A traditional “hatching” technique helps Georgette Smith achieve her distinctive sketchy style

Somerset’s idyllic countryside inspires the illustrator’s serene, textured drawings.

Date
5 August 2022

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Drawn to yellowish, peachy hues, with elements of blue and purple, illustrator Georgette Smith has a penchant for creating work that depicts slow living and the “quietest moments” of the day: with lounging cats, early morning bed scenes and dips in lakes. This focus is rooted in her experience growing up in Somerset’s serene countryside, a place she sees as simultaneously “relaxed” and “isolating”, and where she still lives to this day. “I think my drawings can feel nostalgic, tapping into a familiar feeling, like a reminder of a certain summer,” Georgette says.

If you’re wondering how Georgette achieves her distinctive style, it’s through a process called “hatching”. Using mostly traditional wax and oil pastels, the illustrator layers small lines to create her textured effect, a style which many fans have told her looks like falling rain. If we could suggest spending time with just one of Georgette’s pieces, it would be Hidden House – her lines give the impression of a mid-summer thunderstorm, while the piece overall showcases all of the defining facets of her irresistible body of work.

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Georgette Smith: Hidden House (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: 50% Digital (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: Bed Peace (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: July 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: Christmas 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

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Georgette Smith: Hayfever Season (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: Swim Circles (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2020)

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Georgette Smith: October 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

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Georgette Smith: November 2021 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2021)

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Georgette Smith: March 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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Georgette Smith: May 2022 (Copyright © Georgette Smith, 2022)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

Olivia (she/her) joined the It’s Nice That team as an editorial assistant in November 2021 and soon became staff writer. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in English literature and history, she’s particularly interested in photography, publications and type design.

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