Lights On/Lights Off

After a busy month of work and moving house I have escaped for a wee break, over the border and down by the sea. Flybe and their terrifying hand baggage regulations have meant that for the first time in months I am without laptop, scanner and wacom tablet - eep! This has turned out to be a good thing. I think...

I am drawing for fun. No brief, no theme, just doodlin'. Yesterday we went to Salisbury. There is a big cathedral. We arrived to find a candlelit advent procession kicking off, the first half of which was very nice. Pretty candles, nice singing, I was warm. Then I have to admit things got a bit...drawn out. Let's just say I was strongly empathising with the fidgeting, whimpering kid in the row in front. To avoid looking like an overgrown child finding it hard to behave in the adult world I whipped out my sketchbook to draw. You may have realised by now that I love a good building, and this cathedral really is something to see. And therein lies my problem, as not long after I started the whole place was plunged into darkness (this was planned, don't panic). So I was unwillingly forced to try out a new drawing exercise:

1 - draw with the lights on

2 - draw the same thing with the lights off

Here is the result:

Guess which was which? I have to say that the lines on the left are going to be fun to colour in. A new pattern perhaps. My favourite bit is the man to the left who looks like his eyes are popping out. Maybe he was as shocked as me when they turned the lights out! Anyway,  it was good to be drawing again and at the very least  it stopped me throwing a tantrum and demanding sweets.

The Month of Windows: Part Two (completed!)

Donedonedonedone....DONE! Four days, three windows, too many coffees and exactly the right number of pens. I'm exhausted but it was so worth it. I'm really proud of how the windows are looking, and the experience was amazing. I met lovely staff at Oasis and lovely visiting public. Personal high points included the little girl who sat tracing the lines I drew with her finger for about an hour (her poor mum) and giving me encouraging 'whoop's and thumbs up. I felt like an athlete! But one that eats chocolate and sits cross-legged for hours. Here are some photos from today:

This last one is the very last thing I drew. A sleepy Sir Walter Scott, chilling out under his monument. My favourite bit.

And already something exciting has happened! I was mentioned in an article as an emerging young british designer! Here is the link:

http://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/young-brittania-emerging-british-graphic-artists/%0A

SO. That's quite enough excitement for one week. I start working at the Edinburgh Book Festival tomorrow, bright and early. So I'm off to recharge. DONE.

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!

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!

Sleeping Beauty (or maybe just sleeping...)

ZZZZZZZZZZ

Degree show is almost here! Setting up the space this week. I have been making patterns. It has been fun. Some were hand drawn, some lino printed (I'll post these up in a mo).

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.