Personal: Client Feedback

As an illustrator, sometimes you feel like you're not really getting anywhere with your work, especially since just graduating and never having a professional gig as an artist. However, it is super amazing when you get that email saying someone has bought something from you and it's very MORE amazing when they write to you personally to tell you how happy they are with their item!

This is an email I received a little while back from a lovely Etsy customer.

I was really touched when I read this email. It instils some faith within yourself that you should keep on truckin' and carry on drawing even when you think it might be time to pack it in and get a shitty 9-5 job for the rest of your life.

Personal: Framing Old Pieces

My desk is usually overflowing with papers which means I can very rarely get on it to use it! So I decided to have a little sort out of things and start framing up some items ready to sell.

Here is a selection of pieces I uncovered and framed up. Some of these pieces are up to two years old!

These are all now available in my Etsy shop.

Personal: Chalk Pens

Ever since we had an illustrator come into uni and talk to us about having done chalk art on windows I have wanted to start doing chalk art on windows! So I went and bought a chalk pen!

And oh my, it is so much fun!

I made us a 'Welcome Window' at home with my first attempt.

Commission: Coffee Table

A little while back, I was approached and asked to paint a coffee table for a client. I have never painted furniture before so, of course, I just said YES and that I'd be willing to give it a go! She had seen my henna designs and asked if I could do something similar on the table.

Due to the nature of henna, there is no peniciling in the design first as you are applying it to your skin, so I used the same approach whilst doing the table. I gave myself some basic guidelines, so I could be central/have a perfect circle/etc., and just went for it!

I used a wood stain that the client had provided for me for the pattern design. This worked well as, instead of creating a solid, brown line it had thinner painted sections and heavier painted sections which created a nice effect.

Due to the nature of 'just going for it' it does mean you have to concentrate quite hard when you're trying to make a symmetrical pattern! There are definitely a few mistakes in amongst the design however, I quite enjoy that. Makes it feel like it has been done by hand and not in a factory. I may try and come up with some grid system if I am ever to do this sort of thing again (which I would actually love to do!)

Both myself and the client were happy with the outcome. She even sent a photo of it in her home to me which was very nice!!

Poetry: The First Three

Recently, after a long time, I have felt inspired to write poetry. Be it, very short one-line poems but, nonetheless, poems!

I have a love of hand rendered typography and, even more so, very simple typography. I decided to use this style to write my poems and accompany them with small illustrations if I felt they were relevant.

These are the first three poems I have written and illustrated.

'Even when it's waning the Moon is the most powerful part of the night'

'I like it when we lie silently and pretend that we are daffodils'

'Let me hide myself in you'

Personal: Fashion Illustrations



Whilst at uni, I had the brilliant opportunity on having a portfolio session with Fig Taylor from the AOI, who looked through a rough example of my physical portfolio and helped steer me in the sort of direction I should maybe go with my illustration. She mentioned that I was quite strong with fashion illustration, not necessarily in the traditional sense, but in the more expansive sense that fashion illustration is used for a lot of different things these days, such as advertisement and packaging design.

She encouraged that I practice figure drawing and really strengthen that. But also to ensure that I have my own style with it.

I decided to practice with pencils as this is the medium I struggle most with, I think. I started by just drawing a face, using reference from a magazine. After giving up at the hair, I quite liked the undone, half finished feel of it and left it there. I think that it looks better this way then trying to finish it and making it look too overdone.

I then experimented and this was the outcome!!!

Personally. I quite like the outcome! But I think it is something that needs to be worked on and developed... .and maybe have an explaination as well!? I enjoyed the process though!

Personal: Food Puns

So... I got into a bit of a food pun cycle recently! Puns in general are pretty great, but food related ones just seen to please me beyond my own understanding!

I would love to do a series of cards and stationery with the sushi and tea food puns I've already made and then make prints of the originals as well. I just think they work really well and are that commercial-friendly 'kawaii' cute style that you can a lot in places like Paperchase.