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Drawing Dogs & Talking Shop with Claire Powell
I recently had the absolute pleasure of live-streaming with the brilliant UK illustrator,
, where we nerded out about art tools, techniques, and our shared love of dogs for nearly two hours!We dove inky-hands-first into the world of traditional drawing tools – Claire's impressive collection of dip pen nibs (stored in an old Quality Street chocolate tin!), her experiments with reed pens, and my obsession with fountain pens and bronze nibs made by Dan Berry. We bonded over our mutual admiration for master illustrators like Ronald Searle, Gerald Scarfe, and Ralph Steadman, discussing how these influences shaped our styles.
Claire shared her journey from digital illustration back to traditional media, revealing that finding the right medium was key to developing her distinctive style:
"I think you find your medium, and then you will find your style."
We swapped stories about drawing under pressure – Claire's experience in TV graphics and my newspaper deadline days – and how that adrenaline rush can actually improve your work by making you less precious about perfection.
The conversation took fun detours into dogs in British countryside pubs, the challenge of capturing canine energy in drawings, and Claire's quest for the perfect dog breed for her lifestyle.
As we sketched away on camera, Claire revealed her surprising evening plans: watching snooker championships (the most British thing ever). I surprised her with a drawing from my book featuring a dog on a snooker table – the perfect parting gift
Our book "You're Not a Real Dog Owner Until…" launches Tuesday, and Claire's got a copy making its slow way across the Atlantic. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to share it with someone you think might enjoy it.
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Your pal,
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