Learning the craft but love making a mess :)

Wen Sylvestre

Hello, my name is Wen, I'm from The Netherlands and my childhood dream is to become a children's book illustrator. It only took me a some 20+ years of other work (offices and such, yuck) to realize that you're not supposed to ignore your childhood dream. So, I started following courses like here on SVS and now I'm absolutely sure this is it. But I gotta admit.... although I do love to learn to draw beautifully and technically sound, I'm having the most fun when I'm making a mess. Which is not really obvious when you see my work on instagram and my website. But it's true.

My wish is to develop a good technical fundament by following the courses here on SVS, and then try to loosen up and happily make more messes, but in a controlled way and with knowledge. If that makes sense. I love working both traditionally (the mess) and digitally (the controlled bit) and usually combine these. Things I want to focus on this year (apart from getting better over all): character consistency, environment, and composition.

Wishing you all happy drawing and painting!

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wensylvestre/
website: https://wensylvestre.com/

Nyrryl Cadiz

@WenSylvestre hi, Wen! Welcome to the forum. I just checked your instagram and I really love your work!

Wen Sylvestre

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Thank you so much for your kind welcome! I clicked your instagram link, but it doesn't work? But you had left some love on instagram as well, so I found you anyway I love your work too, it's so lively! Especially the one with everyone in the kitchen.

AnnaFleet

@WenSylvestre welcome! I’m very new as well! I’ve seen your Instagram and absolutely love your work! I mean...anyone who paints foxes and cats can be my friend
Making mess it’s what it’s all about! Enjoying the whole process of making a piece of art is also important...honestly, you should see my desk

Wen Sylvestre

@AnnaFleet lol Desk? What desk? I can't find my desk anymore Thank you for your kind welcome! I see a lot of foxes and cats in your feed as well I love the looseness of your ink work! Great characters as well.

AnnaFleet

@WenSylvestre yes I have desk...can’t remember what colour it is tho... Thanks for popping over to my Instagram too, and yes, loose is definitely the right word! I do love the highly rendered and detail pieces but I don’t think I’d have the patience to do them myself, I’ve done few fan art pieces in the past that took a long time and a lot of details and I had to rest for days afterwards
I’m not sure however if the “loose” style would do for children’s books so maybe I do need to sort myself out?
Xxx

burvantill

@WenSylvestre Welcome! You have come to the right place. I am another who did not follow the dream until late. Your work on IG is lovely and very consistent.

Wen Sylvestre

@AnnaFleet I don't know for sure, but I think it will be no problem. Do you know the work of Helen Stephens? She is a published children's book illustrator and she has that looseness of inky lines too. You can find her on https://www.helenstephens.com/
xx

Wen Sylvestre

@burvantill Thank you for your kind welcome! Good to know I"m not the only late bloomer here Love your work, I saw it earlier here on SVS, the two bears, such a lovely piece!

AnnaFleet

@WenSylvestre I'll have a look at her! Thank you

burvantill

@WenSylvestre thanx

baileyvidler

Hi, Wen! Nice to meet you! I love your approach to controlled messes. I'm personally focusing on making more mess! (Because I'm naturally a control freak.) I looked at your Insta, you've got some great stuff on there. Can't wait to see what else you create!

@WenSylvestre Hi! I think I know you from illostories. It's so nice to see you here.

Wen Sylvestre

@baileymvidler Hi Bailey, thank you! It's too easy to try to make everything perfect, which it will never be, lol Love your work and I love the nature / fairytale vibe you have on your insta.

Wen Sylvestre

@carolinedrawing hello, nice to meet you here too! Oh yes, illostories, that was so much fun! I wish it was still going on.