New Year

A new year and a new start. I have added 'blogging more' to my list of goals for 2011. I must also refresh my portfolio with some brand new illustrations over the next few months. I'm looking forward to the coming year and to be honest I am glad to say goodbye to 2010, which for me has been a very hard and emotional journey. 2011 symbolises change and hopefully lots of success!

Illustrators that have inspired me in 2010:



i. Isabelle Arseault



ii. Meg Hunt



iii. Michael Kirkham

Paper Girl Manchester

It was nice to be apart of something so great.



Papergirl Manchester and I Bike MCR Critical Mass on film.
Filmed by Tahra O’Regan.

Autumn

Autumn is here.

I've recently bought a sewing machine and a craft book and have abandoned illustrating for a while to make clutch bags made out of vintage fabric, embroidered jewellery and baby shoes for my niece. I plan to make the majority of my Christmas presents, but it's taking me a while to perfect my technique.

This Christmas I'm going to ask Santa for a digital SLR camera...I promise to be good!

Bat For Lashes Visuals

Amazingly beautiful animation from Robin Bushell and Julia Potts on Vimeo.

London Town

I'm back from LND where I visited the V&A and saw the 'Illustration Awards' exhibition. Loved Sarah Carrs' work, which won the illustrated book award. I also took some photographs of houses in Isleworth where I was staying. I'm a bit obsessed with houses at the moment; illustrated houses, photos of houses, little ceramic house...etc

Tonight I'm going to 'The Toy Shop' exhibition in Manchester where lots of amazing Illustrators will be exhibiting. Including Daniel Frost, Sarah Abbott, Jack Hudson and Gemma Correll.

I also start my volunteer position at 'AND' Festival tomorrow. Busy, busy busy!

Free For Arts Festival

Taking part in the 'Free for Arts Festival,' as part of Papergirl Manchester this October. Visit and see my work on display at the Papergirl Manchester exhibition at Soup Kitchen, Spear Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, from 1st – 21st October 2010!

'Papergirl is an art project from Berlin, making its UK début in Manchester this Autumn. In the style of American paper-boys, rolled art pieces will be distributed by bicycle in the streets of Manchester to random passers-by. The Papergirl Manchester exhibition will be held at Soup Kitchen from 1st October to 21st October in association with Manchester Free for Arts Festival 2010.' (Papergirl Manchester website)

I'm going back to London next week for a few days, yay!

AND

The next festival I'm volunteering on is AND (Abandon Normal Devices). The third arts festival I have worked on this summer!

Exploring Illustrated London

I recently came back from a 5 day trip to London, where I visited my niece Olivia. While I was there I hopped on the tube to Shoreditch and went to see the new Nobrow gallery/shop and also the East Gallery on Brick lane, which is showing an illustration exhibition entitled 'Play'. I loved both, especially Sarah Abbott's work at East Gallery. I remember seeing her work at last years mmu degree show and it was amazing.
A highlight of my trip was visiting the YCN shop & library down Rivington St. Recommend a visit if you are in the area. I bought one of their quarterly magazines, 'Ideas Illustrated,' which I enjoyed reading on the train back to Manchester.

Tweet

I joined Twitter and I quite like it. Follow me if you dare!

Volunteering

Recently I have been mostly working/volunteering at festivals, including
'The Family Friendly Film Festival,' reading the new Audrey Niffenegger novel, decorating and trying to decide what to do next. Eek.

Ben Javens

Just discovered an illustration genius called Ben Javens. He is exhibiting at the end of this month in Edinburgh...wish is wasn't so far away! Boo. At least I can look at his AMAZING website.

Rise & Fall

While on a trip to ye old town of York I found this amazing little printed zine illustrated by Micah Lidberg and published by Nobrow. I got very excited when I discovered Nobrow have opened their own gallery. Need to get down to London!
I also discovered another amazing illustrator called Brian Cronin while I was in a bookshop searching for John Wyndham's Books. Cronin has created some beautiful illustrations for the set of John Wyndham's novels and now I am determined to have them all!

Scandinavian

I want to live like a true Scandinavian. 

I am very excited, I've bought the new MacBook Pro laptop...eek! And I also have the new Creative Suite CS5! Also below is what arrived in my post today, it's a new zine from Cafe Royal Books by the Nous vous collective...I am so spoilt!

I'm busy creating a spaceship for a Leeds based magazine and my bum is starting to hurt from too much sitting. Tea break me thinks!

I am liking...

Jill Calder - I discovered in The Guardian.
Luke Best - new blogged illustrations are amazing. I almost cried when I had to work the one day he came to Manchester to do a workshop.
Grizzly Bear - Knife (Girl Talk Remix) - current favorite song.
Fine Little Day - current favorite blog.

I did this illustration for Blanket magazine; 'I Think I Can Fly' issue. You can buy it online from their website by clicking here.

"It’s Blankets 3rd Birthday and 20th Issue and to celebrate we have made this issue to inspire and motivate you all to soar to greater heights! It’s our ‘I Think I Can Fly Issue’!"

There is an interview with Anna Bond who I love love love and Gareth Main of Bearded Magazine.