, vibrant colors. Digitally, I achieve a similar effect by layering color blocks over the pencil layer and adjusting the blend modes to mimic the depth and texture of traditional watercolor.

1. Field Trips

Many of my collections begin with inspiration sparked during a wilderness trip. These outings are not just a source of creative ideas but also where I gather most of my reference photos, capturing the natural beauty that informs my work.

2. Research

I dive into research through publications, websites, and field guides, carefully selecting subjects that are not only interesting but also lend themselves to compelling compositions.

3. Sketches

My sketching process varies depending on the medium. When working traditionally, I rely on cutting and pasting tracing paper to craft the desired layout. In a digital workflow, I create sketches on separate layers, allowing for easy adjustments and refinement.

4. Pencil Rendering

Once the layout is finalized, I begin shading and adding tonal values with graphite pencils. Even in digital work, I replicate this technique using a pencil brush in Procreate or Photoshop, ensuring a consistent style across both mediums.

5. Color Rendering

I layer watercolor washes over the pencil rendering to bring the piece to life, building up rich, vibrant colors. Digitally, I achieve a similar effect by layering color blocks over the pencil layer and adjusting the blend modes to mimic the depth and texture of traditional watercolor.

Final Collection

Coatis

Monkeys

Red-Lored Parrots

Scarlet Macaws

Sloths

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