Hello, hope you’re well.
It’s interview number FOURTEEN of ‘With What Do I dOOdle?’ and, this time, I’m delighted to have chatted to my buddy and purveyor of pERfect pen & INK illustrations, Sarah Horne.
I love using all sorts of things to draw with and I’m always up for a favourite tools chat, SO I’ve been asking some fellow creatives what they like to use.
Photo credit: Hazel Thompson
I’m very lucky indeed to know this lady and regularly meet her for a Forest Hill mooch, cuppa & catch up. She’s a genius in the world of character creation and her sketchbooks are a delight of pencil perfection (I’ve had a peek).
The latest book Sarah illustrated, Betty Steady and the Toad Witch (written by Nicky Smith-Dale), is crammed full of the most excellent drawings, and is one of the most hilarious books we’ve read in our house. You probably heard us cracking up down the road!
Sarah bunked up with me in the studio for Artists Open House recently too and bought along some GEM like original pen and ink work to sell, which made me SO excited I had to get the fig rolls out. She’s very clever indeed. I’m a fan.
Here’s a bit of BIO:
Sarah Horne learnt to draw whilst trying to explain her reasoning for an elaborate haircut at the age of nine. An illustrator for over 20 years, she started her Illustration career working freelance for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Independent On Sunday and Print Week. She also worked on commissions for advertising clients such as Nike, IKEA and Kew Gardens.
In 2010, Sarah published Paws, Claws and Frilly Drawers and Tantrums And Tiaras her first Author/ Illustrator young fiction titles with Stripes.
She has illustrated over 100 books, including Charlie Changes into a Chicken, Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy Who Ran Away From the Circus (and joined the library), Puppy Academy, and Ask Oscar and its sequels.
Sarah’s most recent publication is ‘The Firefly’s Light’ published by Scholastic.
When not at her desk. Sarah loves running, painting, photography, cooking, film and a good stomp up a hill.
Sarah can mostly be found giggling under some paper, in her London studio.
Here’s Sarah’s…
What’s your favourite thing to draw?
I love a monster, or a craggy interesting face.
Where is your favourite place to draw?
I do love outdoor drawing, coffee shops, landscapes, beaches.
What’s your favourite thing to draw on?
I big thick hardback sketchbook, with some heavyweight paper.
What’s your top favourite tool to draw with?
2B Mechanical pencil.
Do you have a favourite COMBO of tools you use?
I don’t have a favourite combo, but I love using anything with a decent nib: mechanical pencil, fine-liner and apple pencil are all lovely.
Is there a tool you always avoid?
Oil pastels! Ergh, not for me.
Is there a drawing tool you’d LOVE to try?
I’d love to do more printmaking- especially etching, I just think the results are often so beautiful.
And finally
What’s your TOP favourite drawing snack?
Tuc biscuits or a borbon biscuit.
MMMM, classic. Thanks so much Sarah!
You can find and follow Sarah on Instagram here and visit her website here.
For those who fancy it I’ll see you for dOOdling this Wednesday (10th July - paid subscribers only).
We shall be drawing all things SUMMER!
7.30pm UK time on the ZOOM.
The Zoom code will be heading out on Wednesday morning as usual. Recording available as always if you can’t make the live session.
Happy Sunday ☺️