To all the wonderful daddies in the world past and present. You might only get socks for Christmas and Birthday’s but know we still love you.
- Katy x
Before the bank holiday, I took a seminar Insider’s Guide to a Career in Illustration run by two lovely illustrating ladies, Emma Block and Stacie Swift at the gorgous Smug lifestyle store.
I have been a fan of Emma’s illustrations for a quite a while (remember the Lemon Teacake recipe from her Tea & Cake book) and it was lovely to discover a new illustrator in Stacie.
Here are a few of the topics they covered:
- Portfolios – What should you really have in yours? Quality over quantity.
- Events, Craft & Trade Fairs – The benefits of attending events such as Top Draw, Pulse, Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
- Online Tools – social media, your website, networking
- Your products – sourcing suppliers, wholesale pricing
- Freelancing – agents, licensing, royalties
- The ‘boring’ stuff – tax returns, invoicing
- & more!
Emma and Stacie were really generous sharing their knowledge and answering any questions. I have personally found, there is very little support and business advice in succeeding in the ‘real’ world as a creative professional. Luckily Emma and Stacie have more seminars in the pipeline, delving deeper into more specific areas such as using social media with your illustrating business. Oh, I nearly forgot… you get to eat cake too!
The whole of Campbell Children’s Books department (an imprint of Macmillan) were also at the seminar! Insiders info – they are looking for illustrators interested in board books for very young children at the moment!
- Katy x
I always thought it would be nice to be a twin – although my roller skating skills are zero.
I have been trying out some new watercolour techniques, combining warm and cool colours in a different way. The paper I used isn’t great for this, so the outcome is a little blotchy, but I find it’s great to try new things and keep refreshing my colour theory.
I also made the roller skating twins using watercolour, gouache and coloured pencils to compare. I like the brighter colours, it’s a little more ‘cartoony’.
Let me know which you prefer?
- Katy x
P.S. Just in case you are interested here’s my original sketch…
Modern day kitty cats know the only way to survive being dressed in a mini bonnet and booties is to use up one of their nine lives, then chow down happily on some tuna.
My scanner has turned the watercolours of the little girls hair grey! It must know it’s my birthday soon – how rude.
Katy x
I don’t like long car journeys one bit. However, life is not so bad for my fellow passengers, as I turn into Beyonce and Jessie J’s love child as soon as my seat belt is fastened. It is my duty to croon away and help the time pass more quickly.
- Miss C x
