Magic Spell
Rebecca Balchin’s fab interview, in full!
Rebecca Balchin is a teacher and illustrator, with titles including Painting Watercolour Unicorns and Angel & Fairy Designs under her belt. She shares her top tips for creating fantasy creatures and tells us about her crafty career.
Did you always want to go into a creative career?
To be honest I couldn’t imagine doing anything other than being in a creative career! After my degree in 2002, I worked as a photographic darkroom technician at the University College of Creative Arts. It was there that I realised that supporting creative people in a truly innovative environment was something I enjoyed. I am now teaching Art and Design and Photography at a bustling secondary school and find it a challenging, but fantastically creative vocation. I’m lucky that I never find what I do boring and one day is always different from the next. When I’m not teaching, I manage to somehow squeeze in private commissions and book illustration too, which is equally rewarding.
Do you come from a creative family?
Absolutely. The art genes were there from birth. My mum and dad both studied at the Maidstone College of Art in the ‘70s and in fact, I believed somewhere within the labyrinthine corridors was where they first met! I’m very envious, as they speak about having seen The Kinks and Fairport Convention at art college gigs and the place sounded as though it was ‘buzzing’ back then. My father is a natural creative, not only in Graphic Design in which he was trained, but also when it comes to building houses, crafting pine furniture or composing original music – he’s very capable. My mum, Judy Balchin, has made a career from her creativity, firstly working as a Graphic Assistant for the BBC, she later went on to Freelance as a Hand Lettering Artist, then moved into the craft world. She’s now an author of countless craft articles and about twenty books. I have much to thank her for, she’s a strong, positive lady and a real inspiration. She taught me that it is possible to make a living from art and design.
What qualifications do you have?
In 1999 I studied Fine Art at degree level and found myself exploring installation, film, photography and sculpture alongside painting. Then in 2003 I completed a PGCE in Secondary Education in Art and Design and became a fully-fledged Art Teacher.
What inspires you?
Music inspires me; travel to new unexplored places with wild coastlines and vast vistas. My photography GCSE pupils at St. Johns’ have superb, bright minds too, and their own flashes of inspiration in the classroom can be really contagious.
How did you get into the theme of fantasy images, such as unicorns and fairies?
Ask my family – I think I must have been born drawing unicorns! From about the age of five, unicorns were the only things I ever wanted to draw. Of course, they started off with ‘wonky’ legs and their eyes were in completely the wrong places, but I persevered. I was a pony-mad girl. Not just a bit pony mad, with a few ‘My Little Ponies’ in the toy box, oh no – horses were everything to me. I slept in a riding hat, read ‘Black Beauty’ countless times, covered my entire room in pony posters, dreamt of waking up and finding one in the garden, collected horse ornaments and bought old bridles and stirrups at boot fairs. Finally, I got my dream and learnt to ride and, I guess almost more importantly, drew and drew and drew horses, until they were perfect. I thought a drawing was the next best thing to owning one. So, being commissioned ‘How to Paint Unicorns in Watercolour’ was a fantastic moment in my life – as it felt as though I’d gone ‘full circle’ and completed a lifetime’s mission!
What process do you go through when creating a new image?
Firstly, I always seek clear reference material. Sometimes this means setting up a still life to photograph, or going out to observe my subject first hand and drawing on location with a sketchbook. Once I’m secure on the reference, I return to the studio, firmly close the door and put on some stirring music! I might plan the image using lay out paper, or find myself heading straight into the final piece, often it’s as the mood takes me. After the initial planning and drawing out stage, I use a hand mirror to view the artwork ‘backwards’. This method draws your attention to obvious mistakes often missed through working too closely with the image. It’s an old tip from one of my Art teachers and certainly works! After this point I can relax a little and move into adding colour. I often work quickly and intuitively, ‘listening’ to what the image seems to be asking for. This can sound a little strange, but once I get into the rhythm of an artwork I become quietly immersed. Oh – and there’s always that point, around half way through where the image doesn’t seem to be ‘going right’ – have faith and keep working through it! The angst is part of the process and often makes for a better final piece.
What advice would you give to crafters who are keen to follow in your footsteps?
Just have a go. If there’s anything stopping most people it’s often confidence in their abilities. Remember, it’s very rare that any body is an instant expert (if you are – can you please forward some tips please!) and everybody can improve even a modest skill for drawing, painting or making if they have passion about what they’re doing. Also, try completely new skills and techniques. Drawing free hand could be difficult, but you may be a natural when working with Batik, for example. Open yourself up to new experiences, have ago and be brave.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Well, definitely with a few more books under my belt! I also see myself producing a body of artwork oil on canvas and on quite a large scale, with the female figure as subject. I’d also hope to have produced my own album of original music as I’ve been writing and performing my tunes for over a decade and am now finally in a position to record and produce what I do. I can liken recording music to painting, and I aim to create strong visual images through sound. Whatever happens, it’s sure to be interesting…. so watch this space!
To order your copy of Painting Watercolour Unicorns, by Rebecca Balchin (Search Press, £8.99), see www.searchpress.co.uk
