Capture Autumn In Watercolours

Sarah Webb creates an autumnal environment illustration, exploring the process from her initial idea, using reference and working with watercolour techniques

- Sarah Webb

My aim as an artist is always to try and fit as much into the world of my illustrations as possible. Making art reminds me what I’m excited about in life and I want the world I’m creating to reflect that.

Gathering reference and inspiration is one of the most important and fun parts of my workflow; the idea for this workshop was sparked from walking in a park near my house. Having reference photos on hand makes me work faster and more confidently because I can quickly look at images of a certain texture of tree bark or bird wings, or art that reminds me what I’d like to work towards.

Noticing what you specifically find interesting about the world around you (in cities or nature, or other art) is helpful for any artist developing their taste and style. I’ll look at my own photos for lighting or colour ideas, film stills, inspiration folders I keep on my computer, search online for specific objects, and maybe listen to music or audio books that suit the setting or mood. Think about what you appreciate in your favourite artist's work or the things you like looking at, and how your own taste and experiences come together to create something new.

I don’t recommend copying directly from inspiring art or photos, but rather study a wide range to pick out interesting ideas you can combine, and avoid being derivative. Austin Kleon’s book Steal Like an Artist really captures my philosophy on learning to use reference ethically and for your own best artistic results.