Life at the MA – Part I

Since September I have been flying back and forth between Utrecht and Cambridge to follow the MA course in Children’s Book Illustration. It’s about time I show some of the work I’ve been doing!

The first module was all about observational drawing.
Back to basics, baby.

This is the first out of four blogposts showing pages from my sketchbooks.
Part I: Getting back into line drawing again and trying out coloured pencils.

(P.S. The summer school that changed my life is back online again!)

 illustrator ellen vesters sketching in studio

 

early sketch figures and trash can at deventer station by ellen vesters illustrator from utrecht

 

early sketch old man young man pigeon at utrecht central station by ellen vesters illustrator from utrecht

 

early-sketch-two-man-on-train

Rob Hodgson

Since Kim’s ‘5 questions to…’ I have been a loyal follower of Rob Hodgson‘s work.
And now the man came up with these fantastic pencil sets.

Have. to. have.

Unfortunately Urban Graphics is not yet responding to my obsessive questioning as to when they’ll be in the shop.

Update, 03/02/2015: “Hi Ellen! The pencils will be in stock around April, follow us on Instagram at @urbangraphic for all news on our latest product releases :)”

rob hodgson pencil sets

rob hodgson pencil sets

rob hodgson pencil sets

Illustration Summer School

“What a lifechanging week!”, all of us shouted.
Summer school in Cambridge had ended and we said our teary-eyed goodbyes…

Just one week! One week that was so inspiring that all of us felt like Peter Pan had sneaked up on us in our bedrooms and had kidnapped us to Never Never Land.

So, what happened?

This June I felt like I needed a good kick up the old illustration butt.
Running a shop, working on commissions, and teaching illustration as well as psychology had taken their toll.
I had to get back in the artistic saddle and create something of my own again.
I looked around for nice summer schools, remembered Marloes de Vries being oh-so enthusiastic about the Children’s Book Illustration one in Cambridge and decided to enroll.
It turned out to be the best thing I could’ve done for myself.

Ellen Vesters Illustrator at MA Children's Book Illustration Summer School Cambridge

I photographed this sign on my way to campus.
I was so so nervous, carrying 14 kilos of art supplies, wondering what I was getting myself into: an insecure 18-year old Erasmus student all over again!

But of course summer school was amazing.
The teachers were the best ones around, special credits to Pam Smy, Marta Altes, Courtney Dicmas, Ness Wood and Imogen Clare.
We got to work on our very own children’s book (dummy) for one whole week, including daily lectures and one-on-ones.
What a treat!

Ellen Vesters Illustrator at MA Children's Book Illustration Summer School Cambridge

Already on day two I texted Mr Rockstar: “Houston, we’ve got a problem… I don’t want to go home anymore!”

The rest of the week I felt like I was going mental.
I felt absolutely torn between wanting to have more of this, wanting to sign up for the MA, and having this already wonderful life back in the Netherlands.
At one point I thought to myself: what would Lecturer-me do?
I started to look for possibilities instead of racking my brain about all the impossibilities.
And of course… with the right sacrifices it turned out I could do it!

And I ENROLLED! And GOT ACCEPTED!

(without having finished my art school bachelor’s degree!)

This will be a crazy two and a half years, flying back and forth, but I am going to do this!

I will try to keep you guys updated on my progression.
Status right now: shaky knees! Feeling so nervous again!

Ellen Vesters Illustrator at MA Children's Book Illustration Summer School Cambridge

For those of you that want to know what I have actually been sketching that whole week…

Giraffes and zebras!

Duh.

Ellen Vesters Illustrator at MA Children's Book Illustration Summer School Cambridge

Ellen Vesters Illustrator at MA Children's Book Illustration Summer School Cambridge