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Meet Charlotte Hamilton, an artist on Sktchy. In this Q&A she gives some creative wisdom and a peek at her Sktchy profile.

What’s your background?

At home growing up the walls were covered with paintings and sculptures on mantels. I grew up in the UK along with my brother and sister. All my family are still there. My mum was always busy either with the garden, cooking, cleaning or crafting, and I moved where she did. If she was in the kitchen, I was sitting at the table drawing. If she was outside, I was building fairy houses in her vegetable garden. And my dad, when he wasn’t at work in London, would always be fixing something. Family was and is extremely important to me. But art and wanting to make art as my career was my #1 goal growing up.

I went through school and did a year at art college up in London when I was 18. And then I had the opportunity to go to a Spanish traditional art school on the island of Mallorca. It was quite a big step to make at 19, but I did it. I was at the art school for a year. Only planning on being in Mallorca for the year, I fell in love with the lifestyle, the terrain and traditions and ended up staying for a total of seven years. My career swayed away from the romantic idea of being an “artist” but I was still painting. I was self employed and worked alongside other artists and became a faux painter and muralist for house interiors. I learned that time was precious and if I worked fast and efficiently, I could do the painting I loved.

My Prince Charming came into my life in 1998 and swept me off my feet – and brought me back to Canada with him. I continued the interior painting and murals when I first came over, but since having our two gorgeous girls my work has scaled down considerably and I am now able to work from home. I still paint murals in kids bedrooms if requested, but I love working from home and I teach art during the summer to kids.

When you’re looking for inspiration on Sktchy, what jumps out at you?

I love light on a face. And with light comes contrasting shadows. I choose my portraits not only based on what they look like, but also on who inspires me. When an artist has a body of work on Sktchy, it means they are using the app like so many of us for our daily go-to for practicing our passion. This is really important to me. I will, but rarely, draw someone who has no artwork in their folder. And sorry, I’m a traditionalist. I love to see non-traced art. Although some work is incredibly creative. That’s just my preference.

What’s your medium of choice when you’re creating art?

At the moment I’m on a marker kick. I like the challenge. I don’t sketch with pencil first. I just dive right in with the marker, and this gives me less play, which means I have to be observant to lines and angles. But if someone was to challenge me to a month of watercolor, I would take on the challenge!

What’s one quirk in your creative process?

Hmmmm, I’m not sure. When my girls come home, I’ll sit with them and ask about their day and sketch a Sktchy portrait whilst chatting with them.

Can you share one art-making tip?

Try (I know it doesn’t always happen) to sketch every day. You’re only going to get better at what you do if you do it over and over.

Any words of advice for fellow artists?

I think if you’re already on the Sktchy app, then I don’t really have too many words of advice. Most of us are doing what we love and to those who aren’t yet: “Get on it!”

Get the Sktchy iPhone app to join Charlotte on Sktchy. Featured art: