The Pet Store Mishap - Illustration process

This is an illustration I did in my spare time and this is how I usually work. For those wondering this was done in an app called Procreate on the iPad.

I start with a pencil tool. and I start doodling. I thought this guy looked funny because his head is part of the same shape as his body, usually I draw them separately.

I drew him reacting to something so I started to wonder what he might be reacting to. Maybe his friend was being attached by something. SO I sketched in an octopus. I also realized that there had to be a reason there was an octopus on him and so I put an aquarium behind the two guys. I also gave them the same shirt and name tags. Maybe they are employees there.

Now I start drawing the ink lines. This is is where things speed up. Getting the idea and sketch right takes some time, but now I can just go with the flow.

Now I'm blocking in Color. Procreate makes this super easy just by dragging color into open spaces as long as they are enclosed by ink lines.

Now I add shadows and details. I also added things to the aquarium. I try not to add to many colors or details to the aquarium. If I colored all the fish differently or something it might draw the viewer's attention to the background and away from the main characters.

Added more details and now it's finished.