Paint. Everywhere.

When I came to art college in 2011, I was pretty much clueless when it came to using Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. I learned how to add colour and texture digitally to my drawings. This meant I could easily change colours or composition and add or remove elements from the artwork. I liked it. This is the way I work almost all the time now I'm out there freelancing and whatnot.

However, I've begun to realise something: I miss painting. Recently I've found myself pouring over images by some of my favourite illustrators (including Debi Gliori, Alex T Smith, Quentin Blake, Oliver Jeffers) that are paintings created 100% by hand in the 'real' world. No computer necessary (well, apart from the magical part where they go from artist's studio to the pages of books all over the world...)

So, I decided to step outside my nice neat comfort zone and see if I could paint something. Something that wasn't awful. The jury is out on that one, but it doesn't matter because I had fun.

I started with a pencil sketch for a wee story I've been working on:

Then I took to the lightbox and got my paint on! On everything. Face, hair, floor and a little bit got in my mouth. Painting is messier than I remember.

I took photos as I went! So paint also got on my phone, add that to the list.

Here is the finished article - Harold the tired (but colourful) owl and his noisy neighbours:

Sketchy memory

My hall cupboard is one of those open-at-your-own-risk cupboards, so full (of terribly important unthrowoutable stuff I never use) that my catching reflexes and pain threshold are put to test every time I open it. So, as is the custom when I am very busy with work and look for any excuse not to sit down and get on with it, I decided this week I should give it a good clear out. In doing so I found a pile of sketchbooks from the first year of my Masters:

Teapots seem to feature heavily throughout the books...

...as do cakes. Hmmm.

These finds got me thinking about projects I had begun two years ago and then seemed to let fizzle out, and I have decided to get back to some of them. Keeping a sketchbook is one of the most rewarding things I think an illustrator or designer can do. I once filled a book with weekly illustrations inspired by the one word briefs on the 'Illustration Friday' blog (well worth looking at if you aren't familiar with it). And I know many an illustrator pal (Kasia Matyjaszek, Astrid Jaekel) whose sketchbooks are stunning works of art in themselves.

If I needed extra motivation, it has come in the form of The Big Draw - a UK wide drawing festival that kicks off tomorrow with events all over the country. There are a few in Edinburgh that I plan to check out.

So, tomorrow I will buy a new sketchbook (any excuse for stationary shopping), get researching for some new projects and revive some old ones. Look! I procrastinated and it paid off. Nice.

Le immagini della fantasia

A few months ago I was asked to contribute an illustration to be featured in Le Immagini Della Fantastia, an annual Italian publication and exhibition. Immagini is now in it's 32nd year (having been founded in 1982 by Stepan Zavrel) and features illustrators from all over the world. I am lucky enough to have collaborated with such talented illustrators as Jonathan Gibbs, Cate James and Kate McLelland.

Here is my submission. My brief was to create an image to accompany the 'April' section of a piece written by the amazing Viv French which celebrates Scotland throughout the 12 months of the year. The exhibition will be held in Italy this October. What's that you say? I should go to Italy? I SHOULD go to Italy...

MAY be a busy month

Lately I have been able to indulge myself and call it work (even more so than usual) as orders for my prints are coming in more frequently these days, which is nice. And the indulging comes in the form of packaging up the prints. I love it. You know the people who moan about wrapping presents? I'm not one of those people. Give me some ribbon and tissue paper and I'm happy for hours. (Flat's covered in scraps of paper and sellotape, but I'm happy).

This is my latest print for sale

Today I was delivering prints to the lovely folks at Red Door Gallery and discussing my next exciting project...I'm not giving too much away as I'm quite nervous, but I will be doing some more live drawing at one of my favourite places in Edinburgh. I'll be sharing the experience with the talented Rosemary Cunningham and will post up on my facebook page the twitter # when it goes live. 

May is full of illustration-y things! And it looks like June will be too. And so was today. Yup, I'm definitely kind of doing a good job of pretending to look like I am maybe possibly making this illustration thing work!

Chessmen. And more windows.

I've been working on a few different projects recently, and one of them involved drawing in windows. Again. (I promise I do get asked to do this, it isn't some weird addiction...though it is really fun) This time I was hand-lettering and drawing fireworks for the Edinburgh University Student Elections.

It was a really fun commission, even the part where I was drawing on the mirrors in the bathrooms. It's a unique profession alright, this illustration business. Not many jobs have you colouring in a giant star at 3am. In public toilets.

Since that wee adventure I have been indulging in some lovely research: Collecting postcards and looking at books of Victorian illustrations. Oh, and yesterday Simon and Angie Lewin came to ECA to talk about the beautiful fabrics and wallpapers made by the St Jude's artists. Check them out here:

http://www.stjudesfabrics.co.uk/

I've also been visiting Edinburgh's Museum on Chambers street in preparation for my next exciting job...(live drawing at their late night event in May - eep!)...The Lewis Chessmen have got me smitten. I love their shocked little faces!

Illustrating a story...the story of BEER!

Good day! I've just finished a week doodling at Archerfield Walled Garden in East Lothian (my illustrations are also on their website, just one reason to visit the site...)

http://www.archerfieldwalledgarden.com/

The brief was to draw a diagram explaining the 'story of beer' on the wall outside their microbrewery in time for their Oktoberfest event this weekend (if you can, GO. I'm not just saying this, I have tasted the beer for professional reasons and it is gooood). I encountered a few problems with the wall surface and tricky height of the space, so thanks to very understanding and enterprising client Elly, I was allowed to paint on some boards. Which I found thanks to my very resourceful and helpful brother (who is very clever and makes awesome stuff out of wood - see this stuff here: https://www.facebook.com/EastCoastGardens).

So it started looking like this:

(oh yes, I was painting in a barn. It got a bit...spidery...but apart from that it was peaceful and fun and made me very pleased about my career choices)

And then it looked like this:

And then it went on the wall where it looks like this:

And then I went doodle nuts and did this to their chalkboards:

So, that was that. Another example of how I don't know where this job will take me next...and how cool is that?

Announcement!

Since the last post I've been holidaying, but the kind of holiday where you don't really stop working/thinking about work. Mainly because I didn't want to, because I really really wanted to get myself a residency for next year. And some portfolio surgery, an application form and a skype interview later...I am very pleased to say I will be 'Illustrator In Residence' at ECA from Sept 1st. That's right, they ain't getting rid of me yet!

Also - the degree show was FUN. I liked it. I moaned a lot about the work, I lost a lot of sleep and I became a bit obsessed. I'm going to throw this out there: I think it might have totally been worth it. There are a few exciting projects in the pipeline and I have some big plans. In the meantime I would very much like to show everyone some work that is, for once, not mine. These are some of the colouring in sheets left behind at my show - by far my favourite thing to come out of the exhibition and my project. People coloured in! And left me nice notes! Good work everyone, you indulged my desire to get people drawing and my lifelong love of colouring in.

But that's because colouring in is brilliant (and HOW COOL IS THAT DRAGON?)

Fairy Tale Characters

ECA degree show industry opening tomorrow night! The show opens to the public on Saturday 1st June. Until then, here are some of the folks you might find there, my wee paper pals Sleeping Beauty and Sleepy Rapunzel.

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!

SPRING!?

Howdy! Here is a pattern.

Also: 

EDINBURGH. IS. SUNNY.

And in other news, today involved coffee with Jen (always a nice way to start the day), a meeting with the lovely Viv French (always a nice way to start your afternoon), some printing (not always guaranteed nice, but it went my way), teaching myself how to make repeat patterns (see above - and thanks Caroline for yer books). Aaaand spruced up the website:

www.eilidhmuldoodles.com

 Sunshine makes me do stuff.

Hello!

I made this illustration and entered into the Hallmark design competition a couple of weeks ago. The theme was 'love'. These birds are all about the love. 'Love birds' if you will.

Anyway, I WON!

Tip top news, and I am very pleased. Here is the link where it says 'WINNER' (and means in relation to my illustration, not a swimming race when I was 12 which is perhaps the last thing I won)

Hallmark Design Competition

Surrounded by stories!

Hello! It has been a while...but I'm back in the studio. I have some work in an exhibition as North Edinburgh Arts centre which will be on display until 2nd Feb (oh look! here's the poster...)

Setting up the exhibition with lovely talented illustrator pals (and feeling very chuffed to be exhibiting alongside em' all) was tip top, and I also had much popcorn and wine after. So it was a winning day. Here are some pics to show it actually happened, and that my friend Phil looked at it.

 

AND today I came into the studio and my lovely pal Holly and I got our print on! Today's menu: Lino printing. I'm off to get more lino and some proper tools. And plenty of plasters.

R is for...RAINDROPS!

Working on a series of illustrations beginning with 'R' for my favourite-almost-3-year-old-nephew (I have 3 nephews, so being diplomatic) Ruaridh. Initially intended for colouring in, I had a go at colouring this one myself. Splish splosh. I hung washing out today...oops.

Yesterday my bonnie wee nephews turned 1, and as a present I made them these name and date prints. Hand-lettering and hand drawing bunting, stars and patterns... I could happily do this all day!

Submission day over! I've just handed in selected work from my first year of MFA Illustration. Among the goodies were this little lot - development work for my story book. I made two little mock-ups for the layouts of the two books I'm working on (I was advised this was a good way to work out how you want a book to look. Not sure the person advising me meant me to take the word 'little' literally, but hey ho).

'The Great Tweet Street Party' book is under way! End of term you say? Try and stop me! This summer I will be mostly drawing birds and cakes and pretty houses.

Mmmm. Sundaes. Looks like a little bird's been thieving though....

I've been having lots of fun working on layouts for my Tweet Street Party book! It is also quite lovely to have to look through lots of baking and ice-cream books in the name of 'research'. Hmmm, I think it might be time for cake.

This is my entry for the Puffin Awards 2012 - the brief was to design a cover for Grimm's Fairy Tales. The tree and feather are inspired by 'The Golden Bird', the tower and hair 'Rapunzel' and the wee apple alludes to a number of the fairy tales - including 'Snow White'.

I've decided to enter more illustration competitions - there are some great briefs out there and by entering them I'm developing my work, learning new techniques and adding to my folio. Not to mention feeling very pleased that I've met another deadline without anyone telling me to...it makes me feel like a real grown-up.

Hello! I've been working on creating new characters and images made up of lots of different marks and patterns. This is a wee sample of a recent creation. Does this mean that all my obsessive pattern doodling is (kind of) justified...??

The residents of Tweet Street! These guys are little Chiff-Chaffs. The characters in my new story...