A treat for the eyes and the soul

Today after meeting my good friend Lily for some over-excited scribblings of project ideas for our new ceramics collaboration we had a wander to designers marketplace, happening just round the corner from us at the Holy Biscuit, Newcastle. The best person there by far was Little Wren Ceramics where I bought something lovely for my dad.

Next was Northern Print where a print by (The b.f's ex-tutor) Sara Ogilvie was stealing the show. I've always thought she was pretty flippin brilliant but this one defiantly had the wow factor. Here it is ladies........

This photo does it little justice so please nip along and have a butchers yourself.

I'm off to play with the (heavy as hell) load of clay Lily gave me to play with, so that's my evening sorted! ta ta

Illustration Friday - Launch!

A recent bit of work has pushed me back towards my ink, and now I can't believe I left it behind for so long. I missed you, my inky darling....

Well hello sexy.....

Occasionally you come across illustration that isn't just 'really nice', it is sexy. I know this sounds strange to people who haven't experienced this unhealthy love for excellent imagery, but it's just the way it is. I just found another piece I want to have babies with...

The colours, pattern and shape......OOooof!!

View more about this beautiful Jerome Snyder illustration here

Illustration Friday - Asleep

Time for a nap?

Before and After - Part 2 Amy's room

Before:

After:

Private commission alongside Adam's room (see previous post).

Amy wanted a picnic in a garden with her cat toffee and her favourite foods. Possibly the first mural to feature Wotsits, it was again alot of fun and the family were so lovely to work with! On a seperate wall we also included a nice big chalk board, so now amy can practise her wall drawings in a way that her mum is happy with!

Both murals are made using kid-proof materials - 'durable' emulsion, waterproof acrylic paints, and water/smudge proof pencils.

Before and After - Part 1 Adams room

Before:

After:

Private commission to create a full wall space themed room for a young boy with special needs. The room will now be used as a bedroom/sensory room for Adam.

I had alot of fun with this project. I got to know a brilliant family and was also pushed creatively to work on a large scale and to tight specifications, i'd love to do this again if anyone will have me!

(please excuse slightly dodgy photos, my camera really isn't up to much!)

Meaty test illustrations

Some test illustrations and sketches I knocked up on request for new holland publishing. These were tests intended to eventually become spot illustrations for an ongoing self-sufficiency series. In the end they liked them but the illustrations weren't right for the job, they needed to blend in with illustrations used in past editions of the series, but I got good feedback so I'm still happy.

Onto the next job!

Ce livre, il est super cool!

Found this awesome book in a devon charity shop a while ago and been meaning to blog about it. I love the illustration of the policeman and the limited colour palette. Who could resist for 50p!? I've also learnt how to translate such classic phrases as 'Come in, Marcel! I have just found my stamp-albumn and I am sticking in some stamps', brilliant.

Jenny Yellow Hat, the origins....

Forget x-men origins, this is WAY cooler. This series of books is responsible for my blog name. It was the first books I was taught to read way back in year 1 (i think this is before reception class was invented). People of my age and a bit older will remember those days of glory and the excitement brought about by different coloured hats before Biff, Chip and Kipper replaced them. The bastards.

Many thanks to my other half for surprising me with this copy, he is good.