Love Lucy Illustration

I am guessing that like many others, the shine of Facebook is slowly wearing off for just entertaining your friends and more about finding great new business pages to be nosy at like me. I was searching for illustration pages one day and came across a lovely page called 'Love Lucy Illustration'. I was instantly attracted to her work as she uses watercolour as I do and her characters are truly charming. The lady behind the page is Lucy Smith, she is a freelance illustrator who specialises in greeting card design (Phoenix Trading artist) and character portraits. You can certainly lose some time browsing through all the different characters. Go check her out; as well as Facebook you can see her website at
www.lovelucyillustration.com or check out her blog http://lovelucyillustration.blogspot.co.uk/.

BLOGHOP

I came across a great idea today that I would like to share. I love looking at other designers work, the creativeness and individuality, the way the world is perceived in many different ways.
The whole idea of a blog hop is new to me so when I saw the 'Let's Fly!' Blog hop advertisement on Facebook I couldn't resist a peak. The whole thing is curated by; Believe creative studio www.believe-cs.com and starts at www.patternaddict.blogspot.fr
The idea is that a large group of designers/ bloggers showcase their surface pattern designs, (based on one shared brief - Let's Fly!) on their own blogs with a link to another designers blog and work after, and so on. You continue to follow each link until you reach the end.
The theme is about their first journey/flight into new careers as surface pattern designers. Each individual design collection incorporates the Pantone colour of the year 2013- Emerald 17-5641 TCX.
It really is a visionary delight and a must to try!
Be quick it runs from 10-13 January 2013

New Year, New Beginnings

Firstly Happy New Year to you all.

Last year was a great year in the sense I finally graduated from University. A big milestone for me seeing as I mainly studied part time whilst looking after two small children.
This year I hope to get my illustrations or designs for surface pattern noticed in the public eye. It will be
a new venture which will be challenging, nerve racking and exciting all at the same time. I have started to create a few little designs that can be seen on Spoonflower which is ongoing in my style development.
Also instead of just sharing my own work, I will be trying to share all of the interesting new blogs/websites I have been coming across lately.

Pomegranate pattern

I had intended to enter this new pattern in a competition but it didn't quite go to plan so maybe I will transfer it to fabric and make some funky cushions. I have noticed a few new pomegranate patterns making their way in to the market recently.

Well my blog for the last month has been neglected but after a busy few months I decided that a break with the family was needed and after we came home I officially GRADUATED from DMU Leicester. Yay.
I have a couple of new things in the pipeline. I have been working on a new book concept and also continuing with some ideas for surface pattern design. I am also looking into starting a whole new craft sideline which is more of a hobby at the moment to keep the design ideas flowing.

Pattern design

I have been doing something a little bit different in terms of design, having just finished a mad rush of work for my end of degree show, I have decided to do a bit of pattern work. I love illustrating for children but I do think it is good to have a creative break and try something different. It clears the mind, keeps the juices flowing and you end up with new ideas popping up that you can develop.

All three samples are more male orientated I feel. The first image was inspired by the colours/layers of rust on a scrapped car. I kept all the designs simple with geometric influence. The second image was inspired by the shape and luminosity of volcanoes and the third was inspired by vintage photographs.
I also have been working on some flower/fruit/veg designs that I will put on soon.

Graduation here I come!

Yesterday I found out I had passed my degree and will be graduating in about two weeks, such a relief. I am very pleased with myself in some respects as I managed this with being a full time mum which is an achievement in itself. Graduation here I come. Researching ways to become freelance though a few interesting job ideas have crossed my path, so many directions to possibly try.

The end of an era

I have spent a good few years working on getting a degree, BA Hons Graphic Design & Illustration at DMU Leicester, as a part time student and after finishing my degree show last Thursday/Friday I can't help but feel a little sad. I have met a lot of people along the way and some super talented ones at that! My tutors have been both supportive and encouraging and I would like to say a massive thank you to them all. There have been times when I thought I wouldn't make it but I soldiered on and hopefully in two weeks time my hard work will pay off. Now I am looking to the future, can I make it as a freelance illustrator? Well if I can do a part-time degree and be a full-time mum of two under 4 at the same time, then you have to believe anything is achievable!

Early Lily Sketches

Early pen sketches for my book,'Lily and the Alien'.

Sketchbook doodles

Good old fashioned pen and ink, can't beat it!