Hello from the UK

[NicolaSchofield]

Hello!

I'm Nicola. I've been an active watercolour painter and urban sketcher for a long time but art is not currently my career.

Recently I decided to take my long time thoughts of becoming an illustrator seriously. I reduced my hours at my day job and am spending (at least) a year exploring the world of illustration and learning everything I can. I am leaning towards focusing on children's book illustration but I have an open mind and I'm not rushing anything.

I'm in the South of England but too far from London to properly be involved in any illustration community there. I felt a need for like-minded people and somewhere to bounce around ideas and get feedback & inspiration and so I ended up at SVS via the podcast. I've been reading the forums and watched the live crit arena the other day and I'm so excited to be a part of what you're all doing here

Here are a few random little sketches:

for the prompt SINK PLUNGER + DRAGON

a 'building portrait' watercolour commission

pencil sketch of some very bored men in the town centre

I think I'm now going to just dive in and create something for the October competition before I have time to talk myself out of it after seeing the great September entries.

[TessaW]

Welcome! Your work is super appealing. Glad to have you here.

[J L Martin]

This post is deleted!

[animatosoor]

@neschof Hello and welcome to the forum, Nicola! Your work is gorgeous. I hope you enjoy your stay here!

[peteolczyk]

Hi Nicola, welcome, I like your loose style.
There’s an illustrator called Dave tazzyman, he might be interesting for you to look at. He does some really loose pencil sketches too.

[NicolaSchofield]

@peteolczyk Wonderful! Thank you yes, I looked him up and I love the looseness. I tend to struggle with keepings things airy and free in planned out pieces. A common problem for illustrators I imagine! Something to work on.

[DOTTYP]

@neschof Welcome Nicola .Love your watercolours !

[peteolczyk]

@neschof looks like you manage that just fine to me

[NicolaSchofield]

@peteolczyk Very kind of you

[Chip Valecek]

Welcome to the forums!

[juliepeelart]

Welcome!

[chrisaakins]

@neschof welcome to the forums. You should also look at @Teju-Abiola on Instagram her stuff is great!

[NicolaSchofield]

@chrisaakins beautiful! Thank you for the recommendation.

[RG Spaulding]

Hello Nicola, Welcome. I am new here also.