Happy 80th Birthday Highlights Magazine!

A huge shout out to the incredible Tim Wesson for the brilliantly wacky illustrations you have created for Highlights Magazine over the last 8 years!

We sat down with Tim to ask him a few questions about his work with Highlights over the years...

Tell us a bit about your illustrations for Highlights Magazine?
Highlights Magazine is packed full of brilliant illustrations, so I’ve always felt very lucky to have been comissioned by them for many years, it’s always a favoruite of mine. The magazine is celebrating its 80th birthday soon, which is incredible — and I was commissioned to create the cover art. A Highlights commission is always a favourite of mine.

Where did you get your inspiration from?
I start drawing and see what happens. At some point an idea and composition take shape. If the commission involves lots of characters or a large scene, I usually try to include quirky, humorous elements. It's my way of waving to the readers. 
What do you enjoy most about illustrating?
I like getting into the flow. The rough stage is my favourite because I'm creating from scratch. Although cover art I love from start to finish.

What are your favourite characters to illustrate?
All kinds of animals — especially if I can sneak in a sense of the ridiculous.

Which is your favourite illustration you have created for Highlights Magazine?
It changes. Big scenes feel very satisfying, but I also like creating great characters doing their own thing. I particularly enjoyed the ballroom scene and the “guess who” animal characters.

Tell us about your process, what are the first steps when creating your artwork?
I have a cup of tea while I read the brief, then usually get stuck into sketching. Sometimes ideas arrive fully formed, but if they don’t I start roughing out characters and ideas emerge as I work. 

What tools and digital techniques did you use to create your illustrations?

I work digitally using a Wacom Cintiq 22.

To see more of Tim's Artist Portfolio, click here.