Having completed the Drawing and Painting Diploma course last year, I was looking for another challenge and decided to tackle the Illustration course.
The fact that I’d recently studied perspective, figure drawing, composition etc proved to be a huge plus, as they gave me the confidence to tackle the assignments. I suspect this course would be a struggle for someone without any of the skills and techniques I’d previously learned.
I really enjoyed the first few modules, illustrating songs and poems, as they posed practical challenges requiring research and problem-solving, as well as creativity. I spent hours on the internet searching for appropriate source material – and taking my own photographs – as well as sketching from life.
There are also modules on graphic design, magazine article illustration and children’s book illustration. The final module involves illustrating an entire book, which was a big project and gives students a taste of what a real-life assignment would demand of them. I don’t mind admitting that I found it difficult and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
During the course I found that my style was developing and by the final assignment I realised that I enjoyed working in pen and ink with watercolour, a technique that I now intend to focus on.
