I've been getting a little bit carried away with my underwater themes of late... perhaps it's all this hot weather we're having! I've just been taking a class with Stephanie Fizer Coleman over on Atly on Texture and Pattern in Photoshop. It's opened a whole new world of texture in my illustrations and in this piece I've been trying to incorporate some of what I've learned. I really like the depth that the textures add to my layers when I'm digitally collaging hand rendered pieces. In the meantime, my workload is piling up while I've been getting so absorbed and I've really got to get back to finishing that mermaid journal!
Here's A Little Fishy...
Ok so now I've got that tune on slow repeat in my head, although I only remember the first two lines! Anyway, I'm joining in with the Folio Focus Summer Reboot over at Rise Design and Shine. It's giving me a chance to revisit some old work which was previously quite rushed and unfinished. This project is based around nautical theme and needs to end up as a journal cover design. I've reworked the mermaid completely and found the time to paint some of the hand drawn motifs I'd previously created. Taking my time really with this one as it's giving me the opportunity to really think about building layers and texture when I collage the hand rendered pieces together in photoshop. There'll be more to come, but this is where I've got to so far!
The Pattern Curve!
At last, I have made the commitment to finish the final year of my degree, my youngest will be starting school in September and now seems like the right time! After much thought and deliberation, I've chosen to pursue Textiles and Surface Pattern Design. While I'm incredibly excited at the prospect, I'm also slightly nervous and a little apprehensive. Having already done the first two years with a young family in tow, I am under no illusions of how tough it's going to be, despite my wonderful and supportive family. Plus, oh my goodness I have got so much to learn about pattern! So in an attempt to start as I mean to carry on, I've been going slightly pattern crazy by starting with some of my existing work and getting to grips with creatine pattern repeats in photoshop. Hopefully, with some practice my pattern designing will become a little more sophisticated. I'm really intrigued at the thought of looking back in a years time and seeing how my work has evolved!
Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search 2018
This years first round of the GTS is finally upon us! We received the brief two weeks ago and deadline was today. A journal cover which included; Japanese Anemones, Stag-horn Ferns, Hand Lettering and an optional figure. I've been hidden away, immersed in creative bliss and enjoying every minute of the process and am pleased to have a new piece of work for my portfolio. Meanwhile, the results of the first round will be published on Friday, along with the gallery of entries which promise to be a feast for the eyes. There are only 50 artists chosen to get through to the next round and the standard of work is just incredible, I have been genuinely blown away as my Instagram feed fills up with visual gorgeousness. The judges are going to have a difficult task ahead of them, I certainly would find it very hard to whittle down. This is the stuff hopes and dreams are made of and I wish all of my fellow artists, many of whom are friends, the best of luck as we all hold our breath and wait until Friday!
Peony Love!
I seem to be updating everything at the moment while also quietly working away on my GTS entry, I'll share that here in the next few days. In the meantime though, I've just created a new logo based around my current obsession with peonies!
MATS Portfolio Live Review
The latest MATS class I've been working on is the Portfolio Review. Taking the class is transforming the way I think about my website and I've picked up so many tips that I genuinely wouldn't even have considered. Gradually, I'm managing to make my own improvements. I've just created this little hand-painted banner for the top of my home page.
