Wednesday 26 February 2014

'We'll always have Paris.'

Next month I'm taking a trip to Paris. I'm really looking forward to 6 days in the city soaking up the inspiration and filling a sketchbook with some new work. I'm planning to go to the usual tourist attractions, The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Montmartre etc and hopefully take a river cruise down the Seine and see a show at the Moulin Rouge. There's also La Roseraie de l'Hay-les-Roses a rose garden that houses over 3000 species in 3 miles of flower beds that I would love to see.


In preparation of the trip I've been researching other artists sketchbook work. I found a really great book 'Paris Sketchbook,' by Jason Brooks (renowned fashion illustrator) that documents his fascination of the city in this 'part guidebook, part illustrated journal.' It's really interesting to observe his sketchbook practice in relation to his commercial work. Below are some extracts from the book that are particularly inspiring…


I love the playfulness of The Eiffel Tower made up of different typefaces, the shape is so iconic that less is more in this depiction. The postcard collection is so aesthetically pleasing, I love collections and it would be fun to start my own collection of something whilst on my trip.


I like how the book is split up into various sections: architecture, the street, le cafe, fashion, shopping, art, a to b and la nuit. It helps give a balanced view of the whole city but it would also be fun to focus on just one study of something. I'm excited by the idea of going into a Parisian cafe and ordering a table of French desserts and spending the day drawing them, eating them and sipping on coffee :) A few other things I love in the book were the little silver foil cut-outs of iconic landmarks of Paris. It's good to look at basic structures and have fun experimenting with different approaches, I'm going to try to incorporate this into my drawing. I also loved the inserts of translucent tracing paper type dividers with inked quotes - love this idea, the ink drawings on coloured pages with simple blocks of white, the collections and groups of objects - doorways, lampposts and the small quick studies of the people of Paris. So inspiring!  

Monday 24 February 2014

The Artworks new 'Thank You' mailer


This year The Artworks decided to create a special mailer to thank their clients, existing and future for thinking of their artists for so many lovely projects. I popped in to see them on Friday and got my very own pack - a gorgeously designed package that opens out displaying 6 thank you cards each illustrated by a different artist. I thought it was a great idea beautifully executed and I'm so chuffed to be part of their team. There's lots of exciting things happening at The Artworks this year so stay tuned and if you are a commissioner of illustration and haven't received a pack head over to their website to request one - you don't want to miss out!

Friday 14 February 2014

What's on my bedside table?


Here's what's currently on my bedside table... Perfume, a comb, hair slides, hand cream, fresh flowers, my phone, mirror, a teacup containing a bird necklace and night serum.

Monday 3 February 2014

Waitrose Kitchen February 14.'


I'm really enjoying working on this lovely commission for Waitrose Kitchen 'Feel-good food.' This month it's all about mushrooms, turnips, fennel, mussels and kalamata olives! I made the Italian baked aubergine whilst working on this and it was delicious!