Ho ho ho 🎄 pressies for illustrators (love from Ron & Betty Frampton x)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Good Ship Illustration – "Ho Ho Ho 🎄 Pressies for Illustrators (Love from Ron & Betty Frampton x)"

Release Date: December 20, 2024

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1. Introduction to the Episode and Special Guests

In the festive episode titled "Ho Ho Ho 🎄 Pressies for Illustrators (Love from Ron & Betty Frampton x)," the hosts of The Good Ship Illustration—Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tania Willis—welcome their special guests, Ron and Betty Frampton. The episode centers around holiday gift-giving traditions among illustrators, blending personal anecdotes with practical insights tailored for creative professionals navigating their careers.

2. Christmas Gift Traditions with Ron and Betty Frampton

The episode kicks off with a humorous exchange about Christmas greetings:

• Katie (00:00): "Ho ho ho. Ho ho ho."
• Betty (00:09): "Merry Christmas from the Good Ship Illustration."

Ron shares a cherished family tradition of gifting under-the-tree presents accompanied by heartfelt messages:

• Ron (00:52): "If any of us want a pressie, nobody's gonna buy it for us. We buy it. We stick it under the tree. It's love from Ron and Betty Frampton."

This tradition fosters a sense of self-care and mutual support within the creative community, encouraging illustrators to treat themselves with thoughtful gifts.

3. Favorite Art Supplies: Lamps, Pencils, and Photoshop Accessories

The conversation delves into practical gift ideas essential for illustrators:

• Betty (01:27): "The first thing Ron and Betty have got me is... a really funny Lumi yellow lamp... that stops you being depressed in the winter."

Ron's anticipation for high-quality Blackwing pencils is highlighted:

• Ron (02:07): "Blackwing pencils, they're so expensive... Ron and Betty will be buying me those."

Katie expresses her wish for a tech upgrade to enhance her digital illustration workflow:

• Katie (02:41): "The tech setup that I wanted so that I can draw on an iPad with an Apple pencil, with Photoshop."

The discussion underscores the importance of both traditional and digital tools in an illustrator’s toolkit, emphasizing the balance between tactile and technological resources.

4. Supermarket Art Supplies and Holiday Anecdotes

The hosts reminisce about unconventional art supplies and humorous holiday experiences:

• Ron (04:32): "We went mad for bingo dabbers at art club for a while."

An amusing story unfolds about their experience at a Christmas bingo event:

• Ron (05:20): "We held up this 30 second cut out of a reindeer... the carpet fitter said, 'It's probably like she's delusional.'"

This anecdote highlights the playful intersection between art and everyday activities, showcasing the camaraderie among illustrators.

5. Sketchbooks and Drawing Techniques for Illustration Projects

Attention shifts to the tools of the trade, particularly sketchbooks and pencils:

• Ron (07:06): "I got her some Blackwing pencils too."
• Katie (07:25): "What are the best ones? Luminance."

The hosts discuss the merits of various colored pencils, emphasizing the importance of quality materials in maintaining artistic integrity:

• Ron (07:32): "Derwent color pencils are gorgeous as well. Really, really high pigment."

6. Creative Processes: Small-to-Large Drawings and Story Illustrations

Ron and Katie explore their illustration techniques, especially in relation to their collaborative storytelling project featuring Salty Dog:

• Ron (08:14): "We're writing some stories together about Salty, who is part of the Good Ship crew... Walker Books are going to publish them probably next autumn."

They deliberate on the appropriate scale for illustrations, considering the impact of size on visual clarity and detail:

• Katie (09:25): "It's digital, so... size to reproduction when it's hand drawn stuff."
• Ron (09:45): "I like doing that. A tiny, tiny drawing. Blunt."

This segment offers valuable insights into the practical aspects of creating illustrations for different formats and audiences.

7. Final Thoughts and Holiday Wishes

As the episode concludes, the hosts reflect on their creative journeys and extend warm holiday wishes:

• Betty (11:27): "If Ron and Betty wrap up a tub of Twiglets, I'll be raging."
• Katie (12:18): "Happy Christmas."
• Ron (12:19): "Happy Christmas."
• Betty (12:20): "Happy New Year. Bye."

They also humorously mention "freak flag" branding, encouraging illustrators to embrace their unique creative identities:

• Betty (11:50): "Banging on about... fly your freak flag."

The episode wraps up on a lighthearted note, reinforcing the sense of community and mutual support among illustrators.

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Notable Quotes:

• Ron (00:52): "If any of us want a pressie, nobody's gonna buy it for us."
• Katie (02:41): "I can draw on an iPad with an Apple pencil, with Photoshop."
• Ron (07:32): "Derwent color pencils are gorgeous as well. Really, really high pigment."
• Betty (11:50): "Fly your freak flag."

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This episode of The Good Ship Illustration seamlessly blends personal stories with professional advice, making it a delightful and informative listen for illustrators seeking inspiration and community support during the holiday season.

Transcript

[Katie]

Ho ho ho. Ho ho ho.

[Ron]

Oh, we've got the giggles. This is a. Is this a good start or a bad start?

[Betty]

A bad start. Merry Christmas from the good ship Illustration. For this episode, we have decided to introduce you to our good friends, Ron and Betty Frampton.

[Ron]

Okay, so I was visiting my friend a few Christmases ago, and he bought himself a Christmas present, put under the tree and said it. He said, I always write from love from Ron and Betty Frampton. So this has become a tradition amongst their family and my family. If any of us want a presia, nobody's gonna buy it for us. We buy it. We stick it under the tree. It's love from Ron and Bay.

[Betty]

Amazing.

[Ron]

So we're giving all of us, all of us in the good ship family permission to buy themselves a prezi and write, love, Ron and Betty Frampton. So, Katie, what will Ron and Betty Frampton be buying you this Christmas?

[Betty]

Right, Ron and Betty. Very generous couple.

[Ron]

They know you so well.

[Betty]

They know me so well. And the first thing they got me was, well, what they're gonna get me. Sorry. Because I haven't bought it yet. Well, I have bought it and opened it and I'm using it. But it was one of those lights that is the sad lamps that makes you happy, you know, with the good light in them. A. I got a bright yellow one for my desk.

[Ron]

What is it?

[Betty]

It's just a lamp, basically. A really funny. It's a Lumi yellow lamp, but it's got the special light in it that stops you being depressed in the winter.

[Ron]

Or if you get sad over the winter.

[Betty]

I don't really get that sad, But I was just like, it's bright yellow. It's gonna be a good light. So that's the first thing Ron and Betty have got me. And then maybe some palomino black wing pencils.

[Ron]

That's what I was gonna say. Ron and Betty have got mine on order. They haven't arrived yet. Yeah, the black wing pencils, they're so expensive.

[Betty]

How much was the sharpener? Because I remember you talked about the ballymeno. The black wing sharpener.

[Ron]

I've forgotten. It's a fortune. And, you know, you can buy the little rubber replacements at the top as well.

[Betty]

Are they expensive?

[Ron]

Really expensive. Ron and Betty will be buying me those. Yes, definitely.

[Katie]

Just so generous. If they really are that generous, will they buy me that the tech setup that I wanted so that I can draw on an iPad with an Apple pencil, with Photoshop?

[Ron]

I don't know if Ron and Betty are very techy. They might.

[Betty]

Ron's nephew is good.

[Ron]

Ah, right.

[Betty]

So they might. They might get Ron's nephew in to set that up for you. What was it like Photoshop talking to the iPad?

[Katie]

Talking to the computer. So I can bypass Wacom.

[Ron]

Yeah, you need a paper like screen cover as well.

[Katie]

Yeah, we want that too. But if all that's too much, I just want that really fancy gouache acrylic, the Japanese brand. Do you know the one? No, I don't know any of them. As long as they're not the one that they give to children at schools.

[Ron]

Yeah, I want.

[Katie]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ron]

What else am I thinking about? I often look at that. Rebecca Green often talks about that paint set where she has her lovely drawings on the outside. And the palette, it's a really good colour palette. Oh, my God, I fancy that.

[Katie]

Are those straight gouache? Not gouache, acrylic.

[Ron]

I don't know what they are. Whatever they are, I don't really mind. I just want it.

[Katie]

I want the ones where you can paint on top and it doesn't pull the paint up from underneath an acrylic, does it? Doesn't it? So that seals it off.

[Ron]

Acrylic's good for that.

[Katie]

Paint on top.

[Betty]

If Betty wanted to get me something else as well, just as an extra thing, my favorite pens are those uni ball eye fine inky black pens. A few years ago I bought myself a big box of them, but they're running out and I might need a top up.

[Ron]

Yeah, they're good because you can draw if you're really speedy. Drawer drawing from life in a cafe or something. You draw really fast. You if with a ballpoint pen. Sometimes you can get little gaps because the pen can't keep up with your speedy drawing. So those are perfect for that. They're really juicy as well.

[Betty]

They're nice on top of paint and stuff.

[Katie]

Where'd you get them from? Anywhere.

[Ron]

Anywhere. Yeah, they're common. They're like all over the place.

[Betty]

Common is muck.

[Katie]

Were there Tesco ones? You liked it, didn't you?

[Ron]

Yeah, there was something I used to buy that was available in Asda.

[Katie]

Yeah, let's talk about supermarket art supplies.

[Ron]

Well, there's the bingo dabbers. We went mad for bingo dabbers at art club for a while. While I love a bingo dabber, Greaves.

[Katie]

Must have got quite rich on that. I think they're hard to get corner stores.

[Betty]

And when we went to bingo last Christmas, we saw professional bingo ladies. They had good bingo, but bingo dabbers.

[Ron]

They did but you remember at the break, they brought everybody. It was Christmas. And so at break time, in the middle of the bingo, they brought out two little tiny bowls. And when I say tiny bowls, I mean a bowl that you might get given in a cafe to put your tea bag in. That size, 100 crisps in it. And one had a few crisps. There were about four crisps and four sweets and good ship side of the table just immediately tucked into them. And then the ladies wouldn't speak to us for the rest of the evening. Do you remember?

[Katie]

Yeah.

[Ron]

I think we stole their share.

[Katie]

Not just that they could see we were bingo amateurs. We were ironic bingo players and they sensed it and I. Perhaps they thought we were laughing at them. If we really weren't. We were just so excited.

[Ron]

We actually guilty of bingo.

[Betty]

We didn't give bingo or the snacks the respect they deserved.

[Ron]

Yeah. I'd still like to go back. Would you? Oh, it's a really good evening.

[Katie]

We haven't had a proper Christmas do this time round.

[Ron]

I wanted to win the twiglets on that table.

[Betty]

Do you like twiglets?

[Ron]

No, but I like them as a prize. Okay. You have to if you're gonna choose a prize. It's the twiglets or the lavender soap, isn't it?

[Betty]

I was gonna say if Ron and Betty wrap up a tub of Twiglets, I'll be raging.

[Ron]

Do you know, I. Ron and Betty, every year they get me those Mina, is it Maynards? They're sugared fruits. You know, they look like a little hot orange segment, but it's sugared. They always get me one of those.

[Katie]

They look like they've been. Yeah. Completely frosted.

[Ron]

They're lovely.

[Katie]

Oh, I love them.

[Betty]

You know, a couple of years ago, but is it Fortnum and Mason? Super fancy. Would meet. Cameron had been looking at the candied fruits in this. They look so exciting and so good. They were horrible. But it was really exciting to buy them and look at them.

[Katie]

That's what a lot of Christmas presents look like. There's a certain sector of Christmas presents that is just about being excited when they're open.

[Ron]

Yeah.

[Katie]

The later bit isn't any fun. And they cost a fortune, those kind of prints.

[Betty]

Sometimes it's all about the packaging, isn't it?

[Ron]

Yeah.

[Betty]

I love a good bit of packaging.

[Katie]

You'd be better off with some good sketchbooks.

[Ron]

Definitely. Definitely. That's what I bought. My two nieces. I've got a writer niece and I've got an artist niece. The writer one is getting a very fancy Note. I hope she's not listening. She won't be listening. Really nice notebook with some nice writing pens. And the. The drawer is getting a pith sketchbook. Because they're so gorgeous, aren't they? And they open up flat and the paper's a bit cream.

[Betty]

They're made in Berwick as well.

[Ron]

They are.

[Katie]

They're our pals.

[Ron]

And I got her some batwing pencils too.

[Betty]

Oh, wow. Best auntie.

[Ron]

Yeah. She loved the best pencils of. Pencils. Pencils of anyone on her course.

[Katie]

Can we just divert? I have colored pencil crisis because all the words run around in my head. Luminance.

[Betty]

K. Yeah.

[Katie]

What are the best ones? Aquarelle.

[Ron]

Oh, I love the lum. Are the luminescence.

[Katie]

Are they called Luminance?

[Ron]

Luminance. I love those. They're so gorgeous. The color range is beautiful. But then I also discovered. Is it the. You know the pencil museum in the Lake District? Derwent pencils. The Derwent color pencils are gorgeous as well. Really, really high pigment. Loads of different shades. Just, ah, amazing.

[Katie]

I like them when they're a bit waxy and you can draw on top of other paint.

[Ron]

Yeah, me too.

[Katie]

Some of them are a bit pastely and as they're drawing, I don't like that it's a waste of time. They're all going to fall off the page. I don't like, especially on paint.

[Betty]

I can't remember which ones it was, but the Edinburgh College of Art shop had really nice pencils and I used to buy myself like one a week in really good. Like magenta and then like turquoise.

[Ron]

Nice. I think I might illustrate. Katie and I are writing some stories together about Salty, who is part of the good ship crew. Salty Dog. If you go on the website, you'll probably see him over there. We decided to write some stories and Walker Books are going to publish them probably next autumn, I imagine. I'm not sure, but I was thinking of illustrating those with those luminescence pencils. The colors are so lovely. And when I illustrate bigger, I'll use a Caran d'ache neocolor wax. I love those. Love them. But even when you sharpen them with a knife and you get a nice fine point, they're good for a picture book scale image. But because these stories are for older children, they're in a smaller book. So the drawings are more like vignettes. They're too chunky for that. So now I'm thinking that the line might be one of the luminescence. Luminescence Is it luminescence?

[Katie]

Luminance.

[Ron]

Luminance.

[Katie]

Luminance.

[Ron]

I might use those.

[Katie]

When you draw for your books, do you draw one to one ratio?

[Ron]

Yeah. And most people draw like 110% but I don't want the drawing to tighten up. So I just draw 100%. Yeah.

[Katie]

Even 110 is quite close to it.

[Ron]

What do you do?

[Katie]

Do you.

[Ron]

Do you draw bigger for your.

[Katie]

Well, it's digital, so. Oh, it makes me different. It's slightly different. And I'm really fascinated by that thing of, you know, size to reproduction when it's hand drawn stuff. Because when you over reduce something, it's so horrible.

[Ron]

Yeah. I don't want to draw smaller, obviously, because then you're going to lose.

[Katie]

Or you could draw really small and blow it up.

[Ron]

Oh, I like that. I love doing that. A tiny, tiny drawing. Blunt. Do you remember when everybody. When there were old photocopies everywhere and you could blow a tiny drawing up on a photocopier and patch it together to make it look as big as a wall. They were gorgeous, weren't they?

[Katie]

It's such a magic trick. But you know, it's still irresistible when someone does it. Now take a tiny little pencil drawing and blow it up. Massively large.

[Betty]

I love that when you do a little throwaway drawing and then you sort of use that as the basis of another drawing. Like remember you drew. Was it a little pig that you drew on an egg voice?

[Katie]

Yeah, on the back of a bill. And the pig was really quite nice. And then I thought I could use him every.

[Betty]

Exploit the pig.

[Ron]

Last year, last year, Christmas Good Ship Art Club. Last year in December, on the 10 second animal segment, we must have given ourselves more than 10 seconds because we were working with collage, with scissors and we'd have chopped our fingers off. But maybe we'll say it was 30 seconds. I did a 30 second cut out of a reindeer. It was the best thing I'd done in the entire year, if not the best thing I've done in my life. I love that little drawing. Why am I talking about that again?

[Katie]

Because it was quick and throw away. Quick and throw away stupidly. You showed it to the carpet.

[Ron]

Well, the carpet fitter told me that he'd hadn't drawn since school, but he'd done some drawing recently. And then he looked through his phone and he found a drawing he'd done of a lion. Very realistic rendered drawing of a lion. And I said, oh, do you want to see the best thing I did last year? Because it was on my kitchen table because I was cutting more out to make Christmas cards. He said, yeah. And so I held up this 30 second cut out of a reindeer and he just went, oh, it's probably like she's delusional.

[Betty]

Yeah.

[Katie]

She's not actually an illustrator.

[Betty]

She went home to his wife. Like I was. I was putting the carpet on for this woman. She said she was an illustrator, but I don't know. Well, we hope Ron and Betty Frampton bring you everything you wanted.

[Ron]

Maybe Ron and Betty Frampton might bring them freak flag. Freak flag.

[Betty]

Oh, yeah, because it'd be remiss of us not to mention that we've very quietly, probably not very quietly at this point in the game, but banging on about.

[Katie]

Tell. Tell Ron and Betty Frampton's nephew. He'll know about buying stuff online. They won't do it.

[Betty]

He's hot on it. And he knows about the 5 pay option as well. No, the doors are open. So if you want to find your creative voice and fly your freak flag, and if nobody rudely, nobody's bought you it, you can treat yourself and just say that Ron and Betty did.

[Katie]

Happy Christmas.

[Ron]

Happy Christmas.

[Betty]

Happy New Year. Bye.

[Katie]

It.