I’m back with another little illustration post! Like most people, I spend way too much time staring at a computer/phone that any time spent away from screens is a very welcome break indeed. There are a couple of ways I try and give myself a break from digital which includes trying to get through my pile of books (I’m absolutely mastering the art of Tsundoku) as well as doing a spot of doodling. I have always loved drawing but it’s something that I don’t do as regularly as I’d like and it usually takes a big celebration to wake me up out of my drawing slumber! The act of making marks on paper and then filling it with washes of colour is just so much fun and relaxing – and in my case, super rewarding.
I recently attended Gem‘s amazing blogger brunch, and she gave me a little nudge in the right direction after saying that I should draw more. With this playing on my mind, the following day, I whipped out my sketchbook and starting doodling some ideas.
As soon as I opened my sketchbook, the ideas started tumbling out from my pencil and on to the page – I spent most of my Sunday afternoon and evening in the zone. The illustration that I ended up creating is a little gift to my sister Hailey and her fiancé, Craig. They bought their first house recently and I had promised a little drawing of them in cartoon form as a little house-warming present.
I’m all about the floral details and I knew I wanted to include some keys and peonies which are my sister’s favourite flowers. They’re a trickier flower to draw but they turned out ok. I’m viewing this drawing as a practise run before I create one for their wedding, so there’s at least two years for me to nail that perfect peony style!
I need to figure out the calligraphy as fountain pens catch on the textured watercolour paper and I’ve not yet mastered using a regular paintbrush but overall, I’m super happy with how this one turned out. My sister recently sent me a photo of this frame sitting on their mantlepiece in their home and without a doubt, this is one of my favourite moments when gifting these to friends/family and seeing them in situ, it’s the best feeling!
I always mention how I feel like a fraud when I pop my drawings online but I’m trying to get over it, especially as people have approached me for commissions – I can’t quite get over the fact that people want to pay me to draw something for them. Whilst I’m not ready to commit to commissions it does give me the inspiration I need to continue with these. Speaking of which, I’m on a hen do this weekend ahead of my friend’s wedding in June, which means it won’t be long until the next illustration.
