Meet Illustrator Andrea Yomtob: Her Journey Through Watercolour Wonder

Meet Andrea Yomtob—an illustrator and storyteller who is one of the most talented, dedicated students I’ve had the pleasure of teaching and mentoring.

We first crossed paths during my Picture Book Illustration e-Course in 2023, and right from the get-go, Andrea’s storytelling and artistic talent really shone through. So, when she decided to join the Watercolour Wonder Illustration Course, I was absolutely thrilled.

Her work might look effortless, but Andrea’s behind-the-scenes dedication is incredible. Driven by her dream to be a children’s picture book writer and illustrator, she’s out there making it happen. With two pre-schoolers, she’s up at 4 am, fitting in studio time before her children wake. Over the past year, she’s been refining her portfolio with hand-painted pieces, crafting stories, entering competitions, and engaging in my Treehouse Membership and Mentoring programmes—all in pursuit of her first book deal.

In this blog, Andrea shares her artwork, offering a peek behind the scenes of her creative process. This is not just a preview of what you can expect from the Watercolour Wonder Illustration Course, but also a source of inspiration — and a reminder of what’s possible when you follow your dreams. 

So, sit back, enjoy the incredible art and the artist behind it, and let yourself be inspired to take the next step toward making your own picture book dreams a reality.

Meet Andrea Yomtob

My name is Andrea Yomtob, and I live in Southern California. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed a career in visual effects and animation—working with Film Roman (the studio behind The Simpsons and King of the Hill) and spending a decade at Nickelodeon as an in-house 2D and 3D animator. I’ve also explored smaller projects, including illustrations for Lectura Books and collaborations with LAPD through The Hero In You Foundation.

Why I Joined Watercolour Wonder

This past year, I’ve been focused on enhancing my portfolio. I wanted to create a piece inspired by a classic story and was looking for a course that would deepen my watercolour skills while exploring my artistic style. When I discovered the Watercolour Wonder Illustration Course, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to learn from Nina, challenge myself creatively, and gain new insights into storytelling through art. 

The course was a perfect match for what I was looking for—a chance to explore a beloved story, learn new techniques and see how Nina’s process could integrate with mine. The idea of working with the imaginative and surreal characters of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland felt like a natural fit, since I love whimsical characters.

Diving into the Creative Process

Designing Alice was a wonderful challenge. I loved exploring Victorian fashion—drawing inspiration from poofy sleeves, ruffled skirts, and big collars. I also revisited Disney’s 1951 animated version, which is full of iconic, whimsical characters. As I worked, I kept thinking, These characters are so surreal and fun—this is the kind of world I want to bring to life with watercolour. My goal was to experience the entire illustration process—from initial ideas and concept development to layout to final paint. I was particularly curious about how Nina’s techniques would resonate with my current methods and to discover my own strengths and weaknesses through this course.

Week-by-Week Journey

Module One: Playful Beginnings
This week was all about experimenting and discovery. We explored the colour wheel, researched the Wonderland characters and their objects, and designed an entire page of Wonderland-inspired objects in our own style.

I had a blast “playing” — my favourite project was illustrating a white rabbit clock and a jar of orange marmalade, imagining I was reading the manuscript for the very first time, drawing something fresh and spontaneous. It was a freeing experience, and I ended up creating some portfolio-quality pieces that I really loved.

Getting familiar with the characters and thinking about how I would design them was the most enjoyable part. I kept asking myself,  How could I do this differently? How could I make it mine?

Module Two: Character Design Deep Dive

Focusing on Alice, we examined her physical and emotional traits. I loved researching Victorian-era children via historic photographs—this real-world reference gave depth to my character development. I created lifelike portraits before designing my own interpretation of Alice.

 We did gestural sketches of Alice using watercolour, capturing her attitude and personality, which really helped me understand her character beyond just her appearance. It was a valuable lesson in storytelling through illustration. 

Module Three: Building the Wonderland Cast
Designing other characters like the Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat, was exciting. I particularly enjoyed exploring their clothing–crafting a big layered dress for the Queen of Hearts and experimenting with shapes to define her stature.

I learned that using simple shapes helps me focus on form and avoids jumping into details too fast, which has improved my workflow. This shaped my approach moving forward. Sowing down, problem-solving visually, and understanding the importance of shape has made my work clearer and more intentional.

Module Four: Composition, Design and Painting a Final Portfolio Piece 

We planned our final illustration by sketching thumbnails, considering composition and page design–using the rule of thirds,  framing, and leading lines. Nina showed us how to transfer our sketches onto watercolour paper, stretch it properly, and prepare to paint. I chose to interpret the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party scene rather than my initial idea of the Queen of Hearts, because I found it more playful and story-rich. 

Walking through the entire preparation—from thumbnails to final touches—was invaluable. It’s one thing to paint, but understanding layout, bleed, crop marks, and the technical details really elevates your work. I then spent additional time finishing the watercolour piece, layering colours and adding details.

Feedback and Continuous Growth

Throughout the course, Nina’s provided professional, constructive feedback through our private Facebook group. Every week, participants shared their work, and Nina’s insights helped refine our pieces–from the initial sketches to finished illustrations. Having Nina’s professional feedback was invaluable, no matter what stage I was at; she’s a wonderfully gifted teacher.

What makes this watercolour course different from others?

I knew from the start that Watercolour Wonder Illustration was going to be tailored towards picture book illustration—exactly what I’m interested in and focusing on right now. And I also knew it was Nina’s background, so I was confident she’d be thinking about the elements that go into designing an illustration.

What really drew me in was how the course encourages you to think beyond what the characters originally looked like; you get to reimagine them. It’s about exploring ways to add depth and meaning to the story that might not be explicitly there, and I absolutely love that kind of thinking. It’s something I enjoy getting into the weeds on. I was looking for a course that did exactly that, and I knew Watercolour Wonder offered that aspect.

But if your focus is just on learning watercolour theory and practice, Nina’s approach has that too. The course is a nice blend—taking the technical side of watercolour painting and adding a picture book twist. It’s this integration of both: the essential techniques you need for execution, combined with the understanding of how to create work that fits the picture book market. I think that blend is what makes this course so special — a really unique, well-rounded experience.

What’s next?

I’ve always enjoyed animation, but when I had kids, I decided I wanted to shift gears towards picture book illustration. Having children also gives me a treasure trove of story ideas—much of my inspiration comes from everyday moments with them.

Lately, I’ve been mainly focusing on building my portfolio. That’s what I want to get out into the world—illustrating other people’s stories and manuscripts as well as my own. I’ve entered contests, and I was excited to be one of the finalist illustrators at The Picture Book Party. That experience opened up some potential opportunities and contacts for future projects.

But mostly, I’m just continuing to grow my portfolio, send out submissions, and keep my fingers crossed. Whatever happens next, I know this is a dream I’ve had for a long time—something I simply have to pursue. I love waking up each day, brainstorming new ideas, and bringing stories to life through my art. It’s been an exciting journey so far, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

For more information, visit Andrea Tomtob’s website.
Follow Andrea on Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube

For more information about Nina’s Watercolour Wonder Illustration Course, 2025