This is the way that I create my cakelustrations for publication. Sometimes I take the photo with everything in place already. But in this example, I used Photoshop to combine all my sugar art pieces.
This gives me a lot of flexibility for changes to be made. I first start out with a sketch. I then work on the color scheme in photoshop or procreate. Then I dive into the sculpting with modeling chocolate, gum-paste or fondant with a rice crispy or Styrofoam base. After I photograph everything in the high quality RAW mode, I do color correcting and manipulate of my pieces in Photoshop.
To see the full images scroll below.
-Thank you, Akiko
I created what Judy Schachner calls, a character bible.
In this character bible I sketch and put anything that I might use for inspiration.
Sketches, photographs and origami fish from my journal.
Some fun character sketches I created.
First I sketch with pencil.
More from my character bible full of ideas, information and character sketches.
Here I created a family of fish.
Sketches of my background piece.
Here I am thinking about placement of my objects
Then I played a little with color placement.
This fish is made with gum paste and gelatin fins.
After sculpting I paint it with edible food coloring.
I work several days with my sculpting. This is gum-paste and fondant.
Finished sugar sculpture now on to taking professional photographs.
I photograph my sugar objects separately.
In Photoshop I drop the background out and use it as an independent object.
Photograph of my sugar art piece.
Photographing the sugar art.
Dropping out the background and color correcting if necessary.
Here I added some texture or Asian inspired print work to the piece.
A lotus seed pod.
This is the background art painted with edible paint on rolled fondant.
Artwork completed with all the sugar pieces in place in Photoshop.
Close-up of the sugar art fish talking to his friend.