OverDrive Inc. - Inspired Artist: Draw Every Little Thing: Learn to draw more than 100 everyday items, from food to fashion

LEARN TO DRAW MORE THAN EVERYDAY ITEMS, FROM FOOD TO FASHION

Flora Waycott

Hello! My name is Flora, and I am an artist and illustrator based in Australia. I have loved to draw, paint, and make for as long as I can remember. My father is a writer and my mother is also very creative; I grew up watching her knit, make clothes, write Japanese calligraphy, and work on craft projects. From a young age, I was exposed to a creative world and knew early on that I wanted to be an artist, although what form that would take I hadnt yet discovered.

I studied textile design at art school and after working as a textile designer, my focus turned to illustration. This was not a difficult transition, as I had already been applying my drawings to textiles and knew how to work with color.

When it came to building a portfolio, however, I felt stuck. Where should I begin? I fantasized about all the exotic countries where I thought I should be traveling to find inspiration and new color palettes to energize my work. I do believe that travel can fuel new ideas, but it wasnt possible at the time, so I set myself a challenge to draw only the things in my immediate surroundings. I snooped through my cupboards and went for walks, taking notes and making sketches. I soon realized that the world around me contained an abundance of drawing inspiration.

As I made patterns and paintings and experimented with different tools and materials, my style started to emerge and objects that were dear to me appeared throughout my portfolio. A little bit of my personality was embedded in my art. Soon, my work was seen by art directors, eventually leading to illustration jobs. I now create art for various clients around the world, from book publishers to food-packaging and stationery companies.

In this book, I share ideas and tips for drawing every little thing you see around you. I encourage you to start at home and then venture out, all the while keeping your eyes open. Notice things you might typically overlook. Stop to take a photo or make a quick sketch. You will be surprised by just how much inspiration is waiting for you right on your doorstep!

Draw Every Little Thing will take you on a journey through everyday objects and encourage you to look more closely at the world around you. What interesting objects can you find in your own surroundings?

The book is divided into four sections, with each one featuring ideas for drawing subjects as well as step-by-step drawing and painting tutorials. At the end of the book, you will find three crafting projects that will encourage you to apply your illustrations to fun, paper-based handmade items!

Within each section, learn to warm up and stretch your drawing muscles with creative prompts before working through the step-by-step tutorials in the exercises. Here, the art becomes a little more detailed and Ive shared more about my process. You can refer to the useful information found in Drawing & Painting Techniques (see ) before embarking on your drawing journey.

Its not necessary to follow each tutorial exactly, although I would encourage beginners to consider doing so. Once you are familiar with the basic principles, have fun applying the techniques to your own drawing subjects.

Wherever you are in your artistic journey, I hope you will find useful information throughout Draw Every Little Thing and that you will enjoy gathering inspiration from the world around you!

Inspiration is all around you, but its how you interpret your sources of inspiration that makes them unique. Im often asked where I get my ideas for my art, and my answer is always that its a combination of things: my experiences, favorite colors, love of nature and tiny things, and personality.

Below are a few simple suggestions for finding your own sources of inspiration. These tips have become good practice for me, and I hope they will for you too!