Fleeting Summer: an illustration process video with Taylor Yingshi

Taylor Yingshi, a talented illustrator and environmental designer for animation, shares her mesmerizing illustration process using her Wacom Intuos Pro medium in a video that is sure to inspire. Her process begins with gathering references and freehand sketching out her ideas. For her latest piece, she wanted to capture the bittersweet feeling of the end of summertime and settled on a lush, verdant floral piece that encapsulates that fleeting feeling of petals in the wind.

Taylor has been drawing digitally for a decade, and her Wacom Intuos has been a constant in her workflow. She treats it like her baby, and it’s still as durable, reliable, and functional as when she first bought it. She synthesizes inspiration from a wide range of sources, including fashion, product design, architecture, art history, music, and graphic design. She loves film, and incorporates a little bit of magical realism and absurdism into all her pieces.

Taylor works in both the illustration and animation industries, and is grateful for opportunities like this to express her own style and take risks. She loves using color to conjure emotion and fullness in her paintings, and liberally uses adjustment layers, filters, and gradient maps. She trusts the creative process and lets go, allowing the subconscious to put one hand on the wheel instead of micromanaging every detail.

Taylor’s artwork in this video features a vibrant red centerpiece that stands out against the cooler, less saturated background. The contrast creates a piece that reflects transience and the fleeting moments of leisure time that make Taylor feel like a rare flower that eludes containment. Her attention to detail and use of color is inspiring for anyone looking to express their own style and take risks in their work. Ultimately, the illustration tells a story of summer coming to a close, which metaphorically mirrors Taylor looking onward to the next stage of her life.

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