A Doodle a Day

During April and May I set myself the challenge to complete a 'doodle a day' for 30 days. I am the kindof person who ends up daydreaming all day if I don't set myself tasks and things to achieve and I had been feeling like I had got out of practice with keeping a daily sketchbook.
Some sketches were observations of the world around me, others were inspired by quotes, music and sparks of ideas. As I am writing this I am tempted to set myself another similar challenge as it was so beneficial (and fun!) to me as an artist!

Happy May!

 Just a little update, although I am not sure where to start, as once I fail to update one project I have been working on, or a new idea or painting, I seem to fail to even try for a few months!
I realised this morning, you have to start somewhere! So, these invites feel very Spring like to me, and I have just completed them. They feel like the culmination of what I have learnt about producing Wedding Invites so far. I have tried to put into practice the knowledge I have gained, through trial and sometimes error! I love it when you can see, step by step the progress you are making!
These pretty designs are for a late summer, English-country-garden-by-the-sea Wedding! Wishing everyone a lovely May (My favourite month of the year!)

Guest Blog for Printed.com

I was very excited to be asked to write a guest blog this week for Printed.com. It's all about how I make my Wedding Stationery, take a little look >>>>>>>here<<<<<<<<

Yuletide Whispers

Since I have recently created a collection of new cards for the festive season I thought it would be nice to show the process of how I made them. I always love to see all the sketches and thoughts that go into making a finished product, and I think it is more and more important these days to appreciate the process in all you do and not just the end result.

I start by making endless scribbles and basic layouts, which turn into more worked up drawings to be scanned in...

I also decide on all my text. For my Christmas designs I decided to hand draw my lettering. I usually make this up as I go, with the overall look I want in mind. The font here is quite simple, with some fancy swirls and delicate lines.

When all the seperate elements of my designs are drawn and scanned in, I arrange the images and text using Photoshop. For these cards I fought my urge to paint and used a selection of textures I had to 'fill in' areas of colour. Some of these backgrounds I keep in a big folder on my computer include scanned in gold leaf, fabrics, brown paper...all sorts! I love experimenting with collage and resisting my use of painting forces me to be a little more creative and deliberate about colour.

Each design then needs to be arranged in the right format for the printers. This usually means Jasmine gets a headache! I struggle with pdf's and bleeds for a few hours and then...voila! All ready to send off :)

I use Printed.com for printing at the moment as I love the card choices they have. For me it has to be textured, watercolour style paper every-time in all that I print!
When they arrive, I fold and package them up with envelopes all ready to sell. I love little details, so I add star cut outs and confetti to my designs, so each one has been hand finished.

I hope you enjoyed that little insight into my process :) My cards are onsale here online and for those that live in Cornwall, at Inhabit in Truro.

'I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths & a great fear of shallow living' Anais Nin

Hello! I have been swimming about in the depths for many months and making lots of amazing discoveries whilst exploring! Now I am just about ready to come back up to the surface and say hi!

This painting is one of a few that will be printed, along with older work and listed on my Etsy shop within the next few weeks. I have had many printing issues over the summer and eventually decided it would be best to start fresh and treat myself to some new equipment that will achieve the kindof quality prints I am striving for!

Watch this space x

Shine!

Hello! I am sitting here beneath a beautiful sunset after a day of cloudless sky in Cornwall! My skin has that wonderful taught feeling of being in the sun all day...and it is so overdue for everyone down here..we all needed that today after all the rain we seem to have had this July.

This painting is a little taster of a new project I have started...just for me.
Since graduating from art college what seems like years and years ago, I have mainly juggled day jobs with commercial illustration jobs in the hope that I could one day illustrate full time. It has felt a very slow process and I am finally beginning to work out why I haven't quite 'made it'

Most of the work I complete I don't connect with on any level...it is just like painting by numbers...drawing whatever is required and filling in the gaps. I don't often find myself getting lost in my work anymore...when the hours and hours pass and you suddenly 'wake up' and realise the light has faded and you haven't had a cup of tea for over four hours...eeek!

I am trying to once again recapture that. I have conditioned myself into thinking if I work hard on commercial work for years and years perhaps one day, I can reward myself with sitting back and only painting what I feel like. But, looking back on the past few years...that obviously isn't happening quick enough and neglecting that part of myself has made me so unhappy.

Little by little I hope to devote more time to more personal work...and this is the start so I am excited!

On another note. My faithful and hardworking printer has finally had enough...therefore my Etsy shop has once again been put on the back burner before I even got time to properly start it! I usually print everything myself but I need to either find a local printer or buy another which isn't a priority as such at the moment.

Lula...

Just a quick note to anyone who may read Lula magazine. I started collecting issues years ago and due to moving soon (hopefully) I need to size down my huge collection of magazines and books. I am selling a few past issues on Ebay here (Issue 7) and (Issue 5)
Both are very difficult to track down now and very beautiful...I will miss them!