My illustration process - Starting a personal project

I’ve visited the travel sketchbook festival in Clermont-Ferrand a couple of times and thought it would be nice to apply to exhibit there. So I’m going to attempt to create a book about the Spanish trip I took last year. It was my first visit to the country and was such a visual treat. The first few days were spent on a drawing course and then the rest of the time travelling to a few different cities. I drew on the course and took a LOT of photographs but didn’t make many personal sketches. Only five in fact and two of those were on the ‘plane. The applications for the sketchbook festival must be made by 1st May, so I will check in here once a month to show how the project is progressing. Hopefully it will help with accountability and I will finish. The first aim of the project which is to produce 20 drawings by 31st March.

Below are my first rough layout ideas for possible page spreads. 

My illustration process - Creating watercolour illustrations for a travel magazine spread

One of the new techniques I tried out last year was to draw in sketchbooks that I’d previously added background colour to. I started at the Barbican Conservatory then continued in other locations in London. It was something I really enjoyed doing and gave interesting results.

Later in the year when I started working on an illustration project for a travel magazine, I used a similar technique to create the illustrations. The drawings were to be of historic architectural sites in Cambodia and I started by drawing the basic shape in pencil. Then I filled in the shape with watercolour in a very freestyle way, similar to the sketchbook backgrounds.

The client supplied some reference material and I also did some research online to get a feel for the structures. 

I left these colour shapes to completely dry before adding more definition to the structures. 

 The final touches were added with pen line, black and white.

I was quite pleased with the results and hope to develop the technique further. It was nice to know that something I started as a fun, playful way of working could have a knock-on effect in my illustration work.

Looking forward to sketching London in 2020

The London Urban Sketchers programme for 2020 has been published. you can find all the details for the venues by clicking on this link. Meeting monthly, free and open to all, if you have ever wanted to try your hand at sketching on location, you would be most welcome to come along. Just bring your own art materials.

I never get tired of drawing in London sketches and here are a selection of sketches from this year which I haven't posted on the blog before.

Looking back at the ASC Art House Open Studio in September 2019

In September the studios where I have space, organised an Open Studio event over a Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. There were 50+ creatives taking part and it was lovely to have the chance to show my work and working space. Many thanks to the team at ASC Art House Croydon for giving up their time to organise the event.

In the lead up to the event, I had a little bit of a tidy up! Even though I have had the space for a year now, I’m still working out the best place too have my desk and how to use the wall space as my unit is south facing so I get a lot of direct sunlight.

I decided to display some of the accordion sketchbooks which I’ve been using throughout the year and one of them was included in a group show held in the Art House foyer area.

On the Friday evening, we offered complimentary drinks and the Mayor of Croydon came along to make a speech and officially open the event. It was lovely to see so many people walking round the building, looking at the variety of work.

Saturday seemed more of a family time with lots of children amongst the visitors. It felt a very successful event and as a group we hope to hold another event in October 2020.