As nights go by

Hi there! :) hope you guys are having a nice weekend!

I received a DM on my Instagram asking me about style (and illustration in general). So I thought it was a good excuse for me to write a blog post about it :D 

I want to keep this short and sweet, because:

1) I only know stuff based on my personal experience, so I might not know a lot :( 

2) It might be boring/tedious to read if it’s too long!! 

Anyway, this post will be a bit ambiguous but hope you guys find these rambling helpful! So here we go:

a) Inspiration: Not sure if I like the word but there it is anyway. Anything helps here. Go to a museum, ride the train, go to a café, go on Pinterest, follow people on Instagram, read a book, watch a movie, etc... see/do stuff that want to make you pick up a pencil. 

b) Observation: Now, you liked that painting at the museum? Why?. Maybe the color palette was nice? Or the way the painter told a story with just a few strokes is what’s catching your eye?. We often know what are the things we like, but maybe we don’t usually tend to observe. As cliché as it might sound, this will help you find “your voice” and to discover what you want to say with your work. 

c) Doodle!: Just doodle. Don’t think too much about it, the idea here is to have fun. If you find the blank page a bit daunting, I recommend you some activity books, like this one by Taro Gumi 

You can find a huge variety of activity books, they are so much fun!

Now, have a look at your doodles. What do you like about them? or what don’t  you like about them? Can you see hints of those things that inspired you before in your doodles? The idea here is not to copy somebody else’s work, but to incorporate those things you liked by interpreting them in your own way. 

d) Use different materials: This could be so much fun. Try using markers, acrylics, gouache, watercolors, colored pencils... Obviously, don't go crazy and buy every single item you find at the art supply store, but maybe get one or two, and once you find the medium you are more comfortable with then think of making an investment and get more of them. (Also, try different types of paper!)

Ink experiments, circa 2013

e) Patience and practice: This whole thing is a journey, so you might not necessarily love what you produce right away. I think the key here is to enjoy the process, trying to find what works for you and to be self-critical and as objective as possible. Keep drawing, keep doodling, keep experimenting and then your own “style” will show. You might have one of those “serendipitous” moments of discovery, hang on to them, but keep exploring.

2012. This is when I started drawing faces “in that style” and feeling more comfortable with the way my drawings looked. It was 100% serendipity.

f) Ask for advice!: Sometimes is helpful to hear some feedback. Maybe there’s a drawing club you can attend to? Or a friend who loves to draw? Maybe you can even ask people for advice and feedback on your tumblr!. Just remember; try to not take things personally and do what you think feels ok. Be open to suggestions, but try to not sway.

g) Have fun!: :) 

These things are pretty basic, so I’m not sure if they’re helpful in any way! (I hope they are!) but the honest truth is that (based on my personal experience) these is all there is to it!. However, if you think I didn’t mention something that could be helpful, please let me know :) 

For Illustrated Girls, no. 24 :) 

You can read it here: http://issuu.com/illustratedgirls/docs/24

And you can find them on Facebook as well :)