Thursday 27 October 2011

'fuel' - illustration friday

My entry for this weeks Illustration Friday prompt 'fuel'.
I used pen and pencil for this and then tidied it up digitally. Out of my comfort zone a bit but I'm pleased with it :)

Tuesday 25 October 2011

ch-ch-ch-changes!

Yes a little change always makes me feel better, my blog needed a spring cleaning (or, as it turns out, an autumn cleaning!) Still in progress but hopefully it'll be finished in a couple of weeks, please bear with me! :D

Monday 24 October 2011

10,000 views!

I'm not sure whether it's a big milestone for the internet in general, but for me it's like wow! So as a thank you and hooray there'll be 20% off at my Etsy shop when you use the code 10KBLOG at the checkout :D you can find my Etsy shop here.
Happy shopping!


Thursday 20 October 2011

lesser mouse lemur

I've been going back to basics the past few weeks, actually using pencils and paintbrushes instead of relying on the digital stuff, and it's so bloomin' satisfying!

Here's yet another sketch from the NHM, I've become a tad obsessed with all things furry and cute since my visit. This is a Lesser Mouse Lemur, a bit like a Bush-baby really. I used watercolour, pencil and pen on paper, but messed up the tree trunk. Instead of throwing an artistic tantrum I simply cut out the lemur, cut out a trunk shape from black paper, and collaged the two together. Problem solved!

Friday 14 October 2011

oh deer...

Another sketch from the photos I took at the Natural History Museum.
Watercolour, pen and pencil on paper. Will be on sale at my Etsy shop soon!

Thursday 13 October 2011

...so i can be organised!




Yes, I have started my Christmas cards in October. Which means that this year I've actually got myself organised! Time for a celebration!
Here are my top end price cards, complete with crocheted snowflake and little cut-out snowflakes (I cheated with the cut-outs, it's a punch cutter from Hobbycraft! Can you blame me?)
LOTS more designs to come :D
My cat decided to help me put them into their cellophane, hmmm...

Monday 10 October 2011

'contraption' - illustration friday

 A quick doodle for this weeks Illustration Friday topic 'contraption'

I always loved Wallace and Gromit as a kid (and I still do!) so took a little inspiration from them to create my kettle boiling contraption! I need one of these I can operate from my bed so when I get downstairs there's hot water ready for tea making.

Mmmmm...

Sunday 9 October 2011

natural history museum

It's amazing that you can live on the doorstep of some amazing places and never actually go isn't it?

I finally visited the Natural History Museum at Tring over the weekend and it is FULL of amazing taxidermy and animal-info. I took a million photo's and couldn't resist a bit of sketching, so here is a moonfish that I've just finished. It's watercolour, pencil and graphite on paper :)

More sketches to come (and visits no doubt!)

Tuesday 4 October 2011

'hibernate' - illustration friday

Here's my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday topic 'hibernate'.

Originally I wanted to do a badger, but apparently English badgers don't actually hibernate? I never knew that! So here is a tiny little dormouse curled up snug ready for winter.

Bit of a different style for me this week, going back to traditional and actually painting! I'm quite happy with it, although the mouse was tricky to colour.

This piece is gouache on 250gsm paper, and is window mounted using black paper.

monday musings

I heard Peter Sarstedt's 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)' on the radio the other day and I cannot get it out of my head. It's so beautiful and makes me want to go to Paris instantly, literally jump on the Eurostar and go right now. I'm so in love with the lyrics I may do some drawings inspired by them, if you haven't heard the song please please please give it a listen, it'll make your day I guarantee it.

Also, I have FINALLY started my Christmas loot, cards have begun as have crocheted goods. I'm going to be at the Delapre Abbey Christmas Craft Fair in Northampton at the end of November, and want to have a good stock of all things Chritmassy ready for it :) plus I'll need cards for friends and family, so I'm glad I've started now!

As my leg is really on the mend now I can finally start re-photoing my Etsy stock too, and have a few pieces mid-completion so will update with those soon!

So much to do so little time... particularly at this time of year aye?

Saturday 1 October 2011

caldecotte arms, finally done!

Phew! Finished at last. Had alot of difficulty colouring this one for some reason, just couldn't pick them and stay happy with them, and some of the lines I'm not totally pleased with but overall I think it looks good. Time to go to sleep now...