Podcast Title: The Good Ship Illustration
Episode Title: Illustration Trends vs Your Creative Voice PLUS What Materials to Use
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Hosts: Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, Tania Willis

Introduction

In this episode of The Good Ship Illustration, hosts Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tania Willis delve into the delicate balance between adhering to illustration trends and maintaining a unique creative voice. Additionally, they explore the selection and use of various materials and techniques to foster professional growth without compromising personal style.

Choosing Materials and Techniques

The episode kicks off with a listener question from Niyusha, who seeks advice on selecting and focusing on specific materials to enhance professionalism in illustration. Niyusha shares her diverse experience with mediums such as ink, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, collage, and mixed media, expressing a desire to specialize without abandoning her varied interests.

Helen Stephens responds thoughtfully, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the contrasts and effects desired rather than fixating on specific mediums:

“Just think in terms of contrast rather than what the mediums are. Because people looking at your work never think, oh, there's a watercolor or that's done in acrylic.”
(00:51)

Tania Willis concurs, advocating for the freedom to switch mediums to keep creativity fresh:

“I really like swapping things up… it's really thinking what you need this line or this colour to be and then finding something that does that.”
(02:50)

Katie Chappell adds her perspective, highlighting the benefits of experimenting with different materials to discover what works best for each artistic need:

“It's much better just to go in the art shop, shove a load of, scrape off the shelves, into your basket at random… how is it you have to hold them and move them on the paper.”
(04:14)

The discussion underscores a collective belief that mastering a single medium isn't necessary for professional growth. Instead, embracing mixed media and personal experimentation can lead to a distinctive and authentic artistic voice.

Maintaining Creative Voice vs. Following Trends

Transitioning to the impact of industry trends, the hosts reflect on how adhering strictly to popular mediums like gouache can lead to homogenized work within the illustration community:

“There’s a niche of illustration. Everybody was doing gouache… so it's worth avoiding that.”
(05:44)

Katie Chappell elaborates on how evolving mediums, such as digital tools, allow for unprecedented creative freedom:

“With digital as well, none of these divisions seem to matter anymore… you see lots of weird combinations of textures that wouldn't work in real life, but they will work digitally.”
(06:40)

Tania Willis shares a memorable example of breaking traditional material rules to create impactful art:

“He drew these amazing, incredible grasshoppers, really big… everything about it was these are the wrong material for the wrong board… but it made these really interesting marks.”
(07:18)

The hosts advocate for artists to prioritize their unique creative expressions over fleeting trends. By doing so, illustrators can cultivate a signature style that remains resilient amidst changing market preferences.

Managing Technology and Trends Without Losing Creative Integrity

Addressing the challenge of keeping up with technological advancements and market trends, Helen Stephens and Tania Willis discuss strategies to integrate new tools without succumbing to the pressure of trend-following:

“Maybe just use that to illustrate it and learn on the job… I really love it, it's just another tool, isn't it?”
(13:26)

Katie Chappell acknowledges the bravery required to adopt new technologies spontaneously:

“You're so brave. You'll learn a tool on a book on a new job…I hate it.”
(14:03)

Helen Stephens relates to the tension between embracing familiarity and the allure of new methods:

“I feel like because the content is different every time my brain is stretched that way… how do you do that and not go insane?”
(14:40)

The conversation emphasizes the importance of selective adaptation—incorporating new technologies and trends that genuinely enhance an illustrator’s workflow and creative process, rather than chasing every new development indiscriminately.

Balancing Consumption and Creation

The hosts further explore the dichotomy between consuming inspirational material and actively creating original work. Katie Chappell illustrates the pitfalls of overconsumption:

“They'd get into a habit of every evening just looking at illustrations and thinking, oh, I want to draw that… they're stuck in that mode rather than drawing.”
(22:00)

Helen Stephens suggests practical steps to mitigate this issue:

“Make sure you're not absorbing too much of other stuff… just make things. Maybe that's.”
(22:21)

Tania Willis reinforces the necessity of carving out personal creative space amidst the barrage of external influences:

“It's trying to find that quiet space after you've had a look. Then you say, I'll go away and be a hermit for a year and just try and be me.”
(22:34)

This segment serves as a reminder that while inspiration is valuable, maintaining a healthy balance between inspiration and personal creation is crucial for sustaining a unique artistic identity.

Conclusion

Helen, Katie, and Tania wrap up the episode by reiterating the essence of staying true to one’s creative voice amidst the pressures of industry trends and technological advancements. They encourage illustrators to experiment with diverse materials, embrace personal experimentation, and prioritize authentic expression over conformity.

Helen Stephens encapsulates the episode’s core message:

“It's reassuring… We're just kind of making it up as we go. And you know what? We all are. And then we're all getting it right. That's how you should be doing it.”
(12:57)

The trio emphasizes that the journey of illustration is inherently personal and evolving, urging listeners to navigate their creative paths with confidence and integrity.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace Mixed Media: Experimenting with various materials can lead to a unique and authentic artistic voice.

• Prioritize Creative Integrity Over Trends: Maintaining a personal style ensures longevity and distinctiveness in a saturated market.

• Selective Adaptation of Technology: Incorporate new tools that genuinely enhance your workflow without compromising your creative process.

• Balance Inspiration and Creation: Limit consumption of external influences to foster original and meaningful work.

Notable Quotes:

• “Just think in terms of contrast rather than what the mediums are.” – Helen Stephens (00:51)

• “It's much better just to go in the art shop, shove a load of, scrape off the shelves, into your basket at random.” – Katie Chappell (04:14)

• “They end up like some kind of minestrone soup of influences, which ends up quite mediocre in the end.” – Katie Chappell (17:50)

• “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.” – Helen Stephens (17:36)

This episode of The Good Ship Illustration offers invaluable insights for illustrators striving to balance professional growth with personal authenticity. By fostering a fearless approach to material use and resisting the lure of fleeting trends, artists can navigate their creative careers with confidence and originality.