Make Your Own Clipart Library

Start a sketchbook.

Building up your own clipart library may seem a daunting task but there are advantages to this.

You can never be caught out with copyright issues.
You have unique imagery.
Your illustration skills improve.
You may want to compile and sell your work.

Make outlines
If you are anything like me, you will want to colour your outlines at some stage. Scan or photograph them first so you can work with them later on. Do this at 300 dpi or a high quality setting on your camera. You may want to incorporate them into other compositions, if for instance you want your cute teddy bear to become a whole group of them in different colours.

It is not necessary to plan what you will draw although sometimes the motivation and inspiration may be lacking.

There are different ways to work. Here is how I go about it. Some days everything goes really well and I complete all the stages. Other days I don't.

Let's say today I feel like drawing birdhouses. I don't stop at one. I pencil at least five, or a page full.
Another day the motivation may not be there. This is when I will ink the outlines or erase pencil lines.

It is also easier than you might think to populate your library. Basic individual outlines are really useful, as they can be reworked. You can adapt them to make more individuals. This can be done by adding other clipart pieces, for instance putting a hat on an existing teddy bear. You can transform the image, for example drawing one leaf. You could have it in different sizes, in different positions and colours down the side of your page for a border.

Tips to making your own clipart library:

The stages:

* Pencil drawings
* Ink outlines
* Erase pencil outlines
* Scan drawings at 300 dpi as pngs for working purposes
* Save individual drawings

* Colour individuals
* Save individuals

* Make compositions of individuals

* Sort individuals into themes for catalogue

Use an A5 sketchbook if a larger page is intimidating. Keep at it. You will be surprised how your collection grows!

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