Just wanted to say that 1) what you shared here - your analog work, your digital work, the work you hated - everything looks great and original and so very you. So wherever you are, you are on a good path!
2) We all experience that. Like, really. I totally sympathise! Choosing between analog and digital IS difficult and both choices - for one reason or another - will give you a headache! So just hang in there and keep doing what makes your heart full and your life easy 🙂
Layout and composition? Big drama. Sometimes it comes out quickly, sometimes it's painful and you do and re-do 100 times, while crying.
A book is big. It is ok to take your time and experiment and cry a little ☺️ can't wait to seeing more!
Lisa, thank you so much! Making picture books has been nothing but drama from day one, and yet here I am still at it, maybe I'm just stubborn, or maybe it's because despite all the chaos, the process is actually incredibly rewarding and fun. Your comment means the world to me. Honestly, you're such a huge inspiration, every time you share sketches of your work in progress, it sends me straight to my sketchbook with renewed energy. You're divine 🌺
We are our worst judges, I think-feel your work is so gorgeous and your struggles resonates with my own journey too. It’s inspiring and thank you for sharing.
I think that getting the balance of artwork + writing + design is ridiculously hard. It’s why there are so many famous pairings of picture book author/illustrator gangs. And THEY are working with in-house design teams.
Try not to beat yourself up about a bad day (wish I could take my own advice - spent all day yesterday trying to make a sketch I loved into a portfolio piece… still not happy with it). Go out and do something totally unrelated like clean out the gutters! The fury will get them clean super-fast (WIN!). Keep going. You can do it!
Thank you for sharing! I relate to it so much. I realised recently that I had made up so many rules about analogue/digital in my head that I was driving myself crazy. So I'm also in the process of mixing it up. Either way, from an outsider's point of view all of your work looks so great!
Your work is so great! Everything from that 10-week course was gorgeous and made me want to sign up too! Thanks for the kind words, sometimes I think we artists are our own worst enemies! 🌺
Estee, you're not just another illustrator — you're an artist!
As an artist, you're always questioning everything, including your work process.That's not a bad thing, it's just a bit unsettling sometimes. If in doubt, remember how quirky 8-year-old Estee would approach these things: with curiosity and fun.
You're an artist, and you're work is unique — that's why you stand out and why we love following you.
Aw, thank you so much! You're so right about channeling that 8-year-old energy, she just made stuff because it was fun. Sometimes I forget that's still allowed!
I love your analog style, but the final digital drawings you shared are a lovely remix of that style, like, the feeling is still there although the medium is obviously different. I think it's so cool that you're working on a picture book, I'm rooting for you!
I sympathise! It is hard to get digital work to have the same depth as analog stuff. I don’t have any answers, but an idea I have been toying with is doing drafts digitally until the composition is right, printing it out and using a lightbox to do the analog version…
You ROCK! These are wonderful and I appreciate you sharing all the thoughts that go with such a process. Artists are incredible and need to be supported.
Thanks for sharing, Estee. I can 100% relate to this. I’ve wanted to make books for years. I’m currently working through the analog vs. digital dilemma myself. Why is making books the hardest thing in the world? All I can say is that I’m learning all the wrong ways to do it first and then crossing them off my list—that’s valuable work. Anyway, keep up the wonderful work—I’m looking forward to buying your book when it comes out!
Erik, I can totally see your work translating beautifully into picture books, I'd be obsessed and need them all for myself! Thanks for the encouragement and solidarity, it means so much!
Just wanted to say that 1) what you shared here - your analog work, your digital work, the work you hated - everything looks great and original and so very you. So wherever you are, you are on a good path!
2) We all experience that. Like, really. I totally sympathise! Choosing between analog and digital IS difficult and both choices - for one reason or another - will give you a headache! So just hang in there and keep doing what makes your heart full and your life easy 🙂
Layout and composition? Big drama. Sometimes it comes out quickly, sometimes it's painful and you do and re-do 100 times, while crying.
A book is big. It is ok to take your time and experiment and cry a little ☺️ can't wait to seeing more!
Lisa, thank you so much! Making picture books has been nothing but drama from day one, and yet here I am still at it, maybe I'm just stubborn, or maybe it's because despite all the chaos, the process is actually incredibly rewarding and fun. Your comment means the world to me. Honestly, you're such a huge inspiration, every time you share sketches of your work in progress, it sends me straight to my sketchbook with renewed energy. You're divine 🌺
We are our worst judges, I think-feel your work is so gorgeous and your struggles resonates with my own journey too. It’s inspiring and thank you for sharing.
🪲
Your illustrations are just gorgeous and very expressive! Thanks for sharing your process. It will be a terrific picture book.
I love your work - it’s totally original.
I think that getting the balance of artwork + writing + design is ridiculously hard. It’s why there are so many famous pairings of picture book author/illustrator gangs. And THEY are working with in-house design teams.
Try not to beat yourself up about a bad day (wish I could take my own advice - spent all day yesterday trying to make a sketch I loved into a portfolio piece… still not happy with it). Go out and do something totally unrelated like clean out the gutters! The fury will get them clean super-fast (WIN!). Keep going. You can do it!
Cleaning as creative therapy is SO real! Thank you for your lovely comment and good luck with that portfolio piece, may it suddenly click into place 🌺
I am a quick worker so if it doesn’t work right off I am a recycler! 😂
Thank you for sharing! I relate to it so much. I realised recently that I had made up so many rules about analogue/digital in my head that I was driving myself crazy. So I'm also in the process of mixing it up. Either way, from an outsider's point of view all of your work looks so great!
Your work is so great! Everything from that 10-week course was gorgeous and made me want to sign up too! Thanks for the kind words, sometimes I think we artists are our own worst enemies! 🌺
Estee, you're not just another illustrator — you're an artist!
As an artist, you're always questioning everything, including your work process.That's not a bad thing, it's just a bit unsettling sometimes. If in doubt, remember how quirky 8-year-old Estee would approach these things: with curiosity and fun.
You're an artist, and you're work is unique — that's why you stand out and why we love following you.
Aw, thank you so much! You're so right about channeling that 8-year-old energy, she just made stuff because it was fun. Sometimes I forget that's still allowed!
I love your analog style, but the final digital drawings you shared are a lovely remix of that style, like, the feeling is still there although the medium is obviously different. I think it's so cool that you're working on a picture book, I'm rooting for you!
I’m curently working on a children book on my own, I relate with your pain for some steps 🤝😂 thanks for sharing your process !
I sympathise! It is hard to get digital work to have the same depth as analog stuff. I don’t have any answers, but an idea I have been toying with is doing drafts digitally until the composition is right, printing it out and using a lightbox to do the analog version…
You’re getting there. These have so much life. Keep going!
You ROCK! These are wonderful and I appreciate you sharing all the thoughts that go with such a process. Artists are incredible and need to be supported.
You’re writing was pulled from inside MY head!!! So can relate. Your work is so incredible!!!
Thanks for sharing, Estee. I can 100% relate to this. I’ve wanted to make books for years. I’m currently working through the analog vs. digital dilemma myself. Why is making books the hardest thing in the world? All I can say is that I’m learning all the wrong ways to do it first and then crossing them off my list—that’s valuable work. Anyway, keep up the wonderful work—I’m looking forward to buying your book when it comes out!
Erik, I can totally see your work translating beautifully into picture books, I'd be obsessed and need them all for myself! Thanks for the encouragement and solidarity, it means so much!