How to Make a 12 Month Illustrated Calendar
Having made a calendar featuring my illustrations for a few years now, I thought I would write out some of the things I’ve learned, and some tips and tricks for how to set yourself up for success when creating your own illustrated calendar.
Diana and the Dolphin: Writing and Illustrating a Licensed Picture Book
A bit about how I made Diana and the Dolphin and the process of working with a licensed property.
Mining Old Sketchbooks for New Ideas
Sketchbooks are invaluable to the image-maker, no matter how mundane it may feel while creating them. Having a record going back years allows me to see the repeated imagery that shows up, clearly knocking around in my brain, asking to be further explored.
Creating Art from Pain and Loss
I have often found myself unable to fully describe my grief around miscarriage with only words. Drawing, sculpting, painting, making things, has opened up a channel to express feelings that might have continued to sit in the dark.
Using Architectural Detail to Create Stronger Illustrations
Adding thoughtfully considered architectural detail can lend a rich layer to the storytelling of an illustration. Quite literally, it builds a world. And yet, for years I have avoided this in my own work, always leaning more towards nature-based environments.
How Lighting Changes an Illustration
Lighting can have a huge impact of the look and feel of an image, but it’s so much more than that: it can change the mood, composition, and even the storytelling of a piece.
Playing with Line
In the world of picture-makers, line is a powerful tool that has incredible range. No two people will draw a line in the same way. How someone draws a line, what they draw it with, and when they choose to use it —and leave it out— are all integral to an artist’s unique style.
Pastiche Practice! Finding Inspiration in Copying Your Favorite Art
A deep dive into artist copies! This classic art school assignment is also known as pastiche.
Adding Found and Traditional Media Textures to Digital Illustrations
I love how adding traditional textures can add interest and surprise to an illustration. In this post I play with scanning in a variety of found and made textures, and explore other artists who do this in their work.