January : A Positive Quote

'If you can dream it, you can do it' - Walt Disney

You may of heard me talking on Twitter about a collaborative project with my friend Alex Stokes from You, Deer.  In fact I needed some help getting her attention, which you can read about here!  Well, we're now (well) into February and so far so good.  I have my January designs and my February one is taking shape - really happy with them so far.

For Christmas I was lucky enough to get some lovely handmade papers in all different sizes.  I'm using these for each design.  So January's screen print has only 4 of each design as thats all the sheets I had in that size!

I couldn't decide on which design to do so I did both.  I thought that January was a good month for the topic 'Quotes'.  It sort of links in with New Year resolutions but in perhaps a more supportive way.  The ink is a very dark creamy purple in colour.

Both designs are available to buy in my shop and Alex's will soon be up in hers too.  This collaborative project will be running for 12 months, so that's 12 prints I'll be illustrating and printing.  Every month there will be a chance to win one of them through various social media so sign up for updates or keep your eyes peeled!

These first prints can be found in my Etsy shop now and are just £5.00.  They measure 8.5" x 6" and will look great framed or unframed as the paper is a textured thick stock with it's natural edges.  The paper did jump around a little so your print may not be central on the page - it's all in the fun of screen printing!  Each print will come signed and dated by me and cellophane wrapped, posted with a hard back envelope for protection in the post.  Postage costs £1.50 in the UK £2.50 everywhere else.

Be sure to check out Alex's blog to see her design and you'll be able to get them in her Etsy shop if you'd like to buy one of hers.

Product Photography

Around September last year I started asking what you were thinking of my product photography in my Etsy shop.  That was just the beginning of my thoughts on developing ideas I had on the matter.  I knew that my photos weren't right, but wasn't 100% sure on what I wanted or how to make them right.

Well thank you for your patience!  I'm finally getting there :-D If you were to take a look around my little Etsy shop now, you'll see a more collective look throughout the shop and items.  I'm so chuffed!

I wasn't alone with this awesome step in the right direction.  I had help and tips from numerous lovely fellow illustrators, followers on Twitter and indeed here on the blog!  But also, from a few photographers.  I am lucky enough to have family and friends that can help me with tips for lighting and sets, layout etc.

 

One of these is Sam Revel.  I think we have genuinely met (via Twitter) through our love of Seasons Cafe Deli!  Sam has very kindly had a play with taking some photos of my 'Down Your street' screen printed books of Amsterdam and Old Amersham.  They are just gorgeous and I'm so happy with how he's really made the colours 'pop' on the prints.

You can follow Sam on Twitter @yoursamrevel and keep track of what he's been doing on his blog samrevel.blogspot.co.uk

The other is Tom Wright.  Tom is never without a camera, which is great as I have come out of every time I see him with photos of myself looking relaxed and happy that I am proud to use as my avatar for social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Blogger and even in my Etsy shop!

Tom is on Twitter @Un_Frame and online on his blog and his website imagesbytomw.com where you can find examples of his lovely photography.


The key points that I have learnt are:

• If you can, take photos outside or at least near a window.

• Try to use a background that you can photograph everything in front of.  Keep it constant, this in turn makes all of your products look like they belong with each other.

• Make sure that you do have plenty of natural light - it's not so good if it's getting dark or really cloudy.

• Get everything ready before you start taking photos.  I got my props ready and all of the items lined up.  I also worked on about 5 products at a time that were perhaps quite similar.  This way it's not a massive task all at once.

How are you with photography?

A winning commission

A few months ago I did a big giveaway on here - thank you again to all who entered, you can read about the runner's up here.  Jodi of 'Art by Wiley' won the big prize of a custom illustration - YAY!

We started off with Jodi letting me know that she wanted the illustration to be of her house in Melbourne, Australia and was kind enough to take photos for me from all angles (having to take these myself would of been a bit pricey!).  I got going with my sketchy rough draft, following a few pointers from Jodi of key pieces that should be included.  I then got way-laid with commissions to do which you can see here and here - Jodi, you were so understanding, thank you!  And finally, I got on with painting and sharing my progress with Jodi.  This was one of the best kind of commissions that I get.  I absolutely love it when people want me to do a piece for them, they let me know what they would like it of, but other than that they are happy to see me interpret it as I like.

The Wiley's have 3 lovely chickens too which got pride of place in their garden.  This illustration arrived safely in Melbourne and is now happy in it's new home!

Onwards and Upwards with Untapped Cities in 2013

September 2012 marked my start at illustrating every two weeks for Untapped Cities.  And so far so good!  I'm really enjoying illustrating buildings that I've been happy to come across and it's also helping me push myself.  Having 2 deadlines a month really helps get stuff done and I'm enjoying seeing my illustrated building collection get to a nice size.

If you're interested then all illustrations are available to buy as prints, cushions, cards, canvases, phone cases/skins etc in the Untapped Cities 'Society6' shop, here.  AND you can now buy A5 prints of a selection of the illustrated buildings in my 'Etsy' shop, here.  Can't see what you're after?  Just get in touch, I'll be happy to help.

You can follow my progress with my illustrated buildings via my 'down your street' blog here.  It's where I keep all of my illustrated buildings so you'll also find illustrations for '30 Days of Creativity' as well as those I've done for 'The Sketchbook Projects 2011, 2012 & Limited Edition'.