Simple Overlay and Trace Method

This basic four step process of creating a quick concept sketch involves the “Overlay and Trace” drawing technique. Starting with a print of my reference image (either from a photograph or a 3D computer model), I develop my creative idea with a red pencil on tracing tracing paper. I then trace over the red pencil mockup with an ink pen and finally add color with markers and colored pencils.

Step 1 Base Photograph - I took this eye level photograph of a small commercial storefront for a client who wanted to imagine what the building might look like with an addition, new exterior landscaping and new use as a small Arts Center.

Step 2 Red Pencil Mockup - I printed the photograph on 8 1/2” x 11” paper and taped a sheet of lightweight tracing paper over the print. Using a red Col-Erase pencil, I located the vanishing points from the photo and developed an idea for the 2-story building addition. I also sketched in people to give the drawing activity and added other entourage elements such as landscaping and signage.

Step 3 Overlay and Trace Drawing - I then taped a second sheet of tracing paper over the redline mockup and proceeded to illustrate the scene using a water based ink pen. The Pilot Fineliner, Pentel Sign Pen or even the Paper Mate Flair are great choices for drawing pens. Everyone always asks why I use a red pencil mockup instead of a standard graphite pencil. With this “layering process” I find it much easier to trace over a red drawing with black ink as I can easily see my linework in the process.

Step 4 Color Marker - I often will scan or take a photo of the line drawing before I color it. If for any reason the drawing is ruined by using the wrong marker color, I can easily reprint the line drawing and start the coloring process again. I use Chartpak AD markers and Prismacolor Pencils for almost all my drawings. After coloring the sky with a Sky Blue marker, I even added some extra shading to the sky with a blue colored pencil. Red and Yellow colored pencils also add highlights to the image to emphasize specific elements of the drawing. I scan the completed artwork at 300dpi and save it as a jpeg. The original photo print, redline mockup and final artwork is then filed away in a project folder.