Sketchbook: Blueline Character Sketches of Cheshire
Non-photo blue pencil on Bristol board
Back before scanners and graphics software, artists frequently inked over non-photo blue pencil. The blue lines don't show up when the work is photocopied, saving the artist some erasers and time. A teacher showed us these pencils in a cartooning class, and something about them caught me. I have always enjoyed behind-the-scenes sketches and I love the organic, developing quality of bluelines. It's like watching an idea turning in the womb.
I can't do finished work with these pencils, so in a way, it leaves me freer to play around. Whenever I get stuck on a drawing, I pull out my non-photo blues and it loosens me up. This particular character, Cheshire, is perfectly androgynous - difficult to draw. By using bluelines, I take more risks than I otherwise would, and I got the facial characteristics I wanted.
Click image for larger view.