I'm practicing my line and wash skills (painted outdoors in the winter sun). Thought would be useful for the style of illustrations I'd like to achieve.

Hi All. I've just completed a logo design for a free competition on FB. Hit The Ambulance Gamers originated as a way to thank our NHS ambulance staff for all the work they do by leaving them treats on their vehicles. I went 'old-school' on this one, using my old tools of the trade and Promarkers to hand-render the logo.

Here's my entry - my first ever digital illustration! Had a bit more time to spend on it this month so been practising my Photoshop skills...

Lisa's robot invention worked great, until it started having thoughts of its own...

Well I just made for the deadline - I had more time to spend on it this month due to being at home. I decided to colour this one in Promarkers as I'm not sure digital illustration is for me.

*Updated post. I wasn't happy with the main character's wings so I did a bit of adjusting.
Here's my entry for Dragonfly. A shameful overuse of textures but it's my first illustration practising Procreate on an iPad 4 - so please go easy on me!

Here's my first ever entry - created with watercolour and oil pastels. My image is part of a story about a boy who has gone to bed poorly. Illustration is not something I'm used to doing so it will be a learning curve for me - looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone though and trying all the classes and joining in the forum.

Looking great. Personally I think after you've spent all that time creating a great character it would be a shame to loose it in all that background - need some air around it so it stands out. I like the one you started with yesterday with just the shape filled with the starlit sky.

I have the same dilemma. I do graphic design for a living and art as a hobby. I'm working on some children's book illustrations at the moment but, although I do paint, I haven't illustrated anything since art college and certainly never characters/animals. This is why I joined SVS to learn the fundamentals of illustration. I've been doing a few of the basic foundation classes as Ive gone along - just enough to get by so I can complete the book for the deadline. I now wish I could start agin with the little knowledge that I do have and make a better job of the illustrations. I'd love to spend more time learning but whilst I'm sat at the computer watching the lessons I'm always aware that I could be using that time to do 'real' work. Think it must be down to time management which I'm not very good at - too many tea breaks!

I'm in the same boat. I'm a graphic designer, painting as much as I can in my spare time. Although I love painting landscapes I feel that there is something missing in some of them - that they need a bit of narrative. I have always avoided painting people, animals and buildings as I considered them too difficult and feel if they are going to spoil my painting I would rather leave them out altogether. But recently I was asked to do a set of illustrations for a book which includes a farmer, Santa, reindeers, sheep plus the farmhouse etc! Instead of saying no I accepted the challenge, joined SVS and am now sketching characters/buildings and hoping to join in the monthly challenges to better myself. I'm not sure if I will go down the digital route yet but I will see how it goes. Jay your landscapes look like they are ready to tell a story - it's definitely a path worth following if storytelling is a passion, and if your heart's in it then why not...

Hi there, love your website. Feel free to ignore my input as I don't really have any illustrating skills myself. My initial thought is that the eyes on all your characters seem to look a bit sameish whether they are a person or an animal - a bit scarey like they are staring at something they don't like. Before I'd even read what you wrote about your sketches I thought straight away that they looked great - a lot more relaxed and user friendly. I've not done much rendering in Photoshop as I've yet to get the hang of that - I love traditional painting so I can't comment on that side of it. Don't get disheartened though you're heading in the right direction - good luck!

@fpichel Thank you for your reply - that's been very helpful as I really didn't know where to start with the marketing side of it

Thank you all for your positive replies - I'm feeling better about things already knowing that I'm not alone in this. I think I have been feeling anxious about getting on, and with all that's going on right now it's hardly surprising. Just sharing my concerns has helped, so tomorrow is another day when I will put brush to paper and actually start painting!

Last year I was asked to illustrate a kids Christmas bedtime story to be uploaded to Kindle. At the time I had never done any real illustrating, only fine art, so it has been a big learning curve for me. Obviously I had no idea how much work would go into it. It is for a colleague of a family member, so for a nominal fee I accepted the challenge and also offered to sort out the Kindle side of things. There will be 10 illustrations plus the cover. All the drawings are finally complete and he is happy with them so I'm now ready to start on the finished paintings.

Maybe it's what you call procrastination but my problem is I don't know when to stop doing research/watching the SVS lessons and actually put everything into practise that I've already learned and just get on with it. I will be scanning, printing on watercolour paper and finishing with ink outline. My worry is I'll complete the book and then next year I'll look back and wish I'd done things differently/better. Does everyone feel this way about their work?

One more question if you can help - if I need the book to be ready on Kindle for before Christmas when do you suggest I finish and upload it. Also does anyone have any advise on how to promote the book for him (maybe there's a lesson to watch here!?).

TIA

*Updated post. I wasn't happy with the main character's wings so I did a bit of adjusting.
Here's my entry for Dragonfly. A shameful overuse of textures but it's my first illustration practising Procreate on an iPad 4 - so please go easy on me!

I have the same dilemma. I do graphic design for a living and art as a hobby. I'm working on some children's book illustrations at the moment but, although I do paint, I haven't illustrated anything since art college and certainly never characters/animals. This is why I joined SVS to learn the fundamentals of illustration. I've been doing a few of the basic foundation classes as Ive gone along - just enough to get by so I can complete the book for the deadline. I now wish I could start agin with the little knowledge that I do have and make a better job of the illustrations. I'd love to spend more time learning but whilst I'm sat at the computer watching the lessons I'm always aware that I could be using that time to do 'real' work. Think it must be down to time management which I'm not very good at - too many tea breaks!

Love it!

Hi Everyone,

I have completed 'how to draw everything' and now just finished the basic perspective class. Perspective has never been my forte - I didn't really take an interest in it at college but now I wish I had as I realise how important it is not only for illustration but for my art in general. That's why I'm pushing on and methodically going through the classes step by step instead of galloping ahead to level 2. I struggled with deciding where to start and what view I was after but I think I got there in the end. So here's my final project, drawn with pencil and paper on a lap tray - not the easiest way trying to line up three rulers to a vanishing point!! Any thoughts welcome thanks.

@sarahlash Oh thank you I have found it now

Hi all, It's been a while since I've been here. I missed the live critique but am interested to see how it went - is there anywhere I can catch up with it or is it too late ? Thanks.