A guest blog from Lina Maria Carrillo on developing a personal style as an artist.

I have loved to draw ever since I can remember. Looking back at my work, I can see how I have gradually developed my own style as an artist. When flipping through my sketchbooks now, I laugh how many identical swans a 4 year old could possible draw over and over again. I like to hope that this level of persistence and commitment some day will serve me well in my artistic career. Later on, I have also cringed at some styles I have experimented with, particularly my naked life-drawing phase!

I think this is basically the same story for every person who likes to draw; we each like to hope that our work has evolved over time and stands out in our own way.

I believe the best way to develop our own artistic identity is to follow what we love. If you love to draw realistic, abstract or even finger paint, go for it!. There is no use trying to emulate someone else’s style, as at the end of the day our best work should clearly reflect who we are as an artist and our love for art.

At a personal level, now that my passion has turned into more of a career, I have to think about whether my work is pleasing to the audience’s eye, whether it is commercial enough to be used for advertisement purposes, and most importantly, whether it is effective in putting my point across. Having my own blog pushes me to come up with new ideas every week. I experiment with new techniques with digital media; I like to play around with my watercolors to create patterns that I can scan and play around with on my computer.

Eventually, when a stranger can pick my work out of others because it has my personal touch, this is something I definitely strive for. Developing my own style seems to be a continuous evolution but I am happy to forever be learning new methods and techniques. This is what I love most about being an artist!

Lina Maria Carrillo

Paperplaneslmc.blogspot.com

We asked world-renowned web designer Grace Smith to tell us a little about how she uses sketching to develop ideas for her design work.

Sketching & Design: a Perfect Combination

Sketching isn't optional for me as a designer, it's essential. I can't go straight to digital at the start of a project, I always start off with some browser templates or Moleskine (and a few Derwent pencils!)

Sketching kick-starts my creativity and allows me to get ideas out on paper and is the fastest way to brainstorm and convey as many ideas as possible with the least amount of effort.

Process

Staring at a blank Photoshop canvas is not a great way to start a project. Although it may sound exciting to just jump straight in, it can also be quite overwhelming. Sketching gets you over this hurdle and allows you to quickly explore concepts and ideas. I see it as the frame upon which I craft my projects.

Whether it's a website design, logo design or iPhone app design, it all begins with a pencil and paper. Sketching enables me to break down ideas and fully explore design and layout options and I find putting it down on paper tends to raise questions and ideas, and leads to changes.

I focus on wireframing and layout when sketching for Web Design and iPhone UI Design, looking at the overall picture instead of minor details too early in the process. I usually start by jotting down the main points and goals of a project on a separate page, which I can then quickly refer back to when I'm sketching.

This is the exact process I used when redesigning my own site - Postscript5, which was recently relaunched. Brainstorming ideas and sketching out layouts for each area of the site led me down some creative avenues I wouldn't have experimented with had I not taken the time to sketch!

I sketch quickly and freely as I'm not concerned with how it looks but on developing and exploring ideas. Plus usually no one but you sees the sketches so don't get caught up in  trying to draw a masterpiece!

My process for Logo Design differs slightly in that the sketches are scanned and digitally treated (in Photoshop or Illustrator). However before the sketches are treated they are shown to the client for feedback and revised, only at this point are they then scanned and given a design treatment. This allows for quick iteration and feedback and makes for a much more efficient design process.

Benefits

As you begin sketching at the start of a project, you soon discover potential obstacles and problems that you may not have seen until much later in the design phase. I've therefore found that while the approach may differ slightly on each project, sketching has cut down dramatically on revisions later in the design stage.

As a designer it now means huge amounts of time aren't invested in refining concepts and solutions which may not be in the right direction, as the sketch (or a sketch turned into a wireframe) can be shown to the client, for approval.

Resources

1. Sketching Resources for User Experience Designers

2. To Sketch or not to Sketch

3. Collection of Printable Browser and Wireframe Sketching Templates

4. An in-depth look at my Wireframing process

Conclusion

Too many people get hung up on not being able to draw, but great drawing skill isn’t necessary to capture your ideas. Sketching should be fast and loose, you're not trying to recreate a Picasso, it’s about transferring ideas from your brain to paper.

It's the place where you make your mistakes and your discoveries and lay the foundations of your ideas.

Now excuse me while I go and grab my Derwent Pencils and Moleskine and get sketching!

Bio

Grace Smith is the principal designer of Postscript5, a small, boutique web design studio based in Northern Ireland, where she works with clients from around the globe.

Please tell us a little about yourself

I’m Robin Grenville Evans,  known to many people as ‘Evsie’ (Pronounced Ev-zee, not Eve-zee), which is how I sign many of my cartoons. I live with my little family in Kendal and I enjoy being middle aged.

What inspires you and your work?

It depends what I’m doing. Because I’m always working on something, I’m always inspired. For cartoons, ideas come to me sometimes from real life situations and conversations. If I’m doing something in a fantasy or science fiction vein, I look very close up at plants, insects and rocks – ordinary things can become very otherworldly. I’m not a ‘serious’ artist, I think. I draw to entertain firstly myself, and then anyone else who happens to like what I do.

How and when did you start drawing?

I understand I was drawing recognisable objects – such as steam trains – when I was about two, but I can’t swear to that. I know I spent most of my childhood writing and drawing comic strips, and it was I confess a world I escaped into. I still have a lot of these, and, looking at them now, it’s clear that I really needed some kind of guidance. Lots of energy and imagination, but no discipline. Pretty much the same today!

What are the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of being an artist?

If I want to see a picture, I can take a pencil and a sheet of paper, and I can create that picture. People say I’m too critical of my own work, but I have to be – however, I do like a lot of my own drawings and paintings. I love being able to draw, and I never take it for granted. 

What aspects of your personality, if any, are reflected in your work?

I’ve had people say that a lot of my cartoon characters (even animal ones) look and act a bit like me. Such personality as I have is mostly learned from my own creations, so you might say that my work is reflected in me, rather than the other way around. This may be because I’ve often had characters saying and doing things that I’m not quick-witted or brave enough to, and over the years,  some of it is rubbing off. I’ve only just thought of that, but I think it’s true.

What would be your advice for someone starting out in drawing?

Firstly, never take advice from a cartoonist!  Secondly, if you’re a young person, don’t suddenly drop it when you leave school.  o many people stop drawing when they turn about 15, and don’t take it up again until they retire.  If you’re good at it, or, more importantly, if you enjoy it, always have access to the simplest drawing materials, and there will never, ever be a reason to be bored. There is a living to be made from it, but I took a strange and bumpy route, and so I can’t offer anything very sensible on that subject.

Thanks so much to Robin for agreeing to be interviewed. Robin is one of a group of fantastic artists who hold family fun days at the Pencil Museum. Events are constantly taking place at the Museum so check the website for up to date info: www.pencilmuseum.co.uk. The drawing below is one of 3 of the winners of the Name Our Giant competition - here's Drew with one of the winners! Drew can be found in the Museum - see if you can spot him and his various memorabilia (coming soon!)

For more information on Robin and his work please visit: www.grenville-evans.co.uk

Having not drawn much since University, it got me wondering how easy it would be to pick up the craft once more. I have a basic level of understanding when it comes to sketching etc but I really wanted to learn a little more.

There are hundreds of drawing books on the market so I decided to choose a comprehensive guide, which encompasses many skills and techniques. The Drawing Bible by Marylin Scott (Search Press, 2005) promises to be ‘An essential reference for the practicing artist.’ Notice the word ‘practicing’ there. I must admit I was initially worried about being very much a beginner but decided to give the book a whirl.

Much to my surprise the contents were easily accessible with a clear contents area broken down into informative headings such as ‘Choosing and using materials’ and ‘Subjects’. The materials pages for example, were packed full of photos and an extensive range of products you can use to draw, such as pencils (of course!), waterproof inks and even how to make your own oil charcoal. I did feel spoilt for choice at this stage!

One of the most useful aspects of the book was the sections that showed techniques for each type of drawing material. I enjoyed practicing the skills taught such as cross hatching for pencils and blending with pastels. These techniques are so important to master as they are the basis of all drawing and the book covered these skills thoroughly.

Once I found my grounding in the techniques I moved on to the ‘Further Techniques’ section. This was exciting for me as it meant I could begin tackling a ‘real’ drawing and not just little hatches and scribbles on a scrap of paper! There are various sections such as ‘Line and Wash’, ‘Sgraffito’ and ‘Masking’ all of which were well explained and beautifully illustrated with clear photographs. This area of the book is perfect for even the most developed artist – there really is something for everyone!

The final section of the book is ‘Subjects’ and believe me, there is a wide range of subjects to master. My favourite study area is animals so I decided to develop my knowledge in this field. I used some of the skills I’d learned in the previous sections in the book to draw a frog. Despite not having drawn for many years I was really surprised at how easy I found it. Using 2B and 4H pencils I used a ‘Stippling’ technique to create areas of shade and texture on the bumpy skin of my frog. I also used a ‘Masking’ technique on his eye area to create highlights.

Overall I loved this handy book. The contents were clearly displayed and the sections colour referenced for ease of use. It’s a fantastic book for dipping in and out of or as a handbook for taking out and about. With the wide range of easy to follow techniques and varied subject matters, it really is an essential book for both amateur and professional.

The Drawing Bible, by Marylin Scott (ISBN: 978-1-84448-094-4) is available from all good retailers RRP: £12.99

Here at Derwent, we're always impressed by quirky drawings. Karen Middleton creates beautiful, ethereal drawings that inspire people.

What do you think? For more information, why not visit: www.karenmiddletonillustration.co.uk or www.pencilportraitart.mosaicglobe.com

I came across a story about the World's Longest Pencil in St Louis; how impressive! It measures an enormous 76 feet, including 2½ feet for the eraser and was made in 2007. Here's some facts about it:

1. The Pencil contains 4,000 lbs of Pennsylvania graphite.
2. It took 3 weeks, and over 7,000 man-hours to complete.
3. This Pencil is the equivalent of 1,900,000 regular pencils.
4. The Eraser is rubber (yes it erases) and weighs in at 250 lbs.

The Pencil Museum in Keswick has the World's Longest Coloured Pencil which really deserves a visit too!

Alison Spratley who works here at Derwent has described how much volunteering and providing pencils to orphaned children in St Lucia meant to her:

My dream was one day to volunteer abroad and work with young children.

Research led me to an organisation called African Impact and The Happy Africa Foundation (THAF), an organisation who are dedicated to sustainable change and progress for underprivileged communities in Eastern and Southern Africa.

I secured a place on the Orphan Day Care and HIV Education project in St Lucia SA. 

On my arrival the team at African Impact made me feel very welcome and in no time at all, we were planning my schedule of work for the coming weeks with my fellow volunteers. We were involved in various community projects, looking after and teaching young Zulu children at three different crèches, managing Holiday and After School clubs, providing HIV education, gardening or working on the 10 families projects.

Many of the schools and crèches in Khula and Eswenalisha are poorly funded and seriously lacking in resources.  Some of the most basic facilities are missing from crèches and classrooms. African Impact wants to help ensure that every child can be cared for and educated in a safe and sanitary environment, whilst benefitting from the facilities that most of us take for granted.

Before leaving the UK I wanted to organise as many donations as possible, and was overwhelmed by the generosity of my work colleagues and friends.

Derwent kindly donated a large quantity of pencils and accessories.  With the support of my work colleagues and Bill Bailey from Rexel South Africa the Derwent donations were delivered safely to African Impact. With the pencils provided the children demonstrated how creative and expressive they could be with their drawings and colouring.

I would like to thank Derwent, Bill (Rexel SA) and my friends for their kindness and support for such a good cause.  

I was touched and inspired by the children of Khula, many of whom melted your heart with their cheeky grin, lovely smiles and loveable nature.  A lot of the young children are orphans and looked after by their grandparents, therefore the work that African Impact does is vital to their daily lives, giving them an opportunity to learn, be loved, and feel safe in their environment.

My time in St Lucia was truly an amazing experience, worthwhile and very rewarding, but most of all it made me realise the importance of helping others less fortunate than myself. Without organisations like African Impact you can’t image what some of the children and families have to endure on a daily basis.  Therefore it is important for me to continue supporting African Impact by doing what I can here in the UK.

If you are interested in the progress of African Impact SA please visit their website to find out more, http://africanimpact.com or visit them on Facebook  

Before leaving the UK a friend said to me “that if everyone of us gave up 3 weeks in our lifetime, what a difference we could make in the world”.  On that note, I hope to one day return to Africa, where I can try to make that difference!

Thanks to Facebook we found an amazing artist who really astounded us with his skill at photo-realistic pencil drawing. We asked Diego to share his work and bio with us:

DiegoKoi was born in Lamezia Terme (CZ) October 25, 1989. As a young man he started out creating tattoo designs & was inspired by the work of Katsushika Hokusai.

In time, Diego’s technique moved on from the sharp and heavy lines of Japanese tattoo drawings and he progressed on to the lightness and delicacy of pencil drawing. The pursuit of perfection is an obsession for Diego.

He has the ability to see hundreds of shades of grey & achieve extreme realism in his works. He spent a brief time training with the great artists Calabrese, Maurizio Carnevali who helped him define his drawing skills to be able to communicate his vision.

Diego has made a great name for himself and is commissioned regularly from all over the world. His work goes beyond the simple picture and has wowed the public with exhibitions in the picturesque area of Calabria, Italy.

Diego uses Derwent Graphic Pencils "I tried many but the Derwent pencils are the best, because the feel of the pencil allows you to draw in a classic style, the core is also very strong & will not break."

See his work below - it really is beautiful. For more information on DiegoKoi please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/diegokoiart
http://diegokoi.altervista.org/
http://diegokoi.artelista.com/
http://www.equilibriarte.org/member/9004
http://www.ioarte.org/artisti/Diego-Fazio/

We know how much you loved our badges last time we gave them away on Facebook, however rules for competitions have changed so we aren't allowed to do them on our wall anymore (booo!) So we're giving you the chance to win one of 20 on our blog instead!

Simply leave us a comment at the bottom of this post to be in with a chance of winning one - they are beautiful and should be worn with pride! You've got until Thursday, 9th June to enter :)

Love Derwent x

Everyone at Derwent was so excited for the Royal Wedding that we launched a competition to win a limited edition Majestic wooden box! All you had to do was to tell us how you would be celebrating!

The winner was Hazel Hay from Glasgow who told us:

As we watch William and Catherine marry, our family will settle down to a very British picnic in our living-room. We will have the Wedding Albums from all our family: grandparents, sister, brothers, and our own, sharing all the memories and pictures from these special days with our two boys. Collectively these make up the foundations of our family, and why we are every bit as special as our Royal Family. As William and Catherine begin, on this day, to build the branch of their special family tree, we show our boys their place in ours.

Speaking about the winning entry Emma Chapman, Marketing Communications Manager, who organized and judged the competition, said ‘we really liked the idea of Hazel spending a special day with her family and giving her two boys some special memories to treasure’.

We were so pleased when Hazel sent us some photos of her family enjoying themselves on the day! I think you'll agree, they look like they had a wonderful day! Hazel told us, on being told of being a winner:

I am quite stunned. I don't know what to say other than thank you very much. My boys have just watched me scream and jump and jump about the living-room, and finally sit down to say thank you to you and everyone at Derwent for choosing my entry. Thank you so much again, you have made my year!

Congratulations to Hazel & her family - we hope you enjoy having a piece of Royal Wedding & Derwent history.