A little help to begin.

For people making images – and people commissioning them.

Try a drawing prompt, gather a project brief or look through working notes from the studio. Each resource has a simple job: make the next creative decision easier.

Find a drawing prompt

Original watercolor painting of three chamomile flowers on a sketchbook page displayed on a small wooden easel. — Time spent looking at flowers
Chamomile watercolor · the original sketchbook page.

Choose a useful starting point.

What shall I draw?Subjects and constraints for a quick study or a longer exploration.Try another mediumA written prompt with a material or technique to explore.Prepare a commissionAn editable brief assembled in your browser.See an image in useArtwork, wall art and product presentations, with context attached.

Commissioning checklist.

Before contacting an illustrator, gather the intended use, audience, image list, deadline and a rough budget. Add a small number of relevant references and explain why they appeal to you. Identify who will approve the work and who will prepare the final publication or product.

For a physical object, keep the actual dimensions and supplier specifications close to hand. For publishing and commercial use, explain the editions, channels and products involved. The more clearly the destination is described, the easier it is to plan the artwork.

Read the complete process

From the working studio.

The journal offers context for the finished portfolio: materials tried, references considered and studies made while learning. Educational work stays identified as educational work, with the original teacher or course context where available.

Read the latest studio stories