Podcast Summary: The Good Ship Illustration – "You don’t have to draw everything (even in picture books)"

Release Date: July 4, 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 a common challenge illustrators face: managing backgrounds in their artwork, particularly within picture books. The discussion centers around overcoming the intimidation of creating detailed backgrounds and exploring strategies to make them more approachable and effective.

Overcoming Challenges with Backgrounds

The episode kicks off with a listener question from Emily:

Emily (00:26): "I'm finding background scary. Do you have any handy tips for where to begin? I love my pencil and ink sketches, but as soon as I think about the background in colour, I feel like I freeze up and worry. How do I make them feel more achievable and doable?"

Tania responds by recalling a conversation with illustrator Chris Horton, who initially struggled with color in his work:

Tania (00:41): "Chris Horton really had a thing about coloury. He said he wasn't intuitive about it and he couldn't do it, which is crazy. When you look at his work now, his color is so incredible."

They discuss how Chris overcame his fear by experimenting with Photoshop, leading to a breakthrough where he realized that backgrounds don't have to be realistic:

Tania (01:17): "He realized backgrounds don't have to be realistic. They could be any color. Just because it's a green grass background, he can think like a designer and do a magenta pink background."

Katie emphasizes the importance of simplifying backgrounds to ensure the main character remains the focal point:

Katie (02:14): "It doesn't have to be tackled with the same attention to color or detail or rendering that you've used with the character that you've created. Less is more. Basically."

Techniques for Simplifying Backgrounds

The hosts explore various methods to create effective yet simple backgrounds:

1. Tonal Similarity: Tania explains how maintaining a tonal uniformity in the background helps the character stand out:

   Tania (02:39): "The whole background might be tonally very similar... something about either tonally the color of the background or the way I hold my pen in my hand is different."

2. Varying Line Weights: Katie adds that using thinner lines and lower contrast in backgrounds can create a sense of depth, making elements recede naturally:

   Katie (03:28): "You want things to recede behind the character. So it's either low contrast... or the line is much thinner than the line you use on your character."

3. Digital vs. Analog Approaches: They discuss the challenges of working digitally, such as the temptation to over-zoom, and suggest semi-collage techniques to maintain balance:

   Katie (07:13): "If you can sort of semi collage those things in like a trial... separate layers... or if you work in analog, maybe collage them a bit with bits of paper."

Inspirational Examples and Approaches

The conversation shifts to inspirational figures and mentees who have successfully managed backgrounds:

• John Burningham’s Style: Tania highlights Burningham's ability to blend painterly backgrounds with cut-out characters, creating a dynamic and emotionally resonant illustration:

  Katie (08:38): "He can plonk your characters on and have a look. That could be the final artwork."

• Mentee Rachel Bayless: Rachel’s detailed work serves as an example of balancing intricate backgrounds without overwhelming the main character:

  Tania (08:36): "She had all her work was wonderful... It was so full of emotion and it had a printed element and a little collage and painterly element."

The hosts praise Rachel’s ability to convey emotion and story through her illustrations, emphasizing that technical perfection is less important than storytelling.

Embracing Failure and Creativity

A significant part of the discussion revolves around embracing failure as a natural part of the creative process. Inspired by the Blind Boy podcast, they advocate for experimenting without the fear of failing:

Tania (10:28): "He says as soon as he's had a ridiculous idea that is definitely a fail, then he's completely free to play around in that space. And then he's off and he's writing and all he's doing is messing about because the purpose is to fail."

Katie (11:43): "It's all about action, isn't it? Do something rather than do nothing. It's so easy to hope for perfection from yourself that you become paralyzed."

This mindset encourages illustrators to take risks, make mistakes, and view them as opportunities for growth and innovation.

Community and Art Clubs

The hosts reminisce about their experiences with art clubs, highlighting the benefits of communal creation and the pressure-free environment it provides:

Katie (12:15): "We had art club all the time... People created so much good stuff. Each session you'd have one drawing that you were actually proud of."

They promote the upcoming launch of new art clubs coinciding with their picture book course, encouraging listeners to join their email list for updates:

Tania (13:35): "We're going to launch the picture book course soon. And we're gonna have two art clubs around that time."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a light-hearted exchange among the hosts, reinforcing the supportive and community-driven ethos of The Good Ship Illustration. They encourage illustrators to simplify their backgrounds, embrace imperfections, and engage with the creative community to enhance their artistic journeys.

Notable Quotes:

• Katie (02:14): "Less is more. Basically."
• Tania (07:13): "It could even be the approach for the final artwork."
• Katie (11:43): "It's all about action, isn't it? Do something rather than do nothing."

Join the Conversation:

For more insights and to join the upcoming art clubs, visit thegoodshipillustration.com and subscribe to their email list. Stay updated through their Instagram for the latest announcements.