Some new work

Quote from one of my favourite films- Little Miss Sunshine

Just a round up of some of my latest illustrations. Been having lots of fun on these recently.

On a roll!

I have had a good month or so for winning prizes, as well as winning with Pedlars, a few weeks ago I won this awesome print.

It is the work of Mick Statham, a printmaker that is based very near me. He ran a giveaway on Twitter which I, as a pug owner, and lover of screen prints, was very eager to win. He was originally going to pick just one winner, but due to interest he picked 3, and I was one of them! Woohoo.

It really is a beautiful print, of brilliant quality, and it came with an adoption certificate for "Vinnie" the pug dog!

Check out his work here

A new year resolution done

Old stencils pinned up on the wall of the studio

 The tattoo has begun

2 months old and all healed

Straight after tattoo number two

2 weeks later

I had wanted a tattoo for quite a few years, but as I'm so indecisive and an over thinker I hadn't done anything about it, except look at lots of pictures, pin them like mad and change my mind about what I wanted. My husband had his first one a few years ago, and last year I had planned to get my first, but the appointment fell through, so I ended up getting one the first few days into January.

I got tattooed by a very talented guy, Darren McDonald, we were on the same course at University, and since leaving I had seen his awesome tattoos on Facebook, he has a very distinctive style, and a great sense of colour. Finding out he was only based about 40 minutes away, I decided I wanted him to be the one to do it, and I finally decided what I would have, a bird based on the work of the amazing illustrator Charley Harper who is one of my favourite illustrators of all time. Before hand I was extremely excited, but very nervous. Obviously I knew it would hurt, and the main thing I was worried about was if I twitched while he was doing it, or what if I couldn't cope with the pain, and I couldn't let him finish it (as I said I'm an over thinker!) 

The stencil was placed several times, until we were both happy then the buzzing of the tattoo gun started, and as it hovered above my skin, I held my breath waiting for the needle to make contact. There was pain, a stinging, scratching sensation, similar to what I had expected to be honest, and a relief really, as I thought, "OK, it hurts, but I can deal with this"

I watched the whole thing, and was fascinated. The needle moves so fast, you can't see it going in and out, it just looks like your being drawn on. I watched as the image built up, and got really excited as the colour went in, as any one that knows me, knows I love colour. As Darren finished the bird, he suggested a few circles might look awesome, I didn't really want any more pain, but agreed with him that they would look good, and I'm really glad I let him go with it, as I think they work really well, and make the whole think come to life. 

I was a little alarmed to find that I'm a bleeder when it comes to being tattooed, some people hardly bleed at all, but I'm not one of them!

When I went in to get my bird I really believed it would be the only tattoo I would ever get, but now I understand what people mean when they say it's addictive! Less than 2 months later I was back to get a squirrel on my thigh, based on the artwork of Andrew Pavitt. Once you have one, it's so much easier thinking of others you want, and the excitement of seeing a piece of artwork on your body is something you want to feel again. 

Again, as my second one was happening, I was lying there thinking, "two will be enough, it's a nice amount, I don't really want to go through this again", but the day after, my mind was firing away, thinking about what I could have next! Oh dear! 

A massive thanks to Darren for doing such an awesome job! Find his work on Instagram as @magicmutant 

Autumn Inspiration

I have always loved the colours of Autumn, maybe partly due to being an Autumnal baby. As the temperature begins to drop the colours get so warm. It's like nature is giving us that last intense burst of colour before it goes into hibernation. The sunshine is also at it's most gorgeous, casting an amazing glow across things. I always find this time of year so inspiring, so here are a few photos I have been taking and some illustrations I have created, I hope you enjoy them.

More brooch fun

The Shrink art bug has definitely got me! I have been working on a few more designs, and have lots of more ideas. I will have a brooch for every occasion, and I think my friends and family know what they will be getting for their birthday, christmas and any other occasion! haha. I will have to try making some other jewellery soon.

It's just really satisfying creating physical objects, as much of my work stays on a screen!

Three Bridges Gallery

 

I was involved in a really cool exhibition a few weekends ago. It was great because the artwork was shown under bridges along a stretch of canal on Barton. It was devised by a local designer Dan Poyner.   He came up with the idea several years ago while walking Rosie the dog, along the canal tow path. He found himself standing under one of the canal bridges, looking at the great expanse of concrete, and a little light bulb went off, and he thought, why not use these spaces to show art work?

He liked the idea that it created an ambient space to show art work, as you would get canal barges going past, cyclists, dog walkers and more. It sounded like a great idea to me, and I was really pleased to be asked to be involved.

With the weather being so lovely, I decided to show some nice sunny pieces!

A local High School- John Taylor- were asked to get involved. The top image, shows a close up of a piece created by year 6 students, in response to seeing images of the waterways.
The image above this shows a piece created by Eleanor Douglas, a year 13 student. It is a textile collage, reflecting her experiences of travelling. There was also some beautiful work by some year 12 students.

Burton based photographer, Philip Grocott, was also involved. His subjects range from portraits to landscape work. They form a great document of life in the Midlands.

It took a lot of hard work on Dan's behalf to get this project completed, I hope he can build on it in the future. It would be lovely to see art take over a bigger stretch of the canal.

Drawings and paintings :)

Just a couple of pictures of artwork I have done this week

This one I just did for myself, it was an image that had been going around in my head for a while, and I needed to get it into paper. It's just pencil on cartridge paper.

This chap, if you haven't already guesses, is Boris the miniature Schnauzer! Someone on instagram saw my painting of a sausage dog called Percy, and wanted one of their pooch. This was a nice fun one to do. It is done in watercolour and fine liners on watercolour paper.

Recent work

A commission completed for someone's wife for their anniversary, based on a few of her favourite things.

A painting for a first birthday and christening

A cross stitch portrait for someone's Birthday

I took my work into the camper van, so I had a nice little outdoor studio.

Winston came to keep me company! :)

Lady in a hat

Just thought I'd share my latest completed illustration with you guys. I'm quite pleased with this one. It's one of the most striking images I've done for a while. Now I want to do more!

At the top is an image all three colour ways I tried. I struggled to decide which one to go for, and thought they looked quite nice all lined up together. Now I want blue hair too!

Valentine's Commission

Sorry for the silence recently, I am a bit rubbish at keeping up with all things online related of late!

I was asked to do a 'retro' style portrait of a couple for Valentine's Day, a brilliant commission to receive and so much fun. This is what I came up with. Hopefully I'll get more commissions like this in the future.

Snake Charmer

I originally sketched this illustration out in November and really wanted to get cracking on with it, but with having lots on I have only just got round to colouring it. It was inspired by 'Snake Charmer' by Blink-182 and the amazing Derek Yaniger, a post on him will follow soon, his work is awesome!

I really hope I manage to squeeze some more illustrating in over the next few months; it felt so good to be able to sit and immerse myself in this.

Eye candy festival and Mr Bird's Emporium

Mr Bird's Emporium and sights from around the Custard Factory

A signed print by Luke Pearson

Some of the things we saw at Eyecandy Fest

Our haul of goodies from BZF!

On my birthday weekend, I was really chuffed to find out that two brilliant events were being held in Birmingham. 

First we headed to the Custard Factory in Digbeth where Mr Bird's Emporium was opening it's doors. I had been following the progress of the shop on Instagram and liked what I saw, so I was very eager to get down there.

Mr Bird's calls itself a 'independent fashion, vintage and creative arts store' so I was sold! It was brilliant. There was a lovely buzz around the place, and we got given free goodie bags and custard creams, to fit in with the theme. For those that don't know the Custard Factory is called that because it was originally the Factory for Bird's Custard. There was also a huge sponge custard cream to be sat on outside. 

The actual shop unit houses 13 permanent traders, and there was a lovely host of vintage goodies, (including a Catherineholm pot, which was snapped up very quickly, unfortunately not by me!)  and work by independent designers and artists. There was also a bunch of stalls around the shop. The plan is to have these stalls trading every Saturday, and I hope it continues.  It provided a much nicer shopping experience to The Bullring, which we walked through later on in the day and couldn't wait to get out of!

If you are interested in having a stall head here for more info.

After a stop at the Yumm Cafe we headed onto the Eyecandy festival, a visual pop culture festival. The highlight of which for me was The Birmingham Zine Fest. This took place in The SideWalk bar, and was quite cosy, there was barely room to move at points, but everyone was lovely and friendly so it didn't seem to matter. Every stand was awesome here, I could have spent a fortune! Amongst the wonderful exhibitors, there was Luke Pearson (a personal favourite of mine), Sandra Dieckmann and Lizz Lunney. Ruddy brilliant I say!

We also got to see some live art taking place and got to have fun joining in with some Exquisite Corpse drawings. I just wish we could have stayed longer. I also loved the installation by Filthy Luker, which took the form of some bright green tentacles escaping from some windows in a building on Birmingham's Southside.

I hope it returns next year!