How I connect AI Art and Traditional Art

The painting on the left was done with alcoholbased markers and inktense pencils. In order to get there, I combined AI Art and traditional art. In detail:

1. The first step was to create the image of a wooden mask as a reference image. I later on wished I had spent more time looking for an image which would serve as a good reference image (clear lines, good contrast, no shadowy parts and such). 
2. In a second step I downloaded the AI image and pasted it into my Open Office Writer.  What I did not think about was the size of the watercolor paper I wanted to use. I have A4 paper and I have A5 paper which is smaller. Open Office Writer is not very good in handling images (text processing software!), so I had to limit myself to A4 paper. The next time I will use Scribus, the free alternative to InDesign, in order to put the image to the proper size. 
3. I then had the file printed out as pdf and tried to trace the photo onto my watercolor paper. Not a very good idea. So I grabbed my tracing paper and used it for tracing the basic shapes with a fine liner. 
4. Now I could trace the result onto my watercolor paper and then continue with markers and inktense pencils. 

All in all it was a very educational and even joyful process.