Tea & Crayons

"In June and July, ShellsuitZombie is taking over the 55DSL store in BOXPARK, Shoreditch, and asking thirty creative individuals, groups and companies to take a day each."


The Tea & Crayons ladies are very excited to be taking part in 'Uncontained' - a 30-day pop-up event in the 55DSL store in the Boxpark, Shoreditch, London. Join them on Tuesday 5th June for live illustration, cups of tea, a slice (or two) of cake, mini workshops, and drawing on the walls! There will also be lots of lovely little prints and goodies to buy. The girls would love to see as many of you there as possible, so please come and show some support for Tea & Crayons. 


Let's all celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in true Crayonette style!

Drawing.

I have been practicing my drawing skills...

Hugo

I love the book 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' by Brian Selznick and I also love the film version by Martin Scorsese (and produced by Johnny Depp!). I have wanted to illustrate my own version for a while now and I finally did it.

Set in the 1930's at the Parisian rail-station Gare Montparnasse, Hugo Cabret lives in the walls fixing and winding all the station's clocks. It's so lovely and the film really shows the amazing atmosphere of the station with dancing, bands, pastries, bottled milk, flower stalls, dusty libraries and a mean station inspector.

Rabbits like Radishes

More rabbits. I like to draw rabbits. 

You can buy this as a print on From the Wilde! Here's the link.

Sewing Machine!

Look what came in the post yesterday! My very own first sewing machine from John Lewis. I am so excited to get sewing. It looks really pink in the pictures but it's more of a coral colour. I can finally start using my Cath Kidston and Kirsty Allsopp books.

Rachel Caine Book Covers

The 'Morganville Vampires' series by Rachel Caine are my current favourite book series. I like them so much I was inspired to illustrate the first three book covers. The actual covers are the typically teenage, with dark broody emo girls and lots of swirling lettering, so I wanted to do them in my own way.

My favourite cover is the third 'Midnight Alley', which shows my favourite character Myrnin's laboratory. He is a nutty vampire, who is very dangerous but such a sweetheart. I definitely recommend these books to anyone who enjoys 'Twilight', 'The Sookie Stackhouse' series and the new novel by CJ Daugherty 'Night School'. 

UPDATE 02/03/12 - I tweeted the author Rachel Caine on twitter a few days ago asking if she would have a quick peek at my covers, and she replied! I'm so happy! Here's what she said... 

'Oh WOW!!! I absolutely love them ... what fabulous interpretations! :) I'm very honoured, and you are extremely talented!' - Rachel Caine.

Thank you Rachel! Can't wait for the next book in May!

Mermaid.

I have been working on my portfolio and I wanted to start drawing some character designs, which could be used in children's books. The drawing was originally part of an art swap but I really liked it and decided to add some colour to finish it off. I was going to give her light blonde hair but I think she suits it being white :)

What do you think?

Book cover inspiration.

I am working on my own series of book covers and I thought I would share some inspiration with you.

 

 

 sources include Gemma O'Neill, Chuck Groenink

Pencils Paper Scissors Collective Colouring Book!

pictures taken by Madi

If you didn't know already I am one third of the collective Pencils Paper Scissors. Our first collaborative project; a circus themed colouring book has just arrived back from the printers! It has 24 pages full of circus antics from lions, silly clowns, acrobats, ring leaders and mischievous monkeys, all ready to be coloured in by your little ones or even by you! It is packed with original illustrations created specifically for this colouring book.

You can buy the colouring book in my shop or if you pop over to Pencils, Paper, Scissors blog we are currently holding a giveaway where you could win a book for free! Just make sure you enter before the 17th February! Good luck! 

One Handsome Man.

I started this portrait of Robert Pattinson a couple of months ago and I finally finished it. It needs a bit of tidying up but I will do that at a later date. Also I wish I had picked a photograph that didn't cut off some of his face... ah well, I live and learn.

Time to start again.

source

My entire portfolio is due a make over and I intend to start from scratch. I also need to trim the rubbish, get rid of old university work and establish a style and presence in my illustrations. I will be working like a busy bee behind the scenes to get myself on track so please wish me luck, because I'll need it!

New Year Sale on all my work!

There is a sale over at From the Wilde! 

Have you ever wanted to own one of my illustrations? Well now is the perfect time to buy as all of my prints are on sale at reduced prices. All of the illustrations below are available on best quality 225gsm 100% Somerset Enhanced archival paper.  

The sale won't be on for ever so buy now and don't miss out!

Click HERE for the sale!

xxx

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2011 & hello 2012! This year is going to be MY year! 

A big thank you to all my followers - you are wonderful! I've met some lovely people this year and I became a forth of the collective Pencils, Paper, Scissors, I see great things in store for us this year!

2011 was the same as 2007 except now I'm working part time in retail instead of being in college and I'm now in £1000's worth of student debt. Now it's time for a fresh start and I have high hopes for 2012;

• Save as much money as possible from my part time job.
• Continue to look for a full time job in the creative industry.
• Move out of my parents house and in with my boyfriend.
• Improve my drawing/painting skills by practising regularly.
• Keep a sketchbook and actually use it every day.
• Take a creative writing course to improve my writing.
• Add more professional work to my portfolio and update my website.
• Enter as many competitions as I can. 
• Continue to work on my novel.
• Define a style within my work.
• Read more books.
• Eat healthily and exercise a lot more.
• Invest in a sewing machine and be creative with textiles.
• Add to my children's book collection.
• Update my blog a lot more with interesting projects and finds.
• Bake and cook more often and make full use of all my cookbooks.
• Spend more time with friends.

Blair Lent

I just discovered these illustrations by Blair Lent for Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Match Girl'. They are absolutely stunning and I just had to share them with you. Inspiring! 

The Chronicles of Narnia project

I have been obsessing about The Chronicles of Narnia lately and decided to start my own little project. I actually did a whole project about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for my Art Foundation project years ago and I remember enjoying it so much. I hope to do some more illustrations but here is what I have so far. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie.

This illustration is now available as an A5 print in my Etsy shop!

From the Wilde - now available!

You can now purchase my illustrations on From the Wilde! Every illustration comes printed on highest quality 225gsm Somerset Enhanced Satin paper. I have A4 and A5 prints available, along with a few postcards and some bunny stickers. Please have a look by clicking here.

If you know any animal/story-book lovers then one of my illustrations could make a lovely Christmas present? :)

Zooey

Tonight I decided to draw my favourite actress, Zooey Deschanel. It is far from perfect but not bad for a 3 hour drawing. I'm going to try and draw something once a day, it's going to be difficult but something I need to do.

From the Wilde

My work will soon be available to buy on 'From the Wilde' & I am so excited! To celebrate we are giving away an A4 print of my 'The Secret Garden' illustration. To win, all you have to do is 'like' it on the facebook page - here is the link!

& good luck!

Digital Artist Magazine

Creature Magazine's Endangered Creature Alphabet is featured in this month's Digital Artist & I was asked if my illustration of the Caspian Seal could be featured so of course I said yes! 

It came today in the post and it is AMAZING to see myself on glossy paper! You can buy this edition by going to their website.

Ballad Of... Submission

This is my submission for the Petra Doe edition of Ballad Of... magazine, unfortunately I didn't make the cut but I still wanted to share with you what I did! It isn't my usual style but I really enjoyed doing it. 

Say hello to Valerie the sexy Vampire.