It's been a while...

But I have by no means been idle. I'm enjoying this unexpected early summer the UK has been blessed with, as well as attending some job interviews, which needless to say is exciting and galvanising. I have also become much more involved with Haze Productions, they are a ragtag theatre company I did some voluntary design work for. I also ended up getting roped into the production, playing the murderous scullery maid, of all things. Anyway, we were all stunned and pleased when we raised over £2000 for the CF trust. So now we're decided to take things a bit more seriously and become a proper company. Exciting times. I'm designing their new poster for the next production. This is the 3rd or 4th poster I've done and I love doing them. I drew inspiration from the Carry On film posters, as this play is a farce with plenty of bottom pinching, nudge nudge wink wink etc. Hopefully I can get back into the Illustration Friday briefs again soon now my life is slightly more settled.

This is the unfinished poster.

Competition piece

This is a spread I have submitted to a London magazine, as part of their illustration competition. The spread is about making use of green space and greenery in cities. I'm personally pleased with it- hopefully they will like it too. I've always liked squares and pictures that bring together several elements.

The deadly swarm

Okay, I don't want anyone to think I'm in the habit of spewing negativity onto my blog. Call this a cleansing exercise rather than a cry for help. When I saw the word 'swarm' for this week's Illustration Friday brief, nothing really came to mind despite my best efforts, and I thought I might give this week a miss. Until this morning, when this idea crept into my mind...

With all that's going on in the economy at the moment, I won't deny that sometimes the negative demons come thick and fast, after I haven't had interest after my latest promotion drive, or after I've heard nothing about the billionth job application I've sent off. I hope I'm not alone here, being a freelancer can be a lonely and daunting experience, and if we're not careful, we can all be victims of "the swarm". So, here is me, beset by the swarm of nasty thoughts. Perhaps someone can draw me a suitable weapon to beat them back?

This is rushed and purely done for fun rather the portfolio. Better than nothing though. Enjoy!

Workspace

I'll be moving out of my rented garret soon, and I'll be sad to go. So I decided to immortalise my workspace in this photograph. Interiors fascinate me, in fact a lot of my scrap-booking includes fantastic interiors that have caught my eye. Especially if they offer a glimpse into one's life. So, here you are, here is glimpse of me. It's not much, but it's mine. In the corner you can just see the orange blob in a tank, that's Charlie, my faithful goldfish who swims to the bedside to say good morning every day. He's coming up to 18 this year, an impressive age, and I'm currently working on a comic about he and I, purely for fun. Maybe I'll put it on here one day.

Illustration Friday. Layers... of custard.

This is my I.F piece on the theme "Layer"

I did think about sensible things like geological cross-sections of the earths crust... but then thought of trifle. I don't even like trifle (soggy cake, wrong) but they are pretty to look at. Do take a look at my elephants below as well, they are a slightly different approach for me.

And now for something completely different...

Some wrapping paper I did today. Quite different to my normal style, well, if I'm honest, this is what my doodles usually look like when I'm messing about with a pencil. For once I decided they would survive the digital process. I was talking with my friend Imogen Hudson yesterday- she designs beautiful greetings cards as well as other things. Have a look at her shop where a lot of her beautiful things can be found for sale.

Canterbury Tales

This was a brief set by the illustration collaborative I am a part of, Roartalent. An illustration for The Canterbury Tales. The wife of Bath captures my imagination, such a free, tenacious character. Here is my cover. With much more time I could have done swathes more for this, after all, you don't get much richer subject matter than The Tales.