Ceative Musings Part 1

Hello! 

It's been 10 years since I last posted on this blog so i thought I'd do a little 'creative retrospective' of sorts, and collate together some of my work/experimentations/doodlings from the last decade.

 

I love trying out different techniques and finding ways to stretch my creative legs (or fingers). If I haven't done anything creative for a while, I start to get a feeling a bit like I'm stagnating on the inside and something needs to burst out of me - like the creature from that guy's stomach in Alien.

I spend a lot of hours working digitally when I'm illustrating for commissions, so it makes me feel good to bring some balance by creating with actual art materials, and having something tangible at the end. 

In 2017, probably soon after watching the first series of The Great Pottery Throw Down, like millions of other people around the UK, I joined a ceramics evening class. It was something I'd wanted to try for a while and trying out a new technique really appealed to me. 

I worked in Foyles at this time and I found this beautiful book all about contemporary ceramic artists. I love it so much! Check it out here: https://amzn.eu/d/bNUeUAg

After a few sessions and a couple of goes on the wheel. I realised what I really wanted to make were silly animals and little pinch pots. The feeling of pulling and stretching the clay and finding an animal appearing out of it was very satisfying to me!

These are probably my favourite creations from the class. I was pregnant at the time as these little creatures were made for my unborn child (Who would one day go on to snap the tail off the fox and try to fix it with masking tape, hoping I wouldn't notice!)

This was probably my most successful attempt at using the wheel. I found I could only make very tiny things before it all went splat! This cactus very quickly outgrew the pot. My mum still has it and it's now about a foot high!

I made this little set thinking I could use it for olives, dips and bread (It's currently wrapped up somewhere in my attic, yet to be used!) I love how the glazing turned out, the contrast of the lovely bright yellow and the grey/blue works really well against the white. I remember spending a long time on this, it's a really mindful process and very relaxing!

I love this design, the big handles and the glaze turned out perfectly. I use this little pot for the smallest flower stems and I think it's one of my most successful pieces. 

 
I loved the ceramics course, using my hands to create something, choosing the colours and design for the glaze, then waiting for the pieces to be fired to see how they turned out. Such a joy!

In 2022, when I was pregnant for a second time, I had an urge to make something so I bought some air drying clay and made this mobile for my daughters room. I painted the pieces with acrylic paint, then varnished them. It was fun to make but fiddly to tie the tiny bits together! 

I am hoping to try another ceramics course in due time and maybe another go on the wheel! 

  

Welcome back!

Wow, it’s 2024 and it’s been nearly 10 years since I posted on this blog! A decade of drawing, working, lock downs, holidays, and raising children! 

After roaming the internet, feeling like I’m generally shouting into the void of instagram, and being confused by algorithms, I’ve decided to re-boot this blog as a place for some artistic musings. 

If someone reads it (hello!) that’s a bonus. The internet is a funny place isn’t it! 

Tumblr!

Hello, I have started a Tumblr account! I will be posting works in progress and various bits and bobs on there from now, on so if you want to see my new works and doodles head over here!

xxx

Happy Days, Peaceful Nights

Bible Stories

I have been working on two religious themed illustrations for my portfolio this week. I found some great reference material online, in the form of 14th - 15th century medieval paintings and bible illuminations, which are the kind of thing which I love to reference in my work. I find old paintings to be a great source of inspiration for costume and character. 

Canal Characters

Here are some characters which I have just finished for the Canal and River Trust. They are being used on some children's activity sheets. I have tried to use a stronger line in these than I normally would, so that they have more of an impact on the page. I am very pleased with the fisherman's moustache. No one knows yet, but the girl has the best packed lunch in her cool box. 

Forever With You Would Be A Dream Come True

I have been keeping up a 'Doodle a Day' sketchbook this year after seeing friends do it and thinking it looked like fun. It's actually really hard to remember to do it each day and I have been struggling a bit, but I am determined to keep at it - it's only February! I am finding it a nice way to get characters down quickly and work on things like character interaction, background scenery etc. I drew this pair a few weeks ago, and thought they had potential to be worked into a finished illustration, so I gave them a cat, a couple of armchairs and a rather garishly decorated living room. I hope they will be very happy together for many more years. 

A New String to the Bow

I've recently started a job designing graphics for websites. The sites are for Primary Schools who want something illustrative to add a bit of fun to their websites. My first site has been a challenge as I am finding my feet, and has taken much longer than anticipated, but I'm hoping to get quicker as I get more used to the way they have to be put together. Here are a couple of details from my illustrations. I will post the link to the finished website once it is live.

Icon Designs

School Building

Treasure!

I finally finished my pirate themed illustration for my portfolio. Here it is in all it's shiny glory. The hermit crab is based on a crab i recently met in Thailand. I think he was called Gerald.

 

Pirates!

These are some character sketches for a Pirate themed illustration which I am currently working on for my portfolio. I had lots of fun putting together a Pinterest board for this project. I find it a really useful tool for gathering reference and inspiration, although it's so easy to get lost in a world of lovely pictures! I tried to choose bright, exciting colours for this illustration as I am aiming it at young children. I was attempting to create a limited pallet, however I have pretty much used every colour in the rainbow so wasn't quite successful there. I just really like all the colours! 

A Bat's Life

Who knew it would be so fun drawing bats! Here are three flappy guys, which I hope to finish off very soon. In the mean time I thought I'd bring them out of the dark cave of my hard drive and let them flap about for a while. If you want to find out more about these fascinating creatures head to the Bat Conservation website. 

Bird Spotting

Henry VIII

I love the details which are captured within the portraits of the Tudors and find them totally fascinating. I think it's nearly time for a trip to the National Portrait Gallery.

Sporty Kids

Autumn Time

Although it's still sunny outside, Autumn officially began yesterday, so here's an illustration to celebrate the start of cosy nights in, and windy walks in the park. The words come from a funny little song from my husbands childhood, which gets sung each year as the leaves start to change colour.

The Six Wives

I love the Tudors and have wanted to draw portraits of the six unfortunate wives for a while now. I wanted to experiment with some black and white techniques, and used a dip pen to create these drawings, colouring them using photoshop. I am trying to learn to create layouts with Adobe Indesign at the moment so this was a good chance for me to practice with a variety of new techniques!

Build a Canal Game

I have recently been working an exciting project for the Canal and Rivers Trust. Along with Muddy Publishing and Elizabeth Newbery we developed an interactive game which had to be completed within a month! It was a lot of hard work, but a really fun challenge. The game explores the idea of 'why' and 'how' canals were built in the UK. It is aimed at key stage 2 children, between the ages of 7 and 11.

I love the researching process involved with a project like this. It is very interesting to look back at the lives people who lived in Britain 300 years ago. I feel sorry for the poor navvies who had to work in such awful conditions to dig out the canals!

It was really nice to see my illustrations come to life through the animated sections of the game, there's a good bit where you get to poke a cow in the bum with a stick!

You can play the 'Build a Canal' game HERE, as well as lots of other fun interactive games too!

Frogs, Dragonflies and Newts

I recently worked on an illustration of a dragonfly lifecycle. These are a few of my sketches and character designs. I am going to use some of the plant and animals for a repeat pattern design - when I get around to it!

Love Fish

I was clearing out some old folders and came across this drawing I did for a friend a while ago. As valentines day is approaching and I was feeling soppy, I turned it into a card design on illustrator. 

Fish, Poultry and Pork