Pomegranate pattern

I had intended to enter this new pattern in a competition but it didn't quite go to plan so maybe I will transfer it to fabric and see how the pattern looks. I have noticed a few new pomegranate patterns making their way in to the market recently.

And Breathe

Well my blog for the last month has been neglected but after a busy few months I decided that a break with the family was needed and after we came home I officially GRADUATED from DMU Leicester. Yay.
I have a couple of new things in the pipeline. I have been working on a new book concept and also continuing with some ideas for surface pattern design. I am also looking into starting a whole new craft sideline which is more of a hobby at the moment to keep the design ideas flowing.

Pattern design

I have been doing something a little bit different in terms of design, having just finished a mad rush of work for my end of degree show, I have decided to do a bit of pattern work. I love illustrating for children but I do think it is good to have a creative break and try something different. It clears the mind, keeps the juices flowing and you end up with new ideas popping up that you can develop.

 

All three samples are more male orientated I feel. The first image was inspired by the colours/layers of rust on a scrapped car. I kept all the designs simple with geometric influence. The second image was inspired by the shape and luminosity of volcanoes and the third was inspired by vintage photographs.

Graduation here I come!

Yesterday I found out I had passed my degree and will be graduating in about two weeks, such a relief. I am very pleased with myself in some respects as I managed this with being a full time mum which is an achievement in itself. Graduation here I come. Researching ways to become freelance though a few interesting job ideas have crossed my path, so many directions to possibly try.

The end of an era

I have spent a good few years working on getting a degree, BA Hons Graphic Design & Illustration at DMU Leicester, as a part time student and after finishing my degree show last Thursday/Friday I can't help but feel a little sad. I have met a lot of people along the way and some super talented ones at that! My tutors have been both supportive and encouraging and I would like to say a massive thank you to them all. There have been times when I thought I wouldn't make it but I soldiered on and hopefully in two weeks time my hard work will pay off. Now I am looking to the future, can I make it as a freelance illustrator? Well if I can do a part-time degree and be a full-time mum of two under 4 at the same time, then you have to believe anything is achievable!

Early Lily Sketches

Early pen sketches for my book, 'Lily and the Alien'.

Logo for LFRS part 2

A few months ago I posted a logo design that had been shortlisted for LFRS 'firebeat' project last year, well here is the second logo I submitted at the same time. I enjoyed the brief change of direction from solely children's illustration as it showed me a slightly new way of working that I could incorporate into all of my projects.

Mini monster characters

Some more character design for 'THE mini MONSTER NIGHT OLYMPICS'.

Experimental Books

An experimental book which folded out nicely into a pop up farm and then photographed from different angles. These photos were then turned into another book with added illustrations using a POD (print on demand) website. Here are three different spreads from the second book.

THE mini MONSTER NIGHT OLYMPICS

A different children's book altogether. Little monsters come out at night to hold their very own olympic games all over the house.

This is one spread which is slightly unfinished and the front cover.

Lily front cover image

Originally the front cover was a pencil rough but I wanted to display it at my degree show in colour as I wanted to make it stand out.

Lily and the Alien

I have been working on a children's book called Lily and the Alien for some time now and I am happy to say final spreads, rough spreads and dummy book are all complete. I submitted this to the Macmillan Book Prize this year as I made it my goal to do so whilst I was still a student. An earlier post on my blog shows Lily in her earlier character stages. This is how she turned out.

Inspirations

My two loves as a child were reading and drawing. The story let you get sucked into a different world and the illustrations fuelled the imagination further. I will always argue that one of the best book collaborations was between Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. Quentin Blake is my number one inspiration. His work always seems so effortless yet as an artist you know that every line is nearly always carefully thought out bit by bit and it may actually be the 5th or 6th attempt you see because something wasn't quite right the first few times. I was very lucky a few years back to visit the Magic Pencil exhibition in London where some of Quentin Blakes original work was on display. If you think the illustrations in the books are great, seeing the originals is fantastic. You become a self appointed critic where you follow every line and analyse every mark, colour etc. Once again you find yourself sucked in and you wish you could meet the illustrator in person to ask the many questions whirling around your brain. One book I will be ordering from Amazon soon is 'Beyond the Page' by Quentin Blake himself (Sept). Here he writes about his projects since 2000, describing working processes, collaborators, his travels plus his various projects and commissions. It also states hundreds of illustrations so I can't wait and think it will be fascinating to read.

Logo for LFRS part 1

I had a surprise challenge thrown my way last year, where a group of students at DeMontfort University were asked to come up with a logo for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service - extended project 'Firebeat'. The project basically involves people from the service visiting local parks and youth hangouts, on bikes, educating young people about fire safety. This was one of my designs and luckily two of my logos were selected in the final 4, unfortunately they were not used but it was a great experience to try something new.

Animal sketches

multiple sketchbook pages

I am always stumbling on new blogs and websites I like to re-visit, so I thought I might just share them. I had a brief once where the idea was to let your creative juices flow and explore new materials and techniques that you had never used before in order to create some ideas for surface pattern design. I really enjoyed doing it so it is always an inspiration to see how other artists take their ideas and inspirations and turn them in to fabric design, wallpaper, ceramics, cards etc. A great blog to check out is; http://www.printpattern.blogspot.co.uk/ -. Enjoy a complete celebration of all things surface pattern design. There is a little something for everyone

Meerkat (acrylic)

I have a few bits and pieces to share over the next few days.

This illustration was for a past competition - character/vehicle design. I usually prefer to use ink and watercolour so full photoshop mode made an interesting change.

Time to begin

Well what an eventful year it turned out to be. I had to defer finishing my degree until this year due to a much too early and unexpected addition to the family. All is well so now its time to get back in to the thick of it.