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..

Up, up and away..

I've spent an unjustifiable amount of time on this doodle, and now consider hot air balloooooons as difficult to draw as horses!  However, perseverance has got me to this point...

... and this work-in-progress digital collage, bringing together various elements, is a fitting illustration for now, because this month is one full of upward movement following completion of my MSc.  Let's see where it takes me next...

Website upgrade..

I've finally managed to launch a *shiny new* website!  It's the same address as before - lauriewoodruff.com - but with thanks to wordpress, it's easier for me to keep up to date.. and more likely to be found via search engines.

So. I'd like to extend a warm invite to everyone to take a peek and share.  

 ----> LOOK. HERE. <----

Some content may be familiar but there are new projects to explore too (e.g. creative workshops), which hopefully offer compensation to anyone missing my old landing page*

*This was sadly sacrificed in the name of progress, but I've posted it below for posterity...

In need of an energy fix...?

I've been running into the ground a little.  Might need to plug on in...

Paperclips and pins...

Here's a selection of illustrations I recently completed for Parragon, of objects on my desk, drawn from it. Might not seem an overly exciting brief, but there was something satisfying about drawing these oft-used but under-appreciated things. Particularly enjoyed the paperclip :)

Will post more once I learn where they are going to feature...

Fabulous ridiculous-ness...

I spent 7 of the last 12 days road tripping through Yosemite, Napa, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Somewhat less respectably, 5 entire days were squandered in Vegas - My entire being is still sore from the sensory overloading...

Self indulgence

Decided to update my banner as the previous straightforward name in pencil was a bit stale...

Wanted a bit of colour and pattern so after a couple of doodles along the lines of below... the new framed name was the winner (see top).

Next stop, website... although don't hold your breath.

Islington Plants

Working on a sign for a plant business today.  They asked for it to include a fuschia, so I've been drawing the dainty dancing shapes all day...

Want to see inside my studio?

Thought i'd share a photo or two from my studio space.  Tis going to change shortly as i'm moving at the end of Sept, but for the time being, this is where I get my creative on...

To dry for...

Wanted to join the line up of terrific tea towels at to dry for, but my submission to their 2012 design competition didn't compare to the winning design.  Think my design lacked humour and playfulness... but I enjoyed drawing it regardless so everyone's a winner!

Tweet tweet...

Have ventured into the technological unknown by signing up to twitter... Should you wish to follow my twitterings you can do so by searching for @drawinglaurie.

Birdy Workshop...

 

 

 

Did a little crafty workshop a couple of weekends back with a bunch of weeny year olds.  It’s meant to be spring.. and Valentine's Day was imminent, so we collectively made some hanging-fledgling-love-birds...

Wood Street Whimsy

Should have posted about this eons ago… 

For a challenge, I did some out-of-my-comfort-zone drawings for @thepinkbearclub to be used on their website, including these delightful bear heads, who appear when their lifeless alter egos are stroked (or rolled over with your mouse).  The brief was for a pink bear that appears “foul, animalistic, impulsive, grumpy, perverted and filthy".  I also designed a damask wallpaper for the background with some some discreetly hidden requested items...

From today, they’re holding a four week fiesta of all things pink bear-y at Wood Street Indoor Market, E17, London... So if you live dahn south, go and delve into their forest. 

I've organised the production of some merchandisey bits from the genuinely @awesomemerch...  So if you’d like to get your hands on a badge, magnet or pocket mirror branded with your favourite bear, send me an email and I’ll organise a method to get one to you.

Swapsies...

Taking part in the International Postcard Show at Surface Gallery in Nottingham… Submitted a little Russian matryoshka doll with a slightly human face, which I drew after thinking about feeling trapped, as it fitted quick nicely on a 6x4” piece of card… 

The gallery is open Tues to Fri 12-6pm and 11-5pm on Sat, with the cards on show (and on sale for a bargain £15 squid) until February 11th... so go looksee at the collection.

Then afterwards, it's time for the exchange! ...when I'll most likely receive another postcard gem back in return for mine. Exciting!

In homage to the capital letter...

Recently realised that this blog was lacking all signs of punctuation... So here's an upper case letter 'a' to make amends...

hippos at the harley

new year started well... my hippos got in! so they are now temporarily residing with all the other 'h is for...' entries at the harley gallery, welbeck, worksop s80 3lw. the exhibition's on from 7th Jan - 5th Feb so go visit and vote for your favourite entry thank you please.

robins coming out of my ears

been drawing robins by the flockload over the last week. in a stamp shape because they are going to fly through the post (from the land of robin hood no less) and hopefully arrive before christmas. blob of paint for the red breast and a quick bit of machine stitching for added interest (still to be added to the bottom two... )

hungry hippos

mousetrap and screwball scramble coming soon...