Hello, how are you?
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend.
It’s interview number SEVEN of ‘With What Do I dOOdle?’.
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.
This time it’s an interview with the EXCELLENT children’s author illustrator, super scarf wearer and wondrous walking buddy Fiona Woodcock.
After graduating from Glasgow School of Art, Fiona worked for many years in the world of animated films and commercials, before discovering her love of writing and illustrating books.
Her debut book Hiding Heidi was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award, as were A Dot in the Snow written by Corrinne Averiss and the bestselling The Snow Dragon by Abi Elphinstone. Look was the winner of the prestigious AOI World Illustration Awards 2019 (Children’s Books / Professional category).
Fiona loves to combine storytelling, pattern, character design and hand drawn typography. She creates her unique illustrations with children’s blow pens, rubber stamps, cutting stencils and experimenting with printing techniques.
Here we go…
What’s your favourite thing to draw?
There’s a lot of things I love to draw, but if I have to pick one it would be people. I love creating new characters for my books.
Where is your favourite place to draw?
I do my absolute happiest drawings when I’m out doing a quick sketch somewhere new, so that’s not exactly pinned it down has it!? But for actually getting work done, the calm of my home studio on a sunny day always does the trick.
What’s your favourite thing to draw on?
I’ve got in the habit of doing all the pencil drawings for my books on animation paper at a light box. (A habit I got into in my earlier career in animation) It has the perfect transparency for retracing and a perfect texture for pencil line.
When I’m out and about I like drawing on blank postcards and little off cuts.
What’s your top favourite tool to draw with?
A lovely soft lead pencil. I’m presently hooked on Blackwings.
Do you have a favourite COMBO of tools you use?
I love the combo of painted textured colour with added pencil line.
How the textured colour is produced varies from rubber stamps, dry brush paintwork, print experiments, pastel or children’s blow pens, often applied with the use of cut stencils. (Special mention for my scalpel, I’d be lost without it!).
Is there a tool you always avoid?
No, I don’t knowingly avoid anything, but I don’t often draw with a dip pen or fine liner, I’m too in love with the textured line of pencils.
Is there a drawing tool you’d LOVE to try?
I’d like to do more big paintings, so I’d love to get hold of some enormous brushes and paint rollers and do more big work, perhaps on a wall or building in need of some colour. I love enlarging and adapting my techniques when I paint bookshop windows, but something a bit more permanent would be wonderful. And I’d love to do some animation experiments on Procreate Dreams.
And finally
What’s your TOP favourite drawing snack?
Nuts please! (with a bit of chocolate).
I’ll have a go at these before our next walk Fi 🤗
You can find and follow Fiona here www.fionawoodcock.com
And to buy Fiona’s books head to Shelf Editions, one of the best online bookshops out there.
Happy Sunday all round☺️
Thank you so much for your doodling questions and yes please to that yummy creation! : )
What a fabulous interview! So interesting to read about other people’s favourite materials!