Hello from France!

[ArlMon]

Hi everyone! I just joined this week so I've taken a couple of classes and I'm looking forward to doing more. I trained as a jewellery designer originally but I'd really love to illustrate a children's book one day. It would be great to get some advice/critiques to help me improve my technique and develop my style. Here are a couple of examples of what I've been doing this week, and more drawings on instagram at arlene_illustrations

[Heather Boyd]

@Arlene-montoya Hello and welcome to the community.

[ArlMon]

@Heather-Boyd Thanks!

[Pamela Fraley]

@Arlene-montoya Hello! Welcome! I like your Red Riding hood in the wolf eye! What part of France are you in? I have been wanting to go since I saw the artist residency at the Chateau d'Orquevaux. It looks so peaceful and beautiful.

[theprairiefox]

@Arlene-montoya welcome! It is great to have you here.

I love the idea of having Red on a scooter... lots of fun.

[Jacy13]

@Arlene-montoya Hi! Welcome to the forums I love the two pieces you have here. The linework and detail in the wolf eye piece is incredible!

[ArlMon]

@Jacy13 thanks!

[ArlMon]

@theprairiefox thanks so much!

[ArlMon]

@Pamela-Fraley Hi Pamela thanks! I'm in Paris (but I'm Scottish!)- you should go to France if you get the chance, it is great here Your drawings on instagram are beautiful!

[Pamela Fraley]

@ArlMon thank you! Someday I’ll get to see Europe!

[Julia]

@ArlMon Hello! I just relocated from Australia to Paris. When the situation with Covid 19 settles, I have this idea to make a regular meetup with aspiring illustrators (and frankly anyone who wants to draw!). I was part of one in Sydney and it gave me confidence and friends. I will let you know when I launch it, until then : Happy Drawing! Those two are great, I'd love to see more!

[ArlMon]

@Julia Hi Julia yes that'd be great! I look forward to it

[Neha Rawat]

@ArlMon Welcome Arlene! The first wolf piece is incredible! I checked out your Instagram. You have a quite a few styles ranging from super detailed/realistic to simple. For starters, you can see what kind of illustrations you enjoy creating and even research what styles attract you and slowly create more pieces in that style. You're already on the right track by taking the online classes Hope to see more of your work here!

[ArlMon]

@Neha-Rawat Hi Neha! Thanks for taking the time to look at my work I'm feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed just now as I've so much to learn and I'm not sure which direction to go in! I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to improve quickly when I should be enjoying the process and exploring different styles, as you say. I really like your website & instagram by the way- I love the characters, the colours and the sense of fun!

[Rachel Horne]

@ArlMon Hello I'm in France too. Whereabouts are you? Nice to meet you anyway.

[PieterVanDerBeek]

@ArlMon Welcome! Nice to meet you :-]

[ArlMon]

@Rachel-Horne Hi Rachel! I'm in the Paris region, what about you? Nice to meet you too

[ArlMon]

@PieterVanDerBeek Hi Pieter! Nice to meet you too

[Rachel Horne]

@ArlMon I live in Brittany, very near to Dinan. I used to live in Paris - central and then the banlieues

[ArlMon]

@Rachel-Horne I love Brittany- reminds me of Scotland! Dinan is lovely. I'm in the north east banlieu, nice and quiet here