Fiona Meakin Designs - Draw With Fi

Fox In The Snow, 2011 (Pen and Ink) Zeta, 2011 (Pen and Ink) I often sketch my beautiful cat Zeta, which is in a different style from my prefered 'children's book' style. But it definitely informed my 'Fox In The Snow' illustration. Also inspired by the Belle and Sebastian song. I think it is important to try and draw, from life, using different mediums and styles so that you don't become too rooted in one way of working. I need to do more of this though. I have been following illustrator Lynne Chapman 's blog and on her website she generously gives loads of useful tips and advice on becoming an illustrator. One thing in particular that she recommends is keeping a sketchbook. Not just of the style that you illustrate but a book that you can carry around with you for those quiet moments on trains - when you can capture people and places. Having started out as an actor (and probably being naturally a bit nosey!) I have always people watched. Lynne

Oh my goodness! Today I am 30!

This little giraffe is a sketch for a character idea, from a story I'm working on, and this week's topic (IF) has kick started this project again for me. I like to do rough drawings and block-colour them in photoshop to give me an idea of how to develop the picture further. For me, this is an efficient way of sketching on the computer if I want to get ideas down quickly.

Last Friday's topic for Illustration Friday was 'beginner.' When I became a new mum I felt like a complete beginner, a total novice! My daughter C has been the inspiration behind my illustrated characters that I began creating about 6 months after she was born. I began drawing them on a caravan trip to Cornwall for my friend's wedding, hence the second picture.