I began my illustration journey several years ago. At the time I was heavily identified as a writer, and though I liked to draw, illustrating had not yet landed on my, ‘Things I must do in this life,’ list.
But when it landed, by golly did it land. I started sketching on the couch each night, out of curiosity (and because I found it so soothing) but it wasn’t long before that curiosity had become an obsession. Every night, without fail, my sketchbook would accompany me to the couch. And every night, I’d feel a little bit like I was cheating on my writing.
But I HAD to draw. It was as if some unknown force was driving me, and as uncomfortable as it felt to be in the ‘learner seat,’ again, I could not move away from that magnetic pull.
I wondered: why is this happening? Why have I suddenly shifted lanes? (I had just completed my Master of Arts, Writing. And after that I’d added a ‘Writing for Picture Books’ course to my list.) So why illustrating? I had always loved drawing and painting, but this felt different. This felt like I was searching for home within the process of illustration. Looking for my creative essence within it.
Then I remembered the books I’d read as a child. The written flow had touched me deeply, but the Illustrations were a different kind of magic, and ‘adult me’ had to explore that picture book magic from both sides.
My curiosity drove me to enrol in an Illustration course, named Pitch Perfect Portfolio, ran by a powerhouse of knowledge and experience in the Australian children’s book industry, Margrete Lamond. It was here that I really started to become excited about where I might take these new skills I was learning. Learning about lighting, shadows, values, posture: it felt like a new language, one that I wanted to get to know and understand.
And here I am today. With a beautiful little body of Illustrations under my belt, and skills I never dreamt possible only a few years ago. Thank goodness for the wonder and power of curiosity.
I’m still on my learning journey. I will always be on a learning journey, I’ve come to understand, and that is perhaps the most exciting part of all. Creative growth is enormously satisfying. The chance to look and see: this is what I could do before, versus, this is what I can do now. The difference after a few years of practice is extraordinarily rewarding to sit with.
You’re so welcome to join me as I journey on.
