Abacaxi

Became a bit obsessed with this word during my (ongoing) attempt to learn Portuguese. And now I keep spotting them all over. So I had to join the club and draw one - in continuous line and digital collage - conveniently completed in time for a special person's birthday. Happy pineapple. 

Time for an adventure?

This month is full of up chartered territory. Tomorrow I'll find myself meeting the parents in Lisbon :/ Then in two weeks, I'll be taking my first steps in the African continent by visiting Morocco :) Inspired illustrations will follow from both! - But in the meantime, here's a collection of essential adventure gear for all trips..

This has been drawn for a close friend who is taking an expedition into the wilderness at the end of the month, for the dawning of his 30th year . I'm unable to attend, which is causing me to have a sad face, (Gilles is my immovable excuse), but here's hoping they have as much fun as I did drawing all the vital components..

Inspired Goodbyes

Came across the excellent inspired goodbyes this month, who offer thoughtful cards for bereavement that far out do the typical 'with sympathy' message. They are brilliant. Click here to browse further and buy...

Talking of goodbyes, I also saw this delightful print by an Inuit named Joseph Pootoogook at The Power of Paper exhibition mentioned in the previous post. 

Although it might look like a wave goodbye (or hello), it's actually entitled 'Joyfully I see Ten Caribou', which just goes to show that endings can turn out to be beginnings...

Inspiration

I've been running a little short on time and energy for drawing lately due to full time OT-ing. But ideas for illustration projects are accumulating, in part helped by visiting various exhibitions such as Paula Rego and Honore Daumier at the House of Illustration where there were some incredibly powerful illustrations. I particularly liked a Rego pencil drawing entitled 'envy' which shows a woman loaded with emotion, fists and jaw clenched looking sideways toward an unknown trigger... Here's a sneaky snap I took, which doesn't do it justice but at least gives an impression...

I've also been looking through old scrapbooks, which have become a little redundant since I started using Pinterest, but nothing beats leafing through a physical collection of things I love visually... 

Hoping to go to this print exhibition next week too -> http://maa.cam.ac.uk/maa/power-of-paper/

And then I promise to get on some drawing. Promise.

And breathe...

Recently done a series of little character drawings for patient information leaflets.  They demonstrate positions to help manage feelings of breathlessness.  Here are a few examples...

Bring on 2015..

I have the small goal every month of uploading a new post onto this blog.  

This month's post has been neglected right up to the deadline.  However, with a rummage through work I have not yet shared, I found this fitting beauty..

I drew the rollerblade back in September when I was lingering at home in Leeds.  I've been doing the same recently, up North for Christmas, where there were many good times occurring.. distracting me from uploading a post!

2014 has been a bold year, full of adventures to be treasured, but 2015 is already holding it's own, simply by way of EXCITING THINGS AHEAD!  Gigs, shiny new living arrangements, holidays, service development projects at work and heaps of exhibitions are already in the diary.. Here's to another year of meeting goals and keeping to deadlines, whilst also having a good time :)

Thought Bubble

Last weekend I went to Thought Bubble - The Leeds Comic Art Festival - with my splendid illustrating friend Andrew Sanders.  It was an utter feast of an event celebrating all things bright and beautiful about narrative illustration.  There was a myriad of comic art and graphic novel-esque work on display, which was incredible to see up close and personal (despite making me feel slightly out of my depth).  There was also an abundance of more accessible yet equally mesmerising work, which left me teeming with drawing inspiration and ideas. Plus EVERYONE was completely addicted to drawing, which was just excellent to see, hear and absorb! Here are some of my stumbled upon highlights..

• Becky Long (below is her 'not working' family life scene, which was my first purchase of the day...)

• Jane Mcguinness 

• Bethan Mure who had an excellent promotional card.. *HIRE HER*

• James Chapman and his Soundimals (might have acquired my first Christmas present here..)

• STISH Illustration (om nom nom screenprinting..)

• Lydia Wysocki who I thank hugely for making me recognise saying "just a doodle" or "a quick sketch" is dismissive of my own work..

• And Crumpets and Crabsticks who created this succulent cacti pattern *LOVE*