My Published Illustrations

December Update

Hi! How have you been? Hopefully you have come here from my FACEBOOK PAGE (click the highlighted writing) and have seen that I am illustrating for Standard Issue UK regularly. It's a fab online site, written by clever funny women and about the issues we all think about but rarely talk about. You MUST check out the hilarious horoscopes, and the arts section is top notch. Everyones super lovely and I am continually astounded they let me anywhere near it with my drawings. Follow this LINK if you want to check it out for yourself.
The degree is going well, with me getting 72/100 for first project, which is enough for a first if I keep it up. Only 11 more assignments to go to test that theory. I do love it. The venue exasperates me sometimes, and getting used to new tutors is hard, but I'm absolutely happy to be there.
Lets have a picture catch up

My tools

Labrinth at Vevo Halloween

Collection of Manchester Staffordshire Pottery (john Rylands)

Darlington Station

Miniature Slum House in Library

Atmospheric Town Hall

Central Library

moths in my sketchbook

Contemporary Art Practice Degree Live Drawing

Ruby came in again and this time I was much bolder with my marks. We used ink (my favourite) but were only permitted to use sticks and wire and sponges and water. We wrecked the place.

Contemporary Art Practice Degree Live Drawing

Throwing us in at the deep end, we had the privilege of a real live model in the studio on Tuesday. I have never done live drawing before and had to struggle not to put stuff there that wasn't there. We of course had criteria. One sheet with 3 or 4 drawings on, then 2 felt tips, then 3, then we could choose a body part and use water with felt tip. Challenging but as always, enlightening 

Here's the best bits

Contemporary Art Practice Degree Assignment Research

Or, a pleasant walk through my local park.
Here I photographed things that I could use to inspire sketches and work for our first assignment
I'm pleased with how they turned out. I took longer than normal and really thought about composition and narration. I didn't want to be invasive to my surroundings, they were beautiful enough

When I Was Young

When I was Young I fell in love with a moth. He was a caterpillar then, all furry and beautiful. I kept him in a matchbox and sneaked lettuce up to him. He died. I think I've been trying to say sorry ever since, and am always kind to moths and butterflies. Who would hurt a butterfly? But to love something before it metapmorphoses, to me, says a lot about me. And killing it.
This week I fell in love with satin stitch and embellishments. I have had a needle in my hand for most of it. Almost as messy as paper cutting and just as satisfying. I love the absorption of it. I love the old maidish connotation and the pretty silks.

How To Make A Doll At Home Tutorial

I started a project back in February at college but swiftly got distracted by something shiny and abandoned the endeavour. It was a romantic notion of a slain WW1 soldier held aloft and out of further harm by an angel. Having made precisely zero dolls, the realisation that the piece called for the making of 2 was the death knell for that. Now having not much to do apart from really important stuff, I procrastinated with the aid of some string, an old tshirt, cotton wool, wire, curtain lining and sequins. Enjoy the making of Gin Bloom. He's a rotter

Make your frame with wire and cotton wool and string. Glue or stitch in place

Stretch an old tshirt over the head stump. Make strategic stitches to create a nose and then embroider the face.

I made him look drunk, with rosy cheeks and a wistful stare

He's legless...hahaha But coming alive now

I had hoped to escape the dreaded pattern making, because I'm lazy. There was to be no escape. But I did it

Add a ruffle, a tiny hankie and details as you wish

The hands were the worst part. I tried to make them the correct way, making little gloves to stuff but they were just too small to be useful. Wrap string with thread and sew together

Now we can have fun. I made a breadbin lightbox and staged Gin Bloom. Here he is telling tall tales of derring do

See him about to raid that drinks cabinet ( decorated by me)

See him bore the pants (he wishes) off this young wench..Bad Gin Bloom