Alice Coles (@HulloAlice) is an illustrator, artist, designer, and video producer based in Colorado. She has honed her skills and created a signature style thanks largely to her own video production schedule. Alice publishes tutorial videos and showcases her experiments on her YouTube channel, HulloAlice.
In this conversation, we discuss Alice's origins as an illustrator, how she found supporters in the YouTube community, what art supplies she relies on, and what sort of desk setup she uses to film her own work as it happens.
See more of Alice's work and get in touch on her website, AliceRColes.com.
 
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Show Notes & Links

Prescott and Alice met at a design conference in Phoenix
Alice describes her work as "an exploration of herself, her memories, and her place and role in the world."
Alice uses storytelling in her art, calling herself an illustrator
Monument Valley
Loish, artist and inspiration of Alice
Kaizen, the Japanese idea of continual self-improvement
Alice admits she doesn't quite have the time/focus for too many commissions
 Sycra on YouTube
 Baylee Jae on YouTube


"YouTube can be toxic at times, I've seen, but the art community is so supportive of each other."
—Alice Coles
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Alice started making videos "every couple of months" but found consistency through audience momentum
Alice is primarily a watercolour artist
Faffing, a definiton
Matt Cremona, woodworker/furniture maker on The Busy Creator Podcast
 Matt Cremona on YouTube
Doctor Who
Papasan Chair


"Watercolour is the worst medium to scan."
—Alice Coles
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"I tend to barrel through life like a rolling stone."
—Alice Coles
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Tsundoku, the Japanese word for "the constant act of buying books, but never reading them"
Reddit
Alice hails from Desborough, Northamptonshire, UK
 Alice Coles on Twitter
 Alice Coles Illustration on Facebook
 Alice Coles on Facebook
 Alice Coles on Instagram
 Alice Coles on YouTube

Tools

Windows Movie Maker
Lightbox
Winsor & Newton India Ink
Dip Nib
White Guash
Gel Pens
Prismacolor pencils
Watercolor colored pencils
Desk from Target with a hutch
Custom lights
Bookcases
Wacom Intuos 5 tablet
Wacom Cintiq monitor/tablet
Adobe Photoshop
Basecamp

Techniques

Start with inspiration — colour combo, landscape, etc.
Use figure references for anatomy
Paint in layers — block in shadows first, then skin tone — keep it thin
Underpaint (paint an entire paper with a single colour to instill a tone or feeling)
Use a hairdryer to dry your layers
Use a hairdryer to cure swimmer's ear
Complete a painting in a single sitting (2–6 hours)
Batch videos, especially when lighting/hair/make-up is required
Watch a speed version of your video first, then record it again in real-time
Increase contrast and colour-depth in Photoshop — with the aim to match real-life colours
Use planners and lists — "bullet journal"

Habits

Keep supplies organized in clear cases — jars, boxes, etc.
Create an inspiring workspace, use personal items and motifs
Aim for a consistent wake-up time (maybe 8 am)
Reply to comments and emails first thing in the morning
Read while you eat, and before you go to bed
Don't be so hard on yourself (regarding time management or inconsistency)
List out your tasks for the next day