Meet Paula from pkillustrations

Whooa.... is that Nessie? The legend monster from Loch Ness?
Well... it's actually "Creature of the deep" illustration from Paula of PKIllustrations. This illustration caught my eyes because it's fun to see. I decided to learn more about Paula.

Bigib: Tell me about your background
PKIllustrations: From a very young age I loved drawing. For years I have been coming up with my own versions of all my favorite creatures. I took every art class available in high school and graduated college with a degree in graphic design. Although I do use a lot of design basics that I learned in college, I much prefer to dream up my own little creations. I find it much more fun and creative!

Bigib: Why do you use wood and colored pencil to express your art?
PKIllustrations:
I use mostly colored pencil because I love how they blend together easily, I can get things looking exactly as I see them in my head. I’ve recently experimented with acrylic paints on wood. I’m really enjoying it! I find it more free and relaxing and I really like the smooth texture of the wood, it really is a great surface to paint on. With painting I don’t think it’s quite as controlled as colored pencil, so it’s exciting because I’m not quite sure how the finished piece will come out.

Bigib: Any new project you're working on?
PKIllustrations:
A new project to look for is various kinds of wood pegs and key holders. I recently purchased a reciprocating saw, used for cutting wood. The design I am working on now is an owl shaped key holder. It is cut out of wood, hand-painted and has 4 hooks on the bottom to hang keys or even a dog leash. I’m planning on making many different shapes, mostly animal forms.

Bigib: How's your design process?
PKIllustrations: My idea process is pretty random! I get a lot of my ideas just doodling in my sketch book; nature is another big inspiration for me as well. I love just observing things around me and putting them on paper. It’s like creating my own little Paula world, with my own versions of plants and animals.

Bigib: Do you innovate?
PKIllustrations: I’m always trying to make things better, but I don’t do things in batches. When I’m creating something I concentrate on it fully from start to finish. It takes a little longer, but working on it from start to finish works better for me, otherwise I tend to lose focus, and nothing gets made. As far as my prints go it’s the same way, when someone orders one I print it out and package it up. For me it’s more personal then just grabbing one from a pile.

Bigib: I'm sure you have tons of illustrations you like. But which are your favorites?
PKIllustrations: That’s such a hard question; it’s like choosing which child is your favorite! I’d have to say my illustrations as a whole. I love making plushies, but drawing is what comes out most naturally. I really like making originals as well, it’s fun because I make something once and that’s it, only one person will have it and I’ll never draw it again. I hope that answers the question, it’s just so hard to choose!

Bigib: Anything else you would like to share?
PKIllustrations:
I love my job and being an artist, and I have a million and one ideas to create, so please visit my shop! I’m always creating something exciting and new!