A Behind-The-Scenes Look at My Adaptive Illustrating Process

Since the moment I could hold a pencil in my right hand, my love for art has run deep. I remember being a little girl and the amount of joy I’d get as soon as my mom put a  stack of paper and a pen before me. It was all I needed to be entertained for hours. I didn’t need crayons or paints or any coloring tools. I simply needed a blank slate before me to jump into my imaginary world of people and places permanently engraved in ink.

Drawing was my escape. It was my way of processing emotions and experiences when I didn’t understand the gravity of my situation as a child. It was my way of expressing myself when my physical limitations simply prevented me from doing so. And, it was— most importantly— my way of having fun!

Similar: The Story of Where My Love for Art Began

Some girls had dance class. Others had sports. I had art. And, it became the foundation of so many opportunities and business ventures in my life.

That nonprofit organization I founded as a child? It started with a greeting card, turned into a greeting card business, and is now a 501c3 organization. 

The art shop you may have noticed here? Yeah, that was a childhood dream I carried with me for almost 30 years before actually doing something about it.

The illustrations you see scattered around my Instagram? They have opened the doors to custom projects and the opportunity to meet some awesome folks.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I feel super blessed that God has given me a gift that helps me steward my dreams while serving others. There aren’t many aspects of my life where I can pair those two fulfilling aspects together.

That being said, my love for art hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.

In high school, I lost the mobility of my right hand, the same hand I had been drawing with for practically my entire life. A serious bout of double pneumonia had me fighting for my life for weeks in the hospital, and in dealing with one battle, I was unknowingly losing another.

Given the nature of my disease, my muscles atrophy over time. Or, in other words, they weaken and eventually die. Harsh, I know, but that‘s the name of the vicious game that SMA plays. It’s why I receive treatment and keep moving my body as much as I can because, if I don’t use it, I will lose it. And, that’s basically what happened in the hospital that year. My arms laid still for so long while I was fighting for breath in my lungs again that I lost the ability in my arm to ever draw again.

At least, that’s what I thought…

I still grieve for that past version of me. The girl who fought tirelessly to win the battle had to sacrifice the one thing she loved most to get to the other side. But, what that past version of me had yet to discover was that she was never really one to settle for anything less than what she had her heart set on.

After several years and lotsss of practice, today all my artwork is drawn digitally using just one finger. People often ask me HOW I create my art which is totally fair considering how limited I am physically.

So, today I’m here to answer that question once and for all and give you a BTS look at how I created my latest fall collection. I hope this process gives you a little insight into what my days look like around here and prompts you to think outside the box when it comes to adapting to your own circumstances. Your challenges and obstacles don’t need to have the upper hand in your life. With a little creativity, determination, and innovation, there is always a way.

Here’s a glimpse into mine.

The tools I use

Screenshot of WiFi mouse app

First let’s start with how I use one finger to draw— and type this blog post, and work, and text, and run my socials, and… Yes, everything, and I mean everything from drawing to typing to working from home, is all done through my WiFi Mouse App on my iPhone. As you’ll see in the picture here, the mouse takes up the entire screen and has multiple functionalities just like a computer. Through WiFi, the mouse connects to your desktop device (I use a MacBook, but this app is compatible with PCs, too), and you are instantly able to use your device with your phone. 

To say this app is a complete game-changer for my life would be the understatement of the year. My physical abilities are so limited, but with WiFi mouse, I’m in complete control and able to claim some element of independence. It allows me to work comfortably, type more easily (versus relying on others), and engage with you on the internet! My world is— quite literally— at my fingertips. Well, fingertip in my case. If you head to my shop, you’ll see some video clips of how this is done.

https://alyssaksilva.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/My-Movie-22.mp4

The programs I use

Once upon a time… okay it was actually about a year and a half ago, the pandemic hit and left me with an unusual amount of free time on my hands. I remember perusing the internet and stumbling across a free online course for a program called Adobe Illustrator. And, just like that, my life changed forever. 

Ok, kind of. Apparently, there’s a lot that goes into learning a program as comprehensive as Illustrator, and I’ve since come to terms with being a lifelong student. But, the course taught me the very basics of how to use the program so I could build a foundation. While I use Illustrator for many different reasons, this is where I always create the first draft of whatever I’m drawing.

For example, let’s use one of the cards I designed for my 2021 Christmas collection. As you can see, the image starts off with a bunch of shapes below. It’s messy and flat. And, at this point in the journey, I’m questioning if my finger and  I have what it takes to recreate the vision in my head onto my computer screen. After all, the odds aren’t looking too hot for me in this example. *big yikes* But, once I’ve outlined what I’m drawing, the fun part begins.

It’s time to make it come to life in Photoshop. 

Adobe Photoshop

Yes, Photoshop is more than just image editing software. It is the mecca of the digital art world. The tool that makes your artwork go from bland to grand. And my favorite part of the digital illustration process. From Adobe Illustrator, I transfer my first draft into Photoshop. I add shadows, light, and textures using different paintbrushes and simply play around with my artwork. What’s always so exciting for me is that my process is never the same with each drawing. I’m always learning new techniques, getting new creative ideas, and challenging myself to try new things. Not only does this humble me as an artist when I don’t love what I create, it motivates me to improve my craft. Here’s a quick video of me adding some shading to the drawing. 

https://alyssaksilva.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/1.mp4

This part of the journey always reaffirms me to trust the process in both drawing and life. As I go through each stage of drawing, I sometimes doubt my abilities. I compare myself to other artists. I let imposter syndrome sneak into my brain and allow it to feed me lies. But, when my drawing starts to come to life, when I push through the self-doubt and find a little confidence from within, I begin to see the results I want. Much like how life typically pans out, when I consistently put in the work, stay in my lane, and have faith, things eventually fall into place. 

Here is the final product of this drawing.

At the end of the day…

I’m not a perfect artist. There is still so much more room for practice and improvement, and I think that’s pretty amazing, ya know? As a self-taught artist, the learning process is half the fun. Maybe don’t take my word, though. I’m a total nerd, so my opinion is a little skewed here.

But, practice also helps me gain better precision with my artwork since using one finger to draw is not easy. Especially when I have a slight tremor in my hands. But, easy never brought a good story to the table. And, well, it’s what I love. So, as long as my art is serving someone in some way, I’ll consider it a job well done.