Block Printing Workshop – House of Illustration
Waaaay back in March I took part in a block printing workshop at the House of Illustration in Kings Cross, London. House of Illustration is a great little gallery founded by Quentin Blake and I … Read More
Weekend in Paris placement print
Hello! You might remember this inky and slightly sulky lady from an Instagram post way back. I follow the Today’s Inspiration page on Facebook, a page dedicated to illustration pre-1975 and there are always the … Read More
Portfolio Practice – Bunny Girl Repeat Print
A while ago I was experimenting with repeat patterns and wanted to come up with a novelty or conversational print with a bit of sass. I found the above image whilst looking for inspiration … Read More
Portfolio Practice: ‘Giant’ for Illustration Friday
I love Illustration Friday, a fun little brief that gets set every week and anyone can take part. This week’s topic was ‘Giant’ so here is the bowtie to end all bowties and an enormous … Read More
Portfolio Practise: Pastel Girl
I found this fabric colour swatch pic (behind the girl) whilst shlepping around the internet looking for something else. I love the calming tones so thought I’d pick only from those to colour this quick … Read More
10,000 Hours: Life Drawing at Hastoe Hall with Berkhamsted Art Society
They say it takes 10,000 hours to master something, so that’s exactly what I’ll be doing with my drawing practise. I’m putting extra focus on figure and faces and in the absence of having a slew … Read More
Make Art That Sells Bootcamp: Design for Sewing Accessories
It’s May, and that means we’re in the final month of Make Art That Sells Bootcamp for 2018. One one hand I can’t believe we’re already at the end, on the other I also can’t believe … Read More
Inspiration: The Fashion Illustrations of Antonio Lopez
Hello dear reader! I’ve decided to start a series of series on my blog, like the scrapbooks I used to keep in the ages P.I – Pre-Internets. A place to consolidate my thoughts, influences … Read More
Make Art That Sells Bootcamp – Tassiomancy Notebook Cover Design
Hello! A little catch up on what I’ve been working on for the Make Art That Sells Bootcamp course. Which I’m loving BTW! If you are considering signing up I would say do it, being assigned … Read More
Make Art That Sells Bootcamp: Suffragette Editorial Illustration.
This month’s assignment began with this Mini, draw Victorian ladies’ hats. Once again I only managed to do a rough sketch of the pics I researched. To be honest I find it hard to get excited … Read More
Make Art That Sells Bootcamp: January Project – What’s In Her Bag?
Hello! I enrolled in the Make Art That Sells (or MATS) Bootcamp program run by Illustration agent Lilla Rogers and it is just as brilliant as everybody says. The standard is insanely high which absolutely … Read More
Portfolio Practise – Peony Girl
Hello! I missed working with human subjects so this piece for my portfolio is figurative, with peony accessories. Here is the final version, scanned into and coloured in Photoshop. Like my 70s shoe illustration … Read More
Portfolio Practise – Coloured Gerbera and Milton Head Vase
Hello! I’ve been beavering away because the Make It In Design Assignment Bootcamp has started! Because of this I’ve decided to slightly change my 100 Days of Flowers project to 100 Flowers, as I’m now also … Read More
Portfolio Practise: Mid Century
Dug out my Faber Castell PITT brush pen today and took some inspiration from my Grandfather’s pottery work. He co-founded the Milton Head Pottery in Brixham, Devon in 1950 and it produced these beautiful examples of … Read More
Portfolio Practise – Black Tulip
I share illustrator Rene Gruau’s love of the thick black line; I was admonished for my thick black line by my art teacher but I’ve stubbornly stuck with it all these years. Hours spent copying comic … Read More
Portfolio Practise – Flowers
Happy New Year dear readers! So I recently took Dylan Mierzwinski’s Illustrating Flowers and Arranging Bouquets In Photoshop class on Skillshare and, as well as learning more about how she creates her gorgeous style, it was … Read More
Illustration Friday Submission: Hey Girl!
This week’s theme is Women, so I’m submitting this little illustration, originally painted with Indian Ink then coloured in Photoshop. Oh HEY YOURSELF GIRL!! Hope your week is going well, only one more day … Read More
ABSPD – Live in Colour
Now we’re talking, I loved this week! I’m not shy when it comes to colour but it’s been very interesting learning what colour I like where, and colour combinations that I enjoy and … Read More
ABSPD – Mark Making from Photographs
For this exercise we picked our favourite image from the Photographing Shapes exercise and created a series of sketches, marks and scribbles based on what we could see. I chose this picture of a neighbours beautiful … Read More
ABSPD – Deconstructing Patterns
This was a great exercise; finding patterns we love and deconstructing their individual elements or motifs. I loved finding the repeat in the more complex patterns and identifying what it was that drew me to each … Read More
ABSPD – Photographing and Drawing Shapes
The first week of the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design has been brilliant; lots of exercises to get us back to basics and ready to create. My background in art is academic – … Read More
ABSPD 1.1 – Washi Tape Pattern
It’s day 1 of week 1 of Module 1 of the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design Online Course! I’m really excited to be signed up and am wishing my coffers were full so … Read More
Classic Car Typography
A while back I went to a classic car fair as I do love a vintage set of wheels. It’s the outrageous element of cars from the 50’s to the 80’s that I love, pushing design … Read More
Make It In Design – Designing Your Way online course 2018
It’s September, so along with the obligatory load of new stationary I’m also going back to school. Beginning on 25th September I’m enrolled on the acclaimed Make It In Design ‘Designing Your Way’ course, which … Read More
Lips That Bite
I’m working on some new stuff. No really I actually am. Hooray! Ages ago an idea popped into my head so I scribbled it down in my sketch book. I sketched from life – … Read More
Knitted Goods
The needles have been clacking again, with one finished project currently helping to keep my bonce warm: The pattern is Septemberstjerner lue by MaBe (found on Ravelry) and the yarn is DROPS Cotton Merino. I’ve … Read More
Bowie: Collector – Memphis
Until his collection came to light for this year’s Sotheby’s sale, nobody knew quite how extensive Bowie’s collection of Memphis Design Group was. When I caught wind of it I was thrilled to see so … Read More
Colour/ Play
Clockwise from top: Autumn = fun tights time; the best portaloo design ever; happy colour combo; beautiful door in Brighton Playing with colour and texture; woollen bead, wooden bead, hand-painted wooden bead, resin … Read More