A big congrats to Thomas Hedger, one of our 30 TDK Awards’ winners for 2018. A Central Saint Martins student from London, their work was chosen by Verònica from Hey Studio: “Of all the portfolios I saw focused on illustration. Thomas is a highlight. Is strange to find an illustrator where all the styles are good. Obviously he knows the techniques and this helps him to go further and experiment in many styles”. We asked Thomas to answer a few questions for next years TDK Awards’ hopefuls.
What are some of your earliest creative memories and what lead you into design?
I’ve always been a habitual drawer, exploring drawing is all I can remember – it’s something I still do now, so I think it’s that obsession that has evolved with me that led me into design.
How did you develop your style as an illustrator and what tips would you have for others?
It’s just developed out of line drawing – pencil on paper – I was always really interested in digital art and played around in MS Paint. I wanted to start digitally replicating what I drew on paper and have the two influence each other but I think it was only after I started exploring CAD software that I found a link between pencil and digital outcomes. A tip would be to just keep exploring what interests you to work on pieces that you like.
What has been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?
Learn to critic your own work so you can keep adapting.
If you’re not enjoying it, you’re doing the wrong thing.
A dog helps get you out of the house so you don’t become isolated!
What advice would you give students starting out?
Make the most of the facilities at uni, accessing the same stuff in the wider world can be really difficult!
