Hi. I'm new... :-]

[PieterVanDerBeek]

Hi y'all. I've been snooping around for a while on SVS, occasionally following courses, and I figured maybe it's about time to properly introduce myself. I'm Pieter from Amsterdam - nice to meet you. I have a background in graphic design, but I wish to venture into illustration way more than I do now. I love doodling friendly characters, and my style has always been very flat and graphical, but I'm really hoping to learn how to apply textures, light/shadow, etc. to bring some life to my work, and develop some storytelling skills. What better way to learn than to jump into these forums, right? :-]

[A Former User]

@PieterVanDerBeek Hi, welcome to the forum! People are so nice here that even though I never properly introduced myself, they helped me out so many times already. Plus, I have learned so much watching other people's process and progress.

I enjoy your quirky characters. My favorite right now is the alien referee, he looks freaked out because he has three eyes and no lids, yet he gives out yellow cards anyway. bravery, right there

[Mara Price]

@PieterVanDerBeek Welcome to the forum!

[PieterVanDerBeek]

@carolinebautista Thanks! :-] I have a soft spot for odd-eyed creatures...

[TessaW]

Hi Pieter! Your work is really appealing. Welcome!

[aprilshin]

Welcome, Peter!! I love your characters so much! You have great shapes and colors, too. Looking forward to seeing more of your work here! ️

[Heather Boyd]

@PieterVanDerBeek hey and welcome. I really think you have a nice start to getting into storytelling illustration. Your characters are adorably soft and round friendly shapes and you have an already nice understanding of colour I think. Even if you thought of getting into children's graphic style books. My niece has one that is about a seal unicorn -I think the brush work looks like watercolour I don't see why yours wouldn't fit nicely into it. If you have time please contribute to our svs month contest! See you around.

[PieterVanDerBeek]

@TessaW @aprilshin – Thanks for the kind words! :-]

@Heather-Boyd – Thanks! Love to meet a seal unicorn – where would I find this book?

[Jacy13]

Hello Pieter! I'm new here too. I have some similar goals as you. So much to sit down and learn for illustration! I'm excited to see your progress and I hope you can start tackling those goals of yours

I love the art you have here! My favorite is the third one from the left with the orange creature in the spaceship. So cute!

[PieterVanDerBeek]

@Jacy13 – Thanks! Good luck on your journey here. :-]

[Jacy13]

@PieterVanDerBeek Thank you!

[Neha Rawat]

@PieterVanDerBeek Welcome, Pieter! Your style is really cool!

[Chip Valecek]

@PieterVanDerBeek welcome to the forums!

[PieterVanDerBeek]

@Neha-Rawat – Thanks! :-]

@Chip-Valecek – I reckon an OG would know this: I'm about to start with 'Introduction to Prop Design' – is there a way or place here to connect with people that do the same course, kinda like simultaneously, and compare homepage, encourage, give feedback, etc. maybe form sort of a class?

[Heather Boyd]

@PieterVanDerBeek sorry I am pretty sure I meant a narwhal lols. It's called Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and A Jelly Book) by Ben Clanton. When I googled this I found another illustrator I like.

[Chip Valecek]

@PieterVanDerBeek There has been a few times when a group of forum members work together at a class and post their work together. But that is all setup by one of the forum members. @Braden-Hallett has done it in the past.