Busy, busy!

Well the casual work has gone a bit quiet at the moment, but is has given me so much time in the studio, which is wonderful.

I have had such a productive time. I have been working on some new characters and written them a short story, fun and colourful. One sketch book full of character development ideas, page layouts designed, all illustrations drawn up and about and a third the way through inking them.

This is the studio, work on the drawing board and model onlookers...

I love working in inks,I love the bright and vibrant colours, but recently rediscovered my old nib pen, so much freedom in sketching with inks and a dip pen, somehow it doesn't feel like it matters if the lines are free and a bit wobbly. I have had some interesting results and it has loosened my work up, which I am enjoying.

Hoping for more time on it next week and hope to get them finished and scanned and a book mock up done by mid June and then send it off to some publishers for feedback.

and now for something completely different...

Time to breathe at last, the shop is open and getting a lot of trade, repeat customers and very happy customers, so we are doing something good. Now things are 'ticking along' I have had a chance for a bit of work and also time to play.

A few months ago a chap emailed me saying that this year is his wife's 40th birthday, she has written a children's story and wants to self publish as a pressie for her, would I do the illustrations. Well I said yes, read the story and sketched some ideas. The client was happy and said go ahead with the final images. A nice job, client happy all the way through. well today I got this email from his wife....

Dear Emma, 

I just wanted to say a really big thank you for the beautiful and amazing art work you did for my birthday book. It was a truly wonderful surprise and I absolutely love it!  Thank you also for the paintings, I definitely want to get some of them framed! You are so talented and I instantly recognised Barney, you captured his personality perfectly! 

With very best wishes and love,

Rebecca 

I do love it when a plan works out well, these are just 3 of the images from ' Barney and the Sausage Tree'.

I have also be having a play about with my style, wanting to loosen it up a bit, so gone back to basics, having wonderful fun, making a mess and enjoying the results so far. Fine tuning to do and more experiments. But a day out sketching at Colchester Zoo, with three art students on Thursday will help in the development.

Here's a taster so far...

now just pray for sunshine and no wind or rain on Thursday!

phewee, shop is open!

OK it has been ages since I blogged, let along did any illustrating, but I have been so busy helping my son open his new shop.

Many months in the planning, gutting, painting, decorating and fitting, but we finally opened this week! We had amazing support from the locals who are so pleased to have a butcher in the village and on day two we even had repeat customers, who then came in the following two days too! So we are doing something right.

Anyway here are some piccies of the shop, design by me and window dressing by me, so I have not been totally away from being creative.

I have done a bit of art to 'keep my hand in' I recently did this logo for a friend who is an amazing photographer....

Check out her wonderful work at http://www.maddyzangles-photography.com/

And from doing this one I now have a commission for another logo too, so I really look forward to getting on with that one and the piles of images I have planed in my brain...back to the drawing board!

It has been ages since I have had a chance to do any illustrations, let alone a blog!
Ok so I have been working a a major project, not arty, but hopefully a good one for my son. Hoping to open a shop for him to run by the end of Feb, he is a qualified butcher (and chef) so will be running a good old fashioned shop in a nearby village. I have been working on coordinating builders etc, painting it and planning fittings and displays, which has been fun. Just finished the logo designs for the windows ready for the sign maker. But the chilly winter is tempting me to sit by the fire and work on an illustration for a logo for a friend, who is the most amazing photographer. Will be good to draw, it has been a while!

Looking forward to getting back into my work, I have so much planned for this year, so many ideas rattling around my head but so far I'm not getting time to achieve those goals, still once the next few weeks are done and the shop is open, I can throw myself back into it, hopefully by then we may have a bit of sunshine to lift the spirits!

Needless to say I will have a sketchbook and pencil under the shop counter just in case I get time for a few ideas!

Anyway, I know it's a bit late, but Happy New Year to you all and hope it is a happy, healthy and prosperous one.

It may be cold, but it can also be very pretty!

conference and cards

Well nearly a week has flown by since the great SCBWI conference in Winchester. It was wonderful to be surrounded by such passionate writers and illustrators. Met up with some of the lovely people I have met via SCBWI and their facebook page, people who have helped, guided and advised me, people who have pushed me to do more and who have given me belief in my capabilities as an illustrator.

I came away inspired not just to illustrate, but wanting to write too, maybe one day I will find the time to do 'my book', but for now there is work to do at the drawing board, a lot of it too.

I collected my greetings cards from the printers for the My Small Worlds range, smart they are too! awaiting the cellophane wrappers so I can get them packed and sold! OK that could take a while as I have quite a few.

Looking to sell as individuals at £2 and packs of 6 (one of each design) at £10 all inc p&p, so let me know if you want any, will aim to get an order page done on the website very soon.

Oh the website! yes it is in the refining stages at the mo, yes I spotted a spelling mistake that is bugging me, but take a look and let me know any comments. Plans for easy navigation are at the drawing board...
www.mysmallworlds.com

and here are the cards....

and a sample jigsaw...

Featured artist

Just over a year ago I discovered this wonderful society called The Society of Children's Book Writers an Illustrators. An international group with local groups or members based throughout the UK. I looked into what they do and the support they offer and thought  I'd sign up, I had a few doubts at the cost as I am running on a tight budget, but took the risk.

Well what an amazing year it has been! I have met some amazing writers and illustrators that are all so passionate about their craft. They have inspired me, guided me and educated me and given me faith i myself and what I do and can achieve.

Every year they have an annual conference, I couldn't go last year sadly, but they run competitions for both the writers and artists. Last year was to design a book plate..for those not in the know it is the piece inside the book cover that says something like 'this book belongs to....' Well one of mine was selected as a winner!
They are being printed and sold at this years conference in Winchester at the end of this month.
These were my designs, the Dragon won it!

Part of the prize is copies of the bookplate and also to be featured artist on the SCBWI page, a great honor....

http://britishscbwi.jimdo.com/featured-artist/

this is the page, read away and I hope you enjoy.

So all I can say is that the membership cost has been worth EVERY penny, so much that I carried on my membership again this year and will continue to do so, I am also going to the conference this year to meet in person some of the wonderful people I have been in contact with over the last year via the society and their Facebook page and the Ning. Can't wait! going with folio and notebook/ sketch book in hand as I know there will be so much going on and so much to learn.

moving forward

Moving forward on the tough decision I have made this week, I have been working on the logo for My Small Worlds. Not sure which to go with at the mo, whilst I like the rocket it is lost when the logo is reduced, what do you think?

I have been planning a new way forward with this project, looking at how they will work in book form and also ways to market the concepts. I have had so much support from family, friends and so many fellow creatives that I know I have made the right decision and will make this project work. Having fun along the way with creative ideas and I am really looking forward to developing them.

Now must get on with a commission I have, also based on this theme and one I really hope the customer loves!