I HAVE to get better at backgrounds and value.

Purposeful Practice Round 2 Intro

Jul 01, 2024

I’m doing it again—another Purposeful Practice Challenge!

This time instead of breaking out of a creative rut, I’m focusing on:
Backgrounds and Value✨

Ideally I’d like to do a new challenge every year. I grew and improved A LOT from the previous round (round 1). Here’s the link to all the round 1 posts!

Backgrounds and value are two things I don’t often consider when I’m ideating/illustrating—and it shows. My portfolio, IG, everything is woefully low on pieces with backgrounds. I am the spot illo queen, and can now see that I am constantly avoiding adding backgrounds… If I want to keep growing; keeping getting better; and (let’s be honest) get more illustration job offers, I have to tackle these.

Hi! I’m Kayla Stark, an illustrator working primarily in the children’s publishing world. I write about illustration, process, publishing, and anything else that’s tangentially related in my life. Join in! Everyone’s welcome! All posts are free for everyone—upgrading to a paid subscription helps me continue writing these and supports all readers. Thank you!

So how does this round work?
I’ve already done one; I can show you! 😎

First, a short definition of “purposeful practice”.

this is not going to come naturally to me

I’m using film stills to study value and backgrounds. THEN I’ll analyze and use those studies to inspire my own work.

I’m using a site called FILMGRAB and clicking “random post” to choose the film. Then I pick a still I like from the options.

Then I write about and analyze my work. This part is JUST as important as the drawing bit!

Did all of that make sense?
If not, I’ll show my work :)

This was the practice run—where I figured out how to structure this challenge. (details in the captions below each image)

kayla stark illustration purposeful practice round 2 film still study — Step 2: do a value study of that film still (this one is watercolor with some pencil)

kayla stark illustration notes purposeful practice round 2 — Step 3: take notes, mind-map, and sketch ideas for the next illustration

kayla stark illustration purposeful practice round 2 digital sketch — Step 4: figure out the sketch digitally (inspired by the film still study)

kayla stark illustration purposeful practice round 2 sketch — Step 5: transfer the sketch to final paper (lightpad + a Blackwing Pearl pencil)

kayla stark illustration purposeful practice round 2 final — Step 6: do the final illustration (ink and watercolor)

Ta da! What do you think? I’m pretty proud of this first go!

I’m doing 7 total (not including this practice round). And I’ll get into more about what I liked/learned for each in those future posts!

Bonus: My notes from Step 2 (the film still study) if you’re interested in reading them!

I may not take the sketch to final every time—at the end of this challenge I will *hopefully* have a few new portfolio pieces; and much more confidence when it comes to backgrounds and value range in my work. Let’s go!!!!

Doing this together?

I initially wanted this to be a guided challenge we could do together, but it’s pretty complex and I’m not sure the best way to go about it. But I have an idea…

There’s going to be time and other posts between all of these right? Right!
Plenty of time to follow this same structure if you want to give it a go! You could use a different film still or use the same one as me!

AND at the end of each of these Purposeful Practice posts, I’ll share the next film still I’ll be studying if you want to get a jump on the next piece.

AND AND I thought it would be fun to TRULY do the last one (number 7) together. I’m thinking on how to best go about that. (a few zooms, a chat?) What do you think?

I don’t have a set schedule for these, but you’ll see them roll out here! I’ll be sure to have all my little ducks in a row for the last one, and give you plenty of notice.👍

Phew…sometimes it’s scary to try new things, and doing this in a more public way is making me want to shrink. 😅 That means it’s worth it, right!?