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[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]My name is Kiara, I\u2019m an illustrator and writer from South Africa. I have always enjoyed storytelling in whatever form I could get my hands on. When I was in primary school I had the tendency to make up new worlds and write short stories set in the world, and share them with my classmates. But the other children would be more interested in the stories when there were illustrations to go along with the writing, so I also began illustrating the characters, settings, and scenes. I just remember having so much fun all the time whenever I was drawing or constructing another world, so for me that\u2019s how it began.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
I think visual art\/illustration is one of the many forms of storytelling. In my personal journey, I was a writer first, primarily because it was such an accessible way of creating, I didn\u2019t need any art supplies except for pen and paper.\u00a0Writing stories was my coping mechanism, building new worlds on paper and describing them in as much detail as possible. I am also a lover of languages and all the different writing mechanisms are at the disposal of a writer. Short stories felt really powerful too, like telepathy. A story from my mind to yours. Over time as I could afford art supplies, I began experimenting more with other forms of storytelling, and now illustrating my stories is integral to my creation process, acting as something to catch a potential reader\u2019s eye and immerse them in a new world.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”23372″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”23380″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Gouache and watercolor are sisters. I first painted with watercolor and when I could afford to experiment I got my first set of gouache paints. Since then gouache has become my favorite medium because of its beautiful matt finish. The same techniques can be used for watercolor and gouache, such as wet-in-wet, dry brushing, etc, but in addition to that I love that gouache is more opaque. With careful layering and color mixing, a gouache illustration can look almost like a digital render, which I find incredibly satisfying. Now I use watercolor and gouache hand in hand sometimes, often using watercolor for the underpainting of a gouache illustration.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
It started when I feel inspired or get an idea for a new character, or adventure or setting. Usually I get the best ideas when I let my mind wander with no external noise. I like to think of it as noticing inspiration, instead of waiting to receive inspiration. For example when going for a walk, I might find an interestingly shaped tree stump, and find myself wondering what\u2019s in the tree stump? How did the tree stump end up there? What does it do now? Does it have a name? Is it a friend or a foe? And a story starts developing from there. I will draw the tree in my sketchbook, and might not look at it again for years. Or it might turn into a larger painting and a completed short story answering all those questions.<\/p>\n
With the technical side of my creative process right now, I like to first sketch a thumbnail in pencil, super rough and low stakes. I\u2019ll develop that sketch into a more detailed drawing, then transfer the drawing onto watercolor paper, like my Agave Watercolour paper<\/a> pad. Then I\u2019ll use Payne\u2019s Grey watercolor or Burnt Umber watercolor to complete an underpainting. Even if I use gouache for the final illustration, a watercolor underpainting helps me problem solve and decide where the light is, where the shadows are, the material of each object and more information before adding color. Lastly I paint each spot on the painting using gouache paint, mixing colors as I go, adjusting and readjusting. It\u2019s the most fun part.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n It\u2019s true, most of my illustrations are of forests and magical trees. It started because I wanted to illustrate my fantasy short story series, The Polkadot Files, <\/em>where the primary setting is a mysterious forest with portals on each tree. After that I just grew obsessed with painting trees and plants. Dark, dense, eerie forests hold so much magic, I just want to escape to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”23374″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text]Your illustrations often depict magical forest scenes filled with plants, mushrooms and tiny creatures. What inspires you when creating these kinds of atmospheres and settings?<\/h5>\n