Drawn into illustration
Illustrator Salini Perera tells us why she left the film industry behind to start creating artwork for books and magazines
ILLUSTRATOR Salini Perera was born in Sri Lanka, raised in Scarborough and now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and three cats. Here, she tells us all about her career.
What inspired you to be an illustrator?
I had always loved to draw when I was younger, but I didn’t think I was good enough to be an illustrator, so I went to film school. The film industry didn’t suit me, and I found that I was actually working on a lot of projects where I got to draw. So, I went back to school and studied illustration.
Do you use pencils or a computer?
I mostly work digitally now, when I illustrate books or articles, because it tends to be faster. But I love to work in pencil, just for myself.
What is your studio like? Do you work at home?
Messy! I work in the small studio space at the back of my house where we also have our washer and dryer. I try to keep it tidy, but when I’m in the middle of a book project it can get a little hectic.
How long did it take to illustrate your new book?
I started work on Lands of Belonging in August of 2021, and didn’t finish until January of this year!
Did you like drawing as a kid?
I loved it! I would pore over illustrated books and copy my favourite pictures out of them.
What is your favourite subject to draw?
I love drawing people, especially portraits. I draw a lot of them for newspapers and magazines. I also love to draw hands. I had an art director compliment my hands once, and now I try to incorporate them into my portraits whenever I can!
Is there anything you can’t draw or don’t like drawing?
I don’t like drawing architecture, especially large buildings and cityscapes. So many little windows!
Any tips when on drawing people?
The best advice I can give you is to practice. Look at pictures for reference. If I’m ever having trouble getting a character’s pose right, and I can’t find a good reference, I ask my husband to pose for me, or I photograph myself in the mirror. Drawing from life is the best way to learn!