Viola Wang

I work as an Illustrator and I write and illustrate children’s books; for me, drawing is fundamental, perhaps the most efficient way to communicate visual ideas.

Many people start with words, but I find I often start with drawings. I use my sketchbook for observational drawings and collecting ideas. No matter where I set my story, it often starts from everyday life. Drawing makes me slow down and really look at my surroundings. It provides me with opportunities to understand everyday life.

I studied BA Fine Arts (major in oil painting) back home in China. Although we were very serious about contemporary art world movements, the course itself was more academic and rather traditional. Unlike my BA course, Royal Drawing School runs a wide range of courses and students can curate their learning journey based on their interests. Many courses are very contemporary and discuss current cultural and political subjects.

Understanding myself and finding my interests has been the most important thing I have learned during the course. Working as a Designer and Illustrator for many years has trained me to adapt and react from project to project. The Drawing Year has provided me with a crucial pause and rethink that I truly needed. I am sure it will lead to a new direction in my practice.

The online delivery of the courses at the start of our course enabled us to continue working in our own space at home during lockdown. In many ways, it helped us to learn how to work and live in the same place, which is relevant to the way many artists practice and therefore a very useful exercise.

I have especially enjoyed drawing outdoors with a small group of classmates. During those sessions, discussing the subject and communicating as a student group has been really beneficial.

Drawing at the National Gallery is the course that I have found the most challenging. I’ve taken the course three times, and moved from resisting it to understanding and thriving. Long story short, all the struggles we are experiencing as an artist have been more or less experienced by many artists before us. So, if you find yourself stuck in your practice, go to the National Gallery and walk around: you will find answers and solutions.

My tutor Mark Cazalet suggested I look into larger-scale work and perhaps get involved with mural projects. I saw a project advertised on the School newsletter and decided to apply. Now I am currently working on a mural at Cayley Primary School, as part of the Mayor of London’s project. I would never have had the courage to embark on such a large-scale commission previously. I am really excited by it – I can't wait to share the end result.

I will definitely go back to working in children’s book publishing, but with a new burst  of ideas and creative energy. At the same time, I would also like to continue my art practice and create a bridge between the two worlds.