Process

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.

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.

In Photoshop I drop the background out and use it as an independent object.

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.

Final Background Art

Artwork completed with all the sugar pieces in place in Photoshop.

Close-up of the sugar art fish talking to his friend.

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

IMG_6374

I created what Judy Schachner calls, a character bible.

IMG_6379

In this character bible I sketch and put anything that I might use for inspiration.

IMG_6375

Sketches, photographs and origami fish from my journal.

IMG_6377

Some fun character sketches I created.

Junichi size

First I sketch with pencil.

Junichi and dragonfly

More from my character bible full of ideas, information and character sketches.

Junichi fish family

Here I created a family of fish.

Junichi and the dragon flies -trace

Sketches of my background piece.

Junichi and the dragon flies

Here I am thinking about placement of my objects

Junichi and the dragon flies -color study

Then I played a little with color placement.

img_6321

This fish is made with gum paste and gelatin fins.

img_6411

After sculpting I paint it with edible food coloring.

img_6408

I work several days with my sculpting. This is gum-paste and fondant.

img_6420

Finished sugar sculpture now on to taking professional photographs.

small leaf w dragon fly

I photograph my sugar objects separately.

Small leaf w dragon fly a

In Photoshop I drop the background out and use it as an independent object.

dragon fly 2

Photograph of my sugar art piece.

small blossom

Photographing the sugar art.

small blossom a

Dropping out the background and color correcting if necessary.

lotus blossom w pattern

Here I added some texture or Asian inspired print work to the piece.

poppy

A lotus seed pod.

Dragon fly Background

This is the background art painted with edible paint on rolled fondant.

Dragon fly Background 3 no logo

Artwork completed with all the sugar pieces in place in Photoshop.

Dragon fly Background-close up -no logo

Close-up of the sugar art fish talking to his friend.

tale of the dragon fish pages-3