I thought I would make use of the blog function on my website to share with you the making of some of my illustrations. What better place to start than the beginning, with my first nature print – Thatcher Rock.
Why I chose Thatcher Rock
This view is one that reminds me of when my husband and I first started dating, as it was our ‘go to’ spot for a picnic or takeaway. We’d always park on Ilsham Marine Drive and sit on the higher green. This area is smaller than the main green, but has a great vantage point over Thatcher Rock. The Monterey pines frame the view and give the area a lovely secluded feel – we always preferred it over the more manicured main green!
Back in 2017, when I decided to start capturing some of my favourite local views, I popped up to the area to sketch a rough layout and check out what plants grew there.
Growing up on the farm, I had learnt the names of some wildflowers and grasses, but my knowledge was patchy! Each recce was a fact finding mission – taking photos and sketches of fauna and researching any unknown species. My little haul above shows the range of plants I discovered. I mistakenly thought the seed head was Cow Parsley, but now know the distinctive black seeds are Alexanders.
The process
Printmaking has always inspired me, and for my first illustration I wanted to use a limited palette of just 3 or 4 colours. Back then, I was still using a mouse to ‘draw’. However, I found this quite tricky, as I’m actually left handed but hold the mouse in my right hand.
I drew upon my graphic design skills to create the illustration in a programme called ‘Adobe Illustrator‘. Working digitally meant that I could adjust the colour scheme and composition until I was happy with it. This was such an advantage over traditional painting for someone as indecisive as me! Here’s a little vid showing how I build up the layers:
The final illustration was part of a set of three, together with my first view of Cockington and Walls Hill. I chose these views, as they were two of my favourite spots for taking the dog for a walk. The other two have been discontinued, but my Thatcher Rock piece continues to be a popular print. Thank you to all those who have chosen to have this one in their homes!
