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Introducing a Cartoonity collaborator: Steve Tansley

Steve Tansley’s career has taken him through various illustration projects and design directions including illustrating children’s books drawing for a regular web comic called GoodFences.com and creating children’s themed environments for commercial and retail venues…

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Steve,

Where do you draw your inspiration from when creating new Characters?

It usually depends on what I’ve been reading or seeing.  For instance, I’m developing a character that is a hulkish blue yeti.  My kids have been watching alot of the new Wolverine and the X-men so that has been an inspiration to me.  Alot of times too, it comes from conversations I have with friends and family.  I hope to introduce a new designer at the carrot juice factory soon.  A designer who’s goth nature proceeds him.  You’ll have to wait and see…

Can you describe your design process when it comes to drawing cartoons/characters? Can you list the tools/plug-ins/software you use as well?

P.S. I can’t wait for the new character on Cartoonity, this so called goth designer, ha! 

I start everything with my bluepencil.  It’s my standard.  From there it’s all sketch.  After that I pull out a standard 0, or 1 size brush and my trusted india ink (440011) for anyone interested.  I hand ink the character, scan it, auto trace ( if I need too ) then PSD it into layers.  I try to stay quick and dirty.  I love to hand ink everything it’s my absolute favorite part of my process.