Kim Toft
“I have been drawing since I was 4 years old. I loved drawing all the animated characters of Walt Disney. My style today is still very ‘animated’ however I now use silk as my chosen medium.”
I love painting on silk as it is the perfect medium to capture the immense beauty of coastal and underwater habitats. Even after 23 years full time silk painting, it still proves a constant challenge to me, the unforgiving nature of the silk and its’ ability to drink such brilliant colour in both tiny and huge areas.
My Environmental Picture Books
All my books have a strong environmental focus and reflect my love of the ocean and the coastal habitats which support it. I use a combination of interesting, interactive prose-style text and illustrate my work with hand painted silks. My books have received many international and national awards.
Titles include:
• One Less Fish (UQP) – still in print
• Neptune’s Nursery (UQP) – still in print
• Turtle’s Song (UQP) – still in print
• The World That We Want (UQP) – still in print
• Reef Superstar (Brolly Books) – not in print
• A Sea of Words (Silkim Books) – still in print
• The Twelve Underwater Days of Christmas (Silkim Books) – still in print
• Tick Tock Tick Tock What’s Up Croc? (Silkim Books) – still in print
• Recipe For Perfect Planet Pie (Silkim Books)—release date May 2012
Each book takes approximately 2 years to research, draw, paint, design and produce. One hand painted silk illustration can take up to 2-3 weeks to produce and an original silk can measure up to 2 metres x 1 metre!
I live in a beautiful part of the world – on the beach at Lennox Head in Northern NSW. I am inspired by the coastal habitats and the amazing creatures who live there. It’s important to have your own space to create. I like to listen to music while I’m painting. I go for a walk every day. Nature helps me to feel relaxed and happy. I think it’s important to embrace the ‘outside’ world as well as the one ‘inside’ ie computers, computer games and TV. Getting a balance is the key.
Tips for Illustrating and Writing
The Four “P’s” might help you on your artistic journey whether it is illustrating, writing or both.
1. Picture It
2. Practice
3. Passion
4. Persistence
1. Picture It
When you get an idea, explore and write down your concepts. While I’m writing and researching my books I can picture what the illustrations will look like. I sketch a small black and white drawing before I paint the finished illustration onto silk.
2. Practice
This is the key to developing and progressing with any pursuit. The more you do something, the better you get. I recommend drawing and/or writing as much as possible. Have a diary to write ideas, stories and drawings in. I draw, paint and write approximately 5-6 hours a day when I am not touring.
3. Passion
Passion is what makes something fun to do. If you love what you do, you are more likely to continue. Always have a special area which is set up for illustrating and writing. I have a wonderful view of the ocean and listen to music while I work.
4. Persistence
You need to believe in your work and keep presenting it to as many people as possible who are in the industry. However you need to be prepared for knockbacks. If at first you don’t succeed, try again and you will be rewarded not just by the result but by the journey.
“I love what I do and that is the gift of illustrating and writing about things I feel passionate about.”
Kim Michelle Toft
Related Websites:
