Emma Carlisle

Comics and funnies that I make. WARNING - this blog is not suitable for children. For child friendly illustration please see my website www.emmacarlisle.com

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I made these hand painted Over The Garden Wall, laser cut figures for Ben's Christmas present!

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The people you draw remind me of James Thurber's. Is he an influence?

Not a direct influence, but who knows! Maybe subconsciously ?

[emmacarlisle]

I know you only get questions about this kinda stuff but I'm really interested in going into illustration and all the universities I'm looking at only have fine arts/studio arts programs and not illustration, do you think I could still go into illustration with like a fine arts degree? thank you so much!

Find an illustration course. You could do a fine art course and do illustration based work but I think you'd learn a lot more and get the most out of a degree if you study an illustration specific course. Maybe try emailing the tutors of the courses you like and explain the situation, I'm sure they'll be able to help you! Good luck!

[emmacarlisle]

Thank you to everyone who came to say hi today at Bristol Comic and Zine Fair!!

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Colour test for an idea thats been floating around my brain and sketchbooks the last few months. Enjoying these greens

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A drawing done for the ice bucket doodle over on twitter. Soggy Moggy

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Hello Emma, was wondering if you think it's possible to make a living in the illustration world (children's books especially) without a degree as I do not have the money to go to uni. love your drawings btw! xxx

Tough question! I think it's a really personal choice. I know a lot of artists that I follow have no art training what so ever, so it is possible! But for me I couldn't have done it without going to University and then studying an MA in children's books. It's so easy to look at a book and think oh I could do that, but theres so much to learn, pacing, design, book layout, story arcs, flat plans. Try looking into short courses that you can do, I know that one of the amazing lecturers (Pam Smy) from my MA organises a Childrens Book Summer School at Anglia Ruskin which I defiantly think you should look into doing if you're really serious about picture books! Good luck with it all anon! Looking forward to seeing your work! 

[emmacarlisle]

From a series of two panel funnies titled 'if cats were humans' which will be available at BCZF next month 

[emmacarlisle]

hi emma, I was wondering what else can you do with an illustration degree that might not be as obvious?

Ummmm ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE! But seriously, illustration can be so varied! You could work freelance for clients, you could run your own small business, you could work in house as a designer, you could become a tattoo artist, you could teach, you could work for a publisher! The world is your illustration oyster

[emmacarlisle]

Hi Emma! I've been looking for a good scanner for a while and because your drawings always look gorgeous, I wondered what you use? xxx

I have an A3 Epson GT-20000 ! I bought it when I finished Uni (3 years ago!) and it's still as good as when I bought it! Pricey, but worth the money!

[emmacarlisle]

Hello, I am interested in setting up my own website and was wondering where you got the information to set up your amazingly unique website :)? Thank you for your help

I'm extremely lucky that my dad is a website designer! So he built mine for me, drop him an email and he'll be able to quote you for a similar design! sales@i4site 

[emmacarlisle]

hello, i really enjoy your illustrations! I have been tossing around my doing an illustration degree, but I have heard graphic design is also very similar. what is the different between the two? I have seen degrees in graphic design with a focus on illustration. also would a Mac computer be better for these art degrees? I have never use a Mac, any tips? I love you work space and desk, it is so organized.

My dad swopped from PC to Mac a few years ago, if he can do it, you can do it! It takes a bit of getting used to but seriously once you go mac you never go back! For me I loved drawing, so it was an easy choice for me to choose illustration over graphics. At Plymouth, where I studied, graphics was very typography based. If you love drawing go for a full blown illustration degree! If it's a good course you'll still learn how to lay out books, use photoshop, indesign, illustrator and how to sensibly use font. Have you tried emailing graduates of the courses you're looking at? That might be a good place to start. Send me an email if you have any more questions, picking a university degree can be really tricky! - [email protected] (oh and my desk is such a mess right now, organised chaos more like!)

[emmacarlisle]

poo comes out of your bum

and your mouth

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hello i really like your style of illustrations. how did you go about defining your own style? I have been looking into maybe studying illustration. did you do an digital arts or graphic design/ art classes? I have also heard that apple laptops are more common for artsy majors. which do you use? if apple, any tips for someone who would make the switch for college?

Hello Anon! I started off by doing a National Diploma in Art and Design instead of doing A Levels and then went straight onto University to study Illustration for 3 years. I've just finished a year and a half MA in Children's Book Illustration, so it's been 7 years now which I've spent working on my visual language. Everyone has a natural way of drawing and I think the best thing to do is just embrace it! It's not easy or quick but just let it flow, don't copy and work hard! I do use apple products for working, I purchased mine in my 2nd year of Uni and never looked back, best bit about getting it whilst you're at uni is you get student discount! Good luck with college! 

[emmacarlisle]

Hi Emma! I really admire your work and was wondering if you had any tips for capturing movement in a drawing? Thank you! Your work is wonderful!

Observation drawing! It's the only way, go sit in a park and draw people running around, or sit in a cafe and watch the way people move! Drawing movement is really hard but once you're able to do it it's so rewarding! 

[aniaasks8questions]

http://emmacarlisle.com/ http://www.cambridgemashow.com/emma-carlisle/

1. What is the difference between art and illustration?

I very nearly did a Fine Art Degree. When I was studying on my National Diploma course none of us really knew what illustration was. I remember a tutor...

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This happened a while ago! 

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Sorry the comics have been a little quiet lately, I've been throwing (pun intended) myself into my ceramics classes. This little pot is the size of my palm and will be ready for a top glaze this week.