by M. Chad Randall | May 13, 2026 | Children's Books, Illustration, Technique, Tips
One of the things people sometimes notice when looking at my watercolor illustrations is the amount of graphite work that exists beneath the paint. In some illustration styles, the drawing is little more than a light guide before color is applied. In...
by M. Chad Randall | Feb 25, 2026 | Illustration, Technique, Tips
Recently, I created a 36” x 36” chalk portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. for our school’s Black History Month program. The entire piece took about ninety minutes from first mark to final edge. What surprised me most wasn’t the speed. It was the comfort. A few years...
by M. Chad Randall | Jan 29, 2026 | Children's Books, Illustration, Technique
From First Idea to Finished Image A finished illustration is built through a series of deliberate choices, long before paint ever touches paper. Over time, I’ve developed a process that helps me move from an initial idea to a final image with intention, clarity, and...
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