Unsung Heroes & Heroines Project *New*

Recent uni project on unsung heroes and heroines. Things, people, objects we take for granted that don't or didn't get the recognition they deserve. I chose to focus on animals from the war. I then narrowed it down to looking at six pigeons that served in the Second World War. Form this I produced a writing set that consists of the six post cards, six envelopes and six sheets of writing paper and having the pigeons as the main theme all the way through. 

Six carrier pigeon postcards

Outside packaging net

One of six patterned envelope nets 

Happy Halloween!!

*New* Unsung heroes and heroines projects *Pigeons*

I've currently been working on a Uni brief on Unsung heroes and heroines. I chose to focus on the animals that lent their services during the 1st and 2nd World War. 

A page from my sketchbook. 

*New* Quote inspiration

This piece is a little different to what I usually choose to illustrate. I stubbled across a quote that sparked an image in my head and I just had to sketch some thumb nails down on paper before the idea escaped me. So here it is, I suppose its kind of a self portrait based piece as well. 

The original piece was created in pencil and later scanned into photoshop. 

*NEW* ~ Thank you! Portrait

I can finally, finally share this with you. After my two year illustration course I wanted to thank my tutor Alan Baker for being amazing!

So a group of us band together to create a book with our work in. The idea was to use the same subject, which was Alan. It was nice to see what we all produced by the deadline. A nice variety of styles.

And this was my contribution! Thank you Alan! 

*New* Gideon the Giraffe

A quick character doodle I did in my sketchbook of a giraffe named Gideon. 

Enjoy :) 

NEW! *Little Orange and Squeak the Mouse*

Its finally here! Finally managed to finish this piece of art work. I have been wanting to create this piece for a while now. Its only taken me a month. 

With no further a do...introducing Little Orange the Cat and Squeak the Mouse!!

New! ~ Bird's in my Garden

Finally here is some new art work I have finally managed to finish. 

Introducing, Bird's in my Garden. 

Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blue Tit & Greenwood Pecker

New artwork ~ Coming Soon!

I had taken a break from drawing and painting. I am now back!!
I have new artwork coming soon, which I have been working on to finish the past couple weeks.

It has been a slow process...all creatives know how frustrating it gets when you get artists block!
 

Please check back soon!

Birds

Here is a little something I have been working on...my birdy's. 

Still not quite finished, should be complete in the next few days. 

Sketched out ready to join Magpie

Blue Tit painted

Half finished Greenwood Pecker.

Something new

Here is something new I have been working on recently. I am hopefully opening an etsy shop so I can sell prints and such. Well that is what I am working towards anyway. 

Magpie from William the Parrot

Pattern idea focusing on characters from William the Parrot

Character Doodle - Little Orange

Finally managed to sit down and do some drawing yesterday. Still needs a bit of work and development but the main character design is there. Meet Little Orange. 

New Designers 2013

Last week I was at New Designers 2013 from 3rd-6th July. It was such an amazing experience to have the opportunity to exhibit there this year. It has opened my mind to new possibilities  and has given me new avenues to explore.

Here are a few photos

our stand

Me standing with my work

Something I'm working on!

I am working on something at the moment for someone. I don't want to reveal too much at the moment as its a surprise. Here is a little peek at the drawn up sketches. I am working on the colour today. 

Rabbit

Squirrel

Memory project

Another past project I thought I would share. This project was on memories but we had to listen to Holst -The Planets in order to trigger a memory. I chose to listen to Mercury, the winged messenger. 

The memory that sprang to mind was playing in the woods and building dens with my younger brother and Charlie the dog. 

Grinning like a Cheshire Cat!

In celebration to getting my final results for my Foundation degree in Illustration, here is the Cheshire Cat grinning! From my personal work. 

Sums up how much I am smiling right now. 

New personal project

Here is a sketch of the start of a new project I will be working on in the summer. 

Character dev: Tabby cat squashing a toy mouse. 

Cat mouse mat project

Another past project. This project was a one day project. The brief was to design a cat themed mouse mat. This is what I ended up producing. 

Exhibition video clip

Stumbled across this little clip someone had created of our illustration exhibition. Pretty awesome I think. Go check it out! http://vine.co/v/b3E0WqjUMOg

Exhibition Pt 1

Last night was the private viewing of my end of year exhibition. It went so well and it was so lovely to see our little studio room so full. 

Wall one: from William the parrot.

Both walls 

Second wall: from a mixture of projects

Look what arrived!

I thought I should share what arrived in the post the other day. MY BOOK! All printed and nice looking. Only thing I didn't check for was spellings and discovered one on the Magpie page! 

The Man Who...Project

Here is another past project. Something a little different. This is a patterned based piece focusing on repetition. It was for an article about a man and his life. I included everything that interested him or things in his surroundings. 

Exhibition sneaky peek!

Here is a sneak peek of the exhibition. 

Not much of a sneak peek. I will reveal all on the day the exhibition opens, 4th June. 

Exhibition Prep!

Exhibition preparation is well and truly underway. I won't reveal the pieces I have chosen to exhibit until the show opens on the 4th June. So keep checking back! 

In the meantime here are something a little different. I got rather inspired by Jon Klassen's work and I attempted to create a piece influenced by his work. I don't think its nearly as amazing as his but I thought I should give it a try. I think I shall leave this method to the pro though. I will stick to my good old watercolours :)

Final major project sketchbook pages and Jon Klassen

I had a rather interesting day today, I went to a Jon Klassen book signing with a friend. He wrote and illustrated 'I want my hat back.' Defiantly worth checking his work out, very inspiring.

I thought I would share a couple of the character development pages from my final major project today.

The Magpie character development.

William the parrot character development. 

Children's growing chart

Now I no longer have any of my final major project for peeps to see, I thought I should share some more past projects that I have done. 

This one was to design a child's growing chart, the theme was the Amazon rainforest. 

Final Major Project - Finished!

My final major project has now been handed in. So to celebrate here is William the parrot.

Final book cover used. 

Rabbit & Chick

Just a quick blog post for today as deadline is tomorrow for my children's picture book. The smell of freedom is so close I can smell it. 

So here is a cute white bunny and his friend chick!

Final illustration for Final Major - update

Finally completed the last illustration for my children's book yesterday. Today will be spent putting it all together. 

William the Parrot picture book update

Here is what I managed to finish yesterday. I have one last illustration to complete today and then its time to put the book together, eeekk! 

The Crow

William sleeping on his piece of moss. 

Step By Step - Picture Book Update

These are the illustrations I have managed to get done yesterday.

I though maybe a step by step thingy was in order. 

First stage, all penciled and the sky painted. 

Second stage, green trees in the background, vine and part of the bird painted. 

Third stage, one wing, beak and part of the tail painted. 

Final stage, other wing, eye and tail painted! 

The Magpie!

Another one of my illustrations complete for my picture book. 

Half way stage. 

And the finished image of the Magpie and the KEY!

Picture Book Update

Quick update on final major project. So far I am close to finishing another illustration, which means another page will be completed. 

The wood pigeon with a feather. 

Final Major Project Children's Book Update!

Update on what I managed to get completed today. 

The sparrow stuffing moss into the lock and the treasures William ends up collecting. 

The Green Woodpecker.