A local artist lets us in on her creative process...
Having recently become a freelance illustrator, I create bespoke illustrations for companies in a variety of fields, helping them tell their stories in a way that captivates their audiences.
I’ve always been interested in the arts – drawing and doodling when I probably shouldn’t have been – but for a long time I didn’t know how to turn it into a career. A two-year spell in marketing and advertising gave me the chance to develop my skills as a graphic designer, and I met a lot of talented people who showed me the possibilities within illustration and encouraged me to follow my passion. Now, I work from home in a little office in the back room; it’s always a little bit messier than I’d like but I never find the time to organise it properly.
I’m currently producing a new collection of cards and prints to sell at craft fairs throughout the country. I find inspiration from everywhere, but a lot of it comes from animals and nature. Usually dogs. I find that Instagram is a great place to share your ideas with your peers and to get inspiration. Two of my all time favourites are Rafael Mayani (@rmayani) and Dulk (@dulk1).
With personal projects such as this, I’ve found that they take longer than paid work as I don’t have an official deadline, so I can be constantly tweaking. With this particular piece, once I had the idea, it took me around half a day to complete. I like to use a variety of mediums, but the main two are Photoshop/Procreate and watercolour. I think the effect of both of these suits my style of illustration and feels most natural to me. I do like to experiment with other techniques, but these are hobbies that I might pursue when I have more free time.
I’m really enjoying doing what I’m doing, and consider myself lucky to have found a career I really enjoy. In the future, I’d love to create my own childrenswear line or to illustrate a children’s book. I’ve recently become an auntie so find myself within the baby section in M&S thinking I’d love to see my illustrations in there one day.
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