Illustration friday "Snow"

Cheating a bit - using one of my christmas cards for illustration friday this week. "Snow" is made out of cut out pieces of material and scanned in

Christmas cards

My three Christmas card designs..

Sold over 200 now, really pleased :)

Been sooo super busy the last month... which is why I haven't done any posts oops BUT  I have been productive. Making my own christmas cards and also did my first stall at my church. Was a good experience to have as the first day was very poor but made almost all of my money by the 2nd day. Amazing the difference a day can make.
Sold nearly all of the Christmas cards I made and also all three canvases. All in all total sales of £150 - not too shabby for a stall. Want to do more stalls after christmas and start selling more of my artwork

Botanics

Had a great trip out to the Botanics a few days ago. Sometimes just being outside and having some fresh air can really help ideas flow. I was surrounded by so much beautiful nature that it gave me an idea to write a story about some thing happening inside a tree. Started some sketches from the photos I took today so its a good start. Going to be very busy the next few weeks what with birthday celebrations and I have a craft fair where I'm selling christmas cards and other drawings but I feel this is going to be a good story

Illustration Friday "Water"

My entry for this week's Illustration Friday "water"

Weekend sketches

Friday 

 I visited Surgeons hall. Lots of things to look at but not necessarily draw I felt. Something that really interests me though is structure of the human form and bones. This was a sketch using brown and white pencil on brown paper of a skeleton hand that had a bullet hole through it in the war. Which I thought was pretty interesting to look at. The gun shot is aparantly the hole in the bone at the wrist (on the left hand side).

I enjoyed sketching the fine detail especially in the joints.

Saturday

I met one of my best friends for some coffee time :) I've not drawn her for a while so I decided to today

This was the original sketch then I decided to colour it in digitally for a change, to experiment a bit more with what media I'm using.

                        Here's the end result after being coloured in photoshop. It was very minimal and I could use          more practice but I think it works quite well

"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside"

Mixed Media - Collage, sewing, found objects, paint and photoshop

After visiting the beach/harbour a few weeks ago I wanted to continue on the sketch I did looking down and seeing what was at my feet. Here's the end result :)

Museum sketches 28/9/12

Newhaven harbour sketches 21/9/12

 

 

 

 

Poppy painting

Final portrait

My sister wanted a new painting for her room and I jumped at the chance to do one for her. I've not painted let alone drawn flowers for quite a while so I was really happy the way it has turned out and so was she :) I think the gold paint really helps it stand out.

Museum sketches 14/9/12

Continuing my sketching practice at the museum and I really enjoyed working from the animals especially today. Working in conte sticks I think really helps bring out the colour and tones from my work.

museum sketch 7/9/12

Going to make this a weekly thing drawing at the museum. Sketch I did today of an ox skull head. I'm so fascinated by bone structure.

 Arthur Seat (most of it!)

I found I had a fascination of horses legs. They are so interesting to draw from all the bumps and curves

The key to becoming a good artist (like anything) is practice. I'm very aware I need to keep up my drawing skills to become better so today I decided to get some fresh air and go see the horses.

I've not drawn from life in quite a few months now and it's certainly not easy to draw things quickly and are constantly moving but I did enjoy it. I know a lot of these aren't perfect but I was happy just to go out and draw and try to challenge myself by drawing different things too. Only way I'll get better!

Shaun Tan at the book festival

Me and Shaun Tan

My books "The red Tree" and Eric" were signed - he even did some doodles for me too :) (the red tree on the left is his fingerprint stamped!)

My second trip to the book festival within a few days this time to see illustrator Shaun Tan. Was soo excited to see him today as he's been one of my biggest inspirations. 

He gave a talk on how he got into illustration (explaining how he was an introvert which led him to being inside alot and drawing) and his past and current work - explaining the meaning behind his work. He explained how his work was very personal to him often the themes running in his books were to do with belonging - which he often struggled with. I found his talk very engaging and inspiring, giving me confidence to keep practising more drawing. I feel very lucky to hear from such an amazing illustrator.

A star of a mistake

As well as drawing I'm very into my photography these days. I'm on blipfoto - an online photography journal which I think is always helping my creativity and making me look at things differently.
This is a photograph I was taking of my starry notebook for blipfoto. It turned out blurry but I think it actually works so much better than the ones in focus. Think it made a pretty good photo and although I hate to admit it sometimes making mistakes can work to your advantage.

Book festival

Today was a pretty awesome day. I had tickets to the Book festival in Edinburgh to go and see a talk from one of my favourite childrens book illustrators - Catherine Rayner and also Anthony Browne and writer Vivien French. It was a really interesting talk about how they got into illustration, styles, how they come by ideas etc and I found it really great to hear from such successful illustrators. Also how they worry about how their work looks just as much as me!!
This is a photo of me with Catherine and Anthony after the talk who I had a wee chat with after and also signed my books. Anthony Browne also wished me well in my career. A really good positive and inspiring day.

Illustration Friday - "Bounce"

Background painted with acrylics and ink

sketches of the deer first done in pencil then changed to white in photoshop

Final piece :)

Mixed media - paint, pencil, cut out paper and photoshop

A bit of a rushed entry this week as I only started today but I was determind to get something done. I thought of the usual bouncy ball, trampoline etc but wanted to try doing not so many people would think of. I decided to do a picture of  deer because when they run I always think they so elegantly bounce, leaping through the air and I love it.

Venice painting

I've been away on holiday to Italy and had a trip to Venice. It was probably one of the most incredible places I've ever been to from the canals, boats, ancient architecture - the place is so interesting to see. I just fell in love with it's beauty. 

I was looking for a present to take back my friend, I didn't see anything other than masks (which I didn't think she would of liked) and was going to buy a painting of venice as there are many artists there BUT then I thought to myself why am I buying art when I am more than capable of doing it myself. So here is the finished (suprise) piece I did for my friend. She absolutely loves it and is now hanging on her living room wall

 :)

Yet again I've been away far too long from my blog. Sorry! but I have been away on holiday so that's been my excuse. Going to get back into drawing again by continuing illustration friday so in the meantime heres some pictures (Not many) I did while I was away on holiday. As much as I love my paints I never think it's a good idea to take them away with me anywhere as you need lots more equipment so I used pen, china marker and conte sticks to try something a bit different.

Illustration Friday - Refresh

Refresh for Illustration Friday this week.
Refresh makes me think of a few things water and feeling relaxed and feeling alot better. So this week is a picture of me lying on a lilo from last summer in the pool. Being in the sun and relaxing generally make me feel more refreshed.

I'm away on holiday this week so I cant wait to be all refreshed again :)