EXTRACTS: Illustrators issue 14 © 2016 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

78 though, I prefer not to have to stare at a screen all day, and I am too in love with creating art by hand to ever relinquish it entirely. PR: What are the advantages and disadvantages that you have encountered in working digitally? AS: I do a weekly cover illustration for Money Week magazine. This is an example of a job that I now do entirely on the computer. Working digitally offers a speed and flexibility that is an enormous advantage for these illustrations. I am commissioned on a Tuesday afternoon for a Wednesday morning delivery. I enjoy experimenting on the computer and using what I learn in my hand drawn work. It is very much a two-way street. I think one of the disadvantages of the digital option is that it makes it very easy to produce an illustration that looks quite nice. What I mean is that it can be a very tempting short cut for new illustrators. There is a danger that the work produced lacks soul. There are many amazing digital illustrators out there producing wonderful work, but I would encourage new artists to develop good drawing skills first, which will act as a strong foundation for all future work in whichever medium they choose, digital or otherwise. PR: Would you say it is easier to make illustration a career since you started?