Emily-Rose Alcock Art

I adore animals. I get so excited when I wake up and realise today is a new day and I get to paint yet another adorable face. My pet rats Willow and Lilac feature heavily over on my YouTube channel Mice & Rat Enrichment. And I knew our subscribers would love it if I painted them.

It’s hard to believe that this painting started out as something so Scribbly. But that’s what I love about mixing illustration techniques with some realism. My love of Scribbly lines I think is likely the influence of Quentin Blake, whose art work is my favourite in the world. I adore his fluidity and playful style.

As with most of my works, I started with my very lightest shade – the highlights, which I swept over the entire line drawing. And from there built up through the layers of colour, finishing with my shadows. It’s harder to erase than to add, so I find working in numerous thin layers of colour to reap the best results. I also enjoy the patterns each layer forms as it merges with the next.

I’m not precious with my application, I allow myself to colour outside of the lines and let my hands do what they want to do.

So tomorrow, my priority will be painting another gorgeous animal.