About the crisin
the crisin illustration
the crisin is a collection of illustrations and practice pieces by me, Chrissie Wild. As a novice illustrator, I aim to produce pieces that capture memories, emotions, patterns, and places. Illustrating gives me a buzz because I combine my creative streak with a love of research and experimentation. Pattern making gives me a lot of pleasure. I enjoy embellishing pictures. I like to show my ability to look, learn, and then challenge the viewer to see the result, the story.
My inspiration comes from storytellers.
the crisin: projects so far
Draft dummy picture book
Lifelong learning practice pieces
Draft dummy picture book
At the end of July 2024, I was lucky enough to attend the picture book summer school at Cambridge School of Art. It was an inspirational experience, I had the time of my life. Surrounded by amazing storytelling artists and tutored by gifted successful authors and illustrators. I managed to achieve my first draft of a dummy picture book.
Now I would like to learn how to complete the process, with the aim of successfully captivating young readers with my stories and illustrations.
Potential stories
Lifelong learning practice pieces
Draft dummy picture book
I have illustrations that could form part of a story. During the creation process, I always think about the story behind the image. I have always made up stories with my imagination, told fairy tales and adventure stories, that have been my children's favourites. I like to create whimsical and enchanting storybook illustrations. I have a few illustrations that bring my made-up stories to life. I have also illustrated well-known stories; 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat by Edward Lear'.
Lifelong learning practice pieces
Lifelong learning practice pieces
Lifelong learning practice pieces
I regularly attend art classes to improve my art process and practice. Throughout each term, I produce seasonal pictures and practice pieces. These are inspired by tutor-set challenges, or I work toward my goals and stories.
Comic Strip Illustrations
Comic Strip Illustrations
Lifelong learning practice pieces
I collect comic strip illustrations and graphic novels. For fun, I turn events from history into comic scenes. I want to learn how to progress my creations from single-panel cartoons to multi-page stories, ensuring my illustrations capture both the humour and heart of the story.
sketchbook illustrations
Comic Strip Illustrations
sketchbook illustrations
I take my sketchbook wherever I go. I like to collect drawing references of the world for inspiration and as a record of my thoughts and feelings. I also use my sketchbook to plan, evaluate, and record my creative process, goals, and preferences. These help form ideas for new images and visual stories. I usually load my practice pieces on Instagram.
Food illustrations
Comic Strip Illustrations
sketchbook illustrations
I have been collecting family recipes for years, some dating back over a hundred years. These are traditional dishes written in the loved ones' handwriting. Therefore to highlight them I have created mouth-watering food illustrations that make each recipe look delicious. I aim to design a website that brings together the recipe, family history, their story, with my illustrations and old photos. I'm hoping it will inform the next generation of their family heritage.
Working on Illustrations from my first draft dummy picture book
About Chrissie Wild
the crisin
Why the crisin?
the crisin is an anagram for the name Christine, my birth name. When I started producing stories and artwork as a child I was unable to change my name in the real world so I invented this new name, all my subsequent art has been signed with this name. the crisin is now my art name and mark.
Are you a full time artist?
Yes, I have a full working week, with several projects making progress.
Are you well known on social media? I aim to be, I am posting regularly to my designated Instagram and Facebook page.
How long did it take you to learn drawing? I've always loved to draw, please see some of my school art. I didn't allow myself to get serious about art until after I finished my nursing career. While studying A Level art at comprehensive school, I was offered a job working for ‘Bob Godfrey’ probably best known for his Rhubarb cartoon series. He was scouting for artists to train in the process of producing a Do-It-Yourself Film Animation Show which in the 70s was broadcast on BBC1. He aimed to encourage children to do animation; each episode had established animators talking about their work and different animation techniques. Unfortunately without parental support, I realised I had to get what others called a ‘proper job’. Initially, I wanted to study art, and now I have the opportunity to do so.
Do you have stories to tell?
Everyone's life is a story, I love to listen, look, and capture what I learn in my art and storybooks. I have many tales to tell.
more about Chrissie
What inspires you?
Storytelling, and the stories that make up people's lives. Probably my biggest inspiration is observing people, animals, and nature, their colours, shapes, and patterns. I love picture storybooks, graphic novels, fantasy, computer graphics in games, animation, science fiction, and movies, especially true stories. I love attending Comic Con and Sam Storytelling across media.
What tools do you work with?
I prefer to work traditionally, however, I am teaching myself Photoshop via Adobe Create. For my digital drawings, I use my Macbook Pro because I can take it anywhere. For my traditional art, I formulate my ideas in my sketchbook. I love to use watercolour, pencils, coloured pencils, inks, felt tips, and fine liner pens.
What is your favourite paper?
A good paper is important, my favorites are Arches for watercolour and Pastelmat for my coloured pencils.
What are your favourite brushes?
I like soft Kolinsky brushes, Escoda, Billy Showell, and Loew Cornell.
What is your favourite sketchbook?
I like the Fabriano, and Aquarell because they both absorb ink and watercolour well with Talen’s and Artgecko for the softness of their cover.
How did you find your art style?
I believe ‘an art style’ is something everyone has, like handwriting, you just do it your way unless you go out of your way to copy someone else. Your style can be improved not copying, by observing other artists' processes and critiquing the art you like the most. Most of my drawings are personal expressions of the things that shape my life, my preferences, passions, and interests.
Any tips for drawing and painting techniques?
Just start drawing or painting, it's never too late. Getting better at drawing is hard, but like anything worth doing, it is a skill that improves with practice! Draw regularly, draw things that interest you to keep you motivated, and draw from reality exactly what you see. Over time you will get better and combine these techniques into your designs.
Learning from a group of fellow arty types helps as does having a mentor to support you, There is a huge and mostly free variety of art tutorials on YouTube, Artstation, Skillshare, and Domestika.
Any tips against artist's block?
Take time out and check what others are doing. It is quite normal that more or less creative phases alternate. For me, making creative project lists, keeping prompts, notes, and reference photos, and maintaining routines help me to make the best out of my time.
I set myself specific times to work on art projects and times to practice in my sketchbook. During the rest of the day, whenever I get ideas for projects, I take notes on my phone. When it's time to draw again, I can just open a list of notes, sketchbooks, prompts, and photos and don't need to search for ideas first.
Find Arty friends to work with, so that you have others to inspire and learn from.