Illustration Newsletter
Release the flip-flops!
Inflate paddling pools, fill freezers with Fabs and prime frisbees for flight. Summer's here.
You're looking down the barrel of 4+ months of summer holidays before you return as newly minted second or third years! But...
If you need to contact us or UoC during the summer months, here's how you can go about it...
(whilst on leave we won't be checking our emails)
You're looking down the barrel of 4+ months of summer holidays before you return as newly minted second or third years! But...
If you need to contact us or UoC during the summer months, here's how you can go about it...
(whilst on leave we won't be checking our emails)
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Dwayne
dwayne.bell@cumbria.ac.uk Tony tony.peart@cumbria.ac.uk |
In the absence of your prog team:
Mike Toyn - Principle Lecturer mike.toyn@cumbria.ac.uk |
Summer 2026 planner
Hi everyoneAs we head into the summer break, it’s worth asking: what can you do to keep your skills moving forward?
At the very least, we want to avoid that familiar feeling of coming back in September and having completely forgotten what it is you do - and how to do it (a bit like school, where the first two weeks were spent remembering how to hold a pencil).
These next few months are a genuine opportunity - to build skills, explore personal projects, try new approaches, and, importantly, enjoy making work.
To help get the ball rolling, we’ve put together some broad suggestions of things you might want to explore over the summer.
And, because we’re nothing if not fun, we’ve also created a Summer 2026 Planner (link below). Yes - nothing quite captures the carefree spirit of summer like a spreadsheet. That said, we encourage you to take a bit of time to think about what you want to achieve, and how you might use the time ahead (19 weeks - that's over 1.5 semesters) in a way that works for you.
Enjoy it, and make the most of it. We'll see you on the other side...
At the very least, we want to avoid that familiar feeling of coming back in September and having completely forgotten what it is you do - and how to do it (a bit like school, where the first two weeks were spent remembering how to hold a pencil).
These next few months are a genuine opportunity - to build skills, explore personal projects, try new approaches, and, importantly, enjoy making work.
To help get the ball rolling, we’ve put together some broad suggestions of things you might want to explore over the summer.
And, because we’re nothing if not fun, we’ve also created a Summer 2026 Planner (link below). Yes - nothing quite captures the carefree spirit of summer like a spreadsheet. That said, we encourage you to take a bit of time to think about what you want to achieve, and how you might use the time ahead (19 weeks - that's over 1.5 semesters) in a way that works for you.
Enjoy it, and make the most of it. We'll see you on the other side...
| summer_2026_schedule_plan.pdf |
1. Draw - A Lot!
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Seriously. Draw loads. Fill sketchbooks. Doodle on receipts. Sketch from reference, from life, from imagination. Try new materials. Make mistakes. Have fun.
The goal isn’t perfection, it’s practice, play, and progress. The more you draw, the more confident and fluent you’ll become. You’ll thank yourself in September. You won't have to look far to find sketchbook inspiration - try searching 'urban sketching' to see how your surroundings can inspire your work. The example right is by Lucia Leyfield |
Lucia Leyfield 2024
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Top tip:
Aim to be prolific, not perfect. Reflection is important for improving your work, of course, but remember, sketchbooks aren’t portfolios. Not everything needs to “work.”
Drawings will go wrong. Experiments will fail. Subjects will move before you’re finished. That’s all part of the process.
Being too critical, or too focused on making something “good”, can actually slow you down. It can stop you making the volume of work you need to improve.
Instead: keep going. Turn the page. Try again.
Momentum is where progress happens.
2. Stop! Look & Listen
Spend time looking at the work of illustrators, artists, designers, animators, comic makers, and visual storytellers. The internet is full of inspiration — from Instagram and Behance to YouTube and podcasts. If you find a feed or channel that works for you - save it and check in regularly.
Search second hand shops for illustrated children's books, vintage folio society editions...
But don’t just scroll and “like.” Be a connoisseur. Ask yourself:
Search second hand shops for illustrated children's books, vintage folio society editions...
But don’t just scroll and “like.” Be a connoisseur. Ask yourself:
- What do I love about this artist’s work?
- What techniques or ideas could I try?
- What do I need to improve, and who does that well?
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Derek Brazell and Jo Davies of the Association of Illustrators have written a number of books on the subject of illustration, all of which are well worth your time (and available from our own library). |
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Canadian illustrator Tom Froes, joined us in semester 1 and his book 'Drawing is Important' was recently published. Worth a look if you'd like to invigorate your drawing practice over the summer. This isn't one of those 'how to draw' books, rather it's more about encouraging a regular and positive relationship with a personal drawing practice. |
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3. Personal Projects — Make Stuff!
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Give yourself a project or two. It doesn’t need to be serious or polished, it just needs to be yours. Maybe it’s a mini comic, a fake album cover, a zine, a character design challenge, or a visual diary of your summer*.
This is how illustrators grow, by making things, trying things, and learning through doing. The example on the right is by comic artist Jason LaTour who, beside his mainstream comic output, explores aspects of his own life in online comics such as this. *if you find a project engaging, do it again. Rather than 'a' film poster, create a range for a directors entire output. Like an author, why not illustrate all of their books? |
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Illustrator Paul Rogers has been drawing 1 image per page of Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' and posting them to this dedicated instagram page.
4. Think Ahead!
If you’re heading into third year, start thinking about who you are as an illustrator and where you might want to go. What kind of work excites you? What areas of the industry interest you — publishing, animation, editorial, games, branding, comics?
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You probably won’t stick to one path forever. But having a sense of direction will help you make the most of third year and give your work purpose and focus.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You probably won’t stick to one path forever. But having a sense of direction will help you make the most of third year and give your work purpose and focus.
Abbie Hodges, who graduated last summer, first identified her ambition to work in children’s book illustration and writing during her second year. That early clarity gave her the time and space to develop the skills, voice, and confidence that led to her standout final project, What Digby Dug - a landmark piece that beautifully showcased her growth as both an illustrator and storyteller (and which received 100% in assessment).
Bonus Tip: Stay Connected
Talk to each other. Share work. Swap ideas. Encourage your peers. Illustration can be solitary, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep the creative conversation going.
Talk to each other. Share work. Swap ideas. Encourage your peers. Illustration can be solitary, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep the creative conversation going.
SUMMER PROJECT PADLETS
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You know how much we love a bit of padlet action. Here's two padlets for you, on the left you can post inspiration and ideas for summer projects - could be embedded social media posts, other peoples work, competitions etc. On the right, you can share your own work with each other. We've turned comments on, so you can also give feedback etc.
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL... THE 2025/26 ACADEMIC YEAR
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