1973 Grafika Collaboration

A few weeks ago now 1973 sent a call out for collage artists to collaborate with them for a project to promote their lovely new paper collection : Grafika. This sounded right up my street so jumped at the chance. We were allowed to create anything we want with the collection of papers they sent in the post (what a lovely parcel that was!)


I got them straight up on my wall and just gazed at them for a couple of days. Then I realised that some of the papers reminded me of the patterns and colours you find in nature and on animals skin/fur....


The scales on a crocodile:

The lines and creases and armour like skin of a rhino:

The spots and colours of a giraffes fur:

And the bright colours found in plants and flowers:

I brought all my animals and flower together to create this sweet little scene.

I really enjoyed this project as I LOVE working with papers and patterns! 

What I also love about this project was the variety of different ideas and end results people came up with even though we all had the same paper collection. Just shows how you shouldn't and cant really compare yourself to other artists and illustrators, because we all work in different ways and come up with completely different ideas. 

Inspiration: Andrea D'Aquino.

I have just stumbled upon the work of Andrea D'Aquino. I feel like I should have known about her work before now?

Anyway, I love how she works. Her process is similar to mine, in the fact that she uses lots of found paper and different textures and then cuts it up and arranges it into a layout. Her work is brilliant though, and this is because she pushed a lot further than I do. 

My work is always better when I take risks and push things a bit further than I find comfortable. Of course, a lot of the time this creates something which is quickly rearranged or forgotten about completely, but sometimes it ends up as something I'm proud of. 

I think coming across Andreas work has inspired me to push myself further and take more risks within my work.

I also love her use of colour. I love the muted browns and creams with the deep reds and greens, and occasional bright highlight. 

website and branding re-design

Recently, I have been working through a Dreamweaver classroom in a book, to try and help me understand Dreamweaver and a bit of coding, so that I can update my website and keep it up to date from now on.
I am still working through the book (it is getting more and more complicated, so takes a little while to get through it) but I think I am getting the hang of it (I hope!) Once I have got some basic knowledge, then I will start to completely re-design my website.
At the moment, it is pretty bare, as the last time I tried to change it, I got so muddled.
Also, it is not really reflecting my style at the moment, so isn't doing a very good job at being my website.


I am starting to work on some new headers for it and for this blog.
For some reason I struggle with headers and I can never quite get them to look how I want, so I will probably be asking for some help and opinions soon!


All this while still keeping my work going. phew!


I cant wait until my website is all done and looking great.


Anyway, for now I have done a little illustration of a drawing hand. 

Elizabeth Lau Illustration for Amelia's Magazine

Last week I contributed an illustration to Amelia's Magazine to accompany an interview with fashion designer Elizabeth Lau and her new range. I am not really into fashion, but I like to keep an eye on trends which might influence other things as well as fashion. That might be colours, patterns or themes. 
I haven't done much fashion illustration at all so thought I would challenge myself. 
I do really like this collection though. I think the clothes are fun and look like things I would like to wear.


I enjoyed making this image in my usual collage style, and seeing how a style which normally can be a bit messy and 'chunky'(?) , could also be dainty and tidy! 


Anyway, here it is and here is the interview.

Paper paper paper

I really love how versatile paper can be. I am jealous of people who can manipulate it to create amazing sculptures and illustrations. I tend to make more of a mess than a masterpiece. I love working with found papers and patterns and textures though to create my pictures. 


These paper cuts by Peter Callesen are pretty immense.

 They look beautifully simple, but they are so delicate and tiny, so I can only imagine they were not simple to make.




I have just received a package of papers from 1973 who have decided to collaborate with some different paper sculpture and collage artists to experiment and create something with their new range of paper. It is a completely open brief and the papers are beeeeaautiful so I am excited to get going with it. At the moment they are pinned on my wall so I can look at them and have a think what I am going to do with them. I have a few little ideas.

Polar Bear Cub

I have done a little illustration of a polar bear baby.

I am thinking of getting some pocket mirrors made up with my designs on for my etsy shop and craft fairs this year. Just thinking which designs to use for them. I might use this little guy. 

New Christmas Cards

Here are some new Christmas cards that I have designed and am awaiting my order of them from Moo. 

Cant wait to see them and start sending them and selling them. 

I'm starting to feel a bit christmassy now, which is odd for me as I normally hold the christmassy feelings back until after my birthday. Ah well!!

Boo

Thought I would get in the mood for Halloween!

Tigerprint

The other day I was so happy to hear that my work was getting mentioned on the Tigerprint blog. 
Tigerprint are a great company who supply exclusive cards and wrapping to Marks and Spencer. 
They hold regular competitions on their blog and I was lucky enough to come runner up in the first one I entered. 
I got a LOVELY goody bag and they wrote a blog post all about my work, which was so lovely. 


I am entering another one of their competitions so fingers crossed they like that design as much as the last....or more!

Anyway, go check the blog post out and have a look at their stuff. 

All Tropical, Ghosts of Gone Birds Competiton

A few days ago I entered a design for the Ghosts of gone birds t-shirt design competition for All Tropical.

The idea of the competition is to raise awareness for extinct birds, many of which have been gone for hundreds of years, so not too many people are even aware that they existed. It is so sad when you look at the list of extinct birds and see just how many beautiful species we are missing out on seeing.

Anyway, I chose to illustrate the Laughing Owl. Named as such because of its peculiar call. It seemed like a mischievous creature and that's the main reason why I chose it over many of the other birds which were on the list. Also, it had lovely patterns on its feathers, which of course I love.

To get into the final 10 which will then be judged by a panel, I need lots of votes for my design. Please rate my design by clicking on the palm trees. (5 palm trees is the best rating...hint hint)

Hope you like it!

Rate "Laughing Owl"

Thank youuuuuuuu