Michael Parkin’s latest editorial illustrations play with texture and hand-drawn elements

Having built up an solid client list including Observer New Review, The Sunday Times and Buzzfeed, illustrator Michael Parkin’s quietly observed illustrations build on the detail as he works on them. “One I have the basic flat image, I will normally print it out and work on top of it with pencils to add details and shading,” he says. “The textures, detailing and shapes are then all combined and coloured in Photoshop.”

Colour is used to create depth with flat blocks of muted hues in full force but the overall aesthetic is something Michael’s been working on. “I have been building up a database of handmade textures that I use within my work, but I am still a big fan of conté pencils for the drawn elements,” he explains.

For Michael, the importance of creating commissioned and personal work as part of his process still remains strong since the last time we featured him in 2014 after he’d just graduated a few months before. “I always make sure that any spare time I have is filled with personal work, so I can experiment further with colour, textures and different techniques,” he says. “This helps me to filter the bits that I like in to my professional work.”