Lines from a Fairytale...

Fairytales are actually really scary. I'm just making sure that you know that I know this. Because when I draw pictures from my favourite fairy tales, you really wouldn't think that I knew most of them involve stealing, abandoning children, kidnapping children, cannibalism and bloody murder. But I'm okay with the decision to focus on the nicer bits. 

Cinderella

My 2013 degree show included patterns and characters inspired by Grimm's fairytales and I've recently returned to this theme. I'm working on a series of line drawings of places, characters and events from some classic fairytales. 

Rapunzel & Sleeping Beauty

The tales I chose were all adapted by Andrew Lang at the turn of the 20th century. I like his versions for a few reasons. I like that he was writing at a very interesting time for fashion, interior design and the decorative arts. I've always loved the patterns of the Arts and Crafts movement and the collection of decorative designs at the V&A, all of which influence the decorative patterns in my line drawings.

I also chose him because he colour coded his books. I like colour coding. And lists.

Ah Tetris... so many hours lost to that game on rainy holidays in Wales... And now it has inspired a recent illustration! The brief was to create an A5 illustration for the title 'How To Build a Wall' - and my mind went straight to Tetris (via a brief stop at lego). The image will be featured in a book of DIY tasks to raise money for the Lake Victoria Disability Centre in Tanzania. The book will be on sale in April in various lovely little shops around Edinburgh. More info to follow on this one, but for now I'm off to find my Gameboy. Wow.

Three days to go til hand-in day! And surprisingly, I'm quite sad to be moving on from the Borrowers. It has been a challenge, but this project has been very handy. I've been experimenting with screen-printing and this week felt like a breakthrough, i love it. I've also made my own interpretation of the text, a twist I'm quite happy with. And and and...i have found my love of font! It is fun. So off i go to draw more pretty lettering and get all up in the print studio's face.

p.s. little bird cards were a mini success too...could be possibilities for my summer craft fair/selling mission...?

So, I've been procrastinating. But I don't feel like defending my actions: lions and geese and owls and smug old ladies are fun to doodle. I've spent so long experimenting with colour I forgot the fun of just drawing. With pencils. When you're meant to be working. Can't beat it!

Splash! I've been painting again. I'm not sure about these, but they are making me smile so that will do for now. May try adding colour to my line drawings digitally next...wish me luck...

I'm busy uploading images of houses I have illustrated for people, I was one busy bee before Christmas! Here are the most recent. There's a facebook page explaining what I do and prices etc. I like drawing pretty houses :-)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.261768843834818.74282.261766417168394&type=1

She still has no name! Why do I find that so tricky? All suggestions welcome...