The Month of Windows: Part Two (day one)

Wow, what a day. Remember that mysterious comment from the last post? Well the wait is over (phew, right?) I can reveal that I am illustrating in the window of Oasis in the Princes Mall, Edinburgh. The reason I kept it to myself: Fear. And I'm glad to say that after today the fear is gone! I had a brilliant day, and completed the first of the three windows. It now looks like this:

And from the inside (where I was curled up - doodling and occasionally grinning like an idiot at people - but for the most part in my own wee world) it looks like this:

                                               

Please do come down over the next three days if you are in Edinburgh and have the time. There's a silent auction - ten prints of my work all fancily printed up and framed (thanks Oasis!) are up for grabs and there are tote bags for sale for just £5...

ALL PROCEEDS TO A BRILLIANT CHARITY (that was accidental caps lock but it is staying in!) The Maggie Centre in Edinburgh helps people affected by cancer, my lovely Mum to name one. It is one of a few organisations that were able to provide some help to my Mum and our family through her illness and the tough time we had. The centre runs activities and holds workshops and events, but is also there as a calm sanctuary on the hospital grounds where patients and their loved ones can go to talk (or not), drink tea, or just step outside the hospital environment and take stock. Find out more here:

http://www.maggiescentres.org/edinburgh/introduction.html

I'd also like to say that all the staff at Oasis Princes Mall were so lovely to me today. I am genuinely excited to get back to work tomorrow!

The Month of Windows: Part One

I have been hiding. I have been hiding all over Edinburgh. I have been hiding and drawing and being quietly terrified because it has all been in preparation for this week. This morning I installed 10 new illustrations in the windows of the Central Library of George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. The work is my response to this beeyooteefool city of mine and is also there to encourage folks to head into the library and check of the amazing resources. There are literally hundreds of boxes full of incredible photos and newspaper cuttings about Edinburgh. I lost about two days in there. So worth a peek. Also the library is part of the Open Doors event this year, so you can come along and get a guided tour of the library - the bits that are usually off limits. And trust me, it is impressive.

Anyway, here are some snaps of my work in some windows. Tick!

And now it is time for me to get some kip before I embark on 'The Month of Windows: Part Two', which begins tomorrow. It will involve me live drawing in a window in a very prominent part of Edinburgh. Watch this space for a post about it (I'm waiting until I have started and I am less TERRIFIED).

A sneaky peek at my degree show...

Here is a couple of snaps from my MFA degree show space at Evolution House in Edinburgh - it will be open to the public from 1st-10th June. These are some of my fairytale paper figures and wallpaper designs. Feeling good to have submitted. I've had three days off. I'm getting bored. New project please!

Flowers, birds and shoes

New patterns inspired by things I like (that also happen to be in fairytales I like)

Lino printing!

Today I finished printing the third and final colour on my first ever unsupervised reduction lino print. 'Confusing' doesn't even cover it. It's pretty much maths. 'Messy' doesn't even come close. My jumper is splotchy and my fingers are blue. But I feel quite chuffed with the result so I'm going back for more! This time I will wear an apron.

First two colours:

Ten prints made it to the finish!