Healing, Growing, Evolving illustration of a purple woman with a third eye, holding a dagger in her hand with a purple rose growing out from the heart-shaped hole in her chest.

Healing Growing Evolving

Healing, Growing, Evolving is a personal project created around the theme of healing, growing, and evolving as a human being.

Date Created: September 9, 2022

Tracked Time: 19 hours 41 minutes

View Illustration Process Below

Sketch

I began with a rough sketch using a reference picture of a woman posing with her head tilted to the left. I believed that adding a third eye would fit well with the theme of growing and healing. The third eye represents an inner vision and enlightenment which can allow for growth and healing. I then sketched out a heart-shaped hole that’ll be hollow within her chest as I had an idea of having a flower growing from it, also representing growth.

Quick sketch of a woman with a third eye and a heart-shaped whole in her chest.

Detailed Sketch

Then, I added more details, darker lines, and more shading. I chose a rose for the flower that would grow from the hollow of her chest as they represent love. Sometimes evolving means accepting things for what they are and growing to love certain things in the process. The rose is in place of where her heart would be so I thought putting symbolism of love would be perfect. At this point in the process, I also decided to add the subject holding a dagger across her chest in a protective manner. I wanted to display a sense of protecting oneself while healing and guarding your heart against being taken advantage of again.

Quick sketch of a woman with a third eye and a rose growing out of the heart shaped whole in her chest. She's guarding it protectively with a dagger.

Refined Illustration

Next, I went over my sketched lines and refined them with cleaner and darker ones. I created darker shadows with darker lines and a cross-hatching technique. I drew the subject with long dramatic eyelashes to allow the eyes to be emphasized more. I also decided to create a frame around the edge of the main subject. As with a few of my other pieces, I used the symmetry tool on procreate to illustrate the frame. I used various shapes such as diamonds, circles, crescents, etc to create it. I then illustrated some curved lines that draped down across the piece and connected to many different elements in the frame. I went with a mystical theme and I drew what felt right and what would piece well together. Lastly, I added a few leaves to tie in with the rose.

A refined sketch with cleaner lines of a woman with a third eye and a rose growing out of the heart shaped whole in her chest. She's guarding it protectively with a dagger.

Final Product

Lastly, I added color to my piece. I believed that hues of blue and purple would go well with each other as analogous colors. I used gradients throughout the piece to add a mystical and flowing element. I created glowing rays around the third eye to emphasize it further. Then, I highlighted certain areas of the piece with a soft white color. I added a paper texture overlay and a photocopy overlay to the piece as a finishing touch.

An illustration of a woman with a third eye and a rose growing out of the heart shaped whole in her chest. She's guarding it protectively with a dagger.

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