Onwards and Upwards

I love seeing customer photos - this one is shared by the lovely Tatts Treasures

Happy New Year!

We're nearly at February, 2016 really crept up on me!  I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and spending time with loved ones, however you celebrate.  I was at home with my parents and sisters for the most part and enjoyed time to crack on with some new Bookshop illustrations - hurrah!  Here are some pictures from during my illustration and painting process.  I've completed 3 new bookshops so far with more on the way once I've finished my January commissions.

If you'd like to see the finished ones then check out my Instagram feed @charlsvallance

Dancing

Dancing

This is a commission that is actually my first illustration where the people are the subject of the piece.  Sometimes people creep into my city scenes, but very often, not.  I haven't been very confident at illustrating people as there is so much to get right, proportions and such.  HOWEVER.  I worked on a Dog portrait in December, which you can read here, and it wasn't as difficult as I had worked it up to be.  That being said, I was still daunted by the thought of doing this illustration.

The brief I was given was quite open, there were a range of photos to choose from, they wanted more movement than detail, and to be able to recognise the dancers for who they actually are.  Now, the likeness of the male's face is not like for like to his real counterpart, but the couple dancing is definitely the couple it is of....If that makes sense?  The dress is the lady's favourite, the man always wears a black suit, and they dance around the dance floor with a lot of energy and poise.

Both were extremely happy with the illustration, which makes me one very Illustrator indeed!

Garden Illustration

Over the course of the summer I've taken on a few commissions to do Illustrations of gardens.  Maybe you know someone who is very proud of their garden, fond of it, enjoys spending a lot of time there?  Or maybe you threw a great party and want to thank everyone for making it a special day!  These lovely gardens are a few that I have had the pleasure of illustrating.  They have made it onto gift sets of greeting cards as well as being gifted as framed illustrations.

I can work from photographs and visit the garden in question personally (I've been known to travel quite a distance for a good illustration opportunity).  However, if it's a secret, i will work from snap shots that you can provide on the garden's behalf.  These gardens obviously show off their summer colours, this doesn't limit your garden at all, what ever may be your preferred season - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter - I will illustrate it at it's best.

It's quite nice to have an original illustration + a set of greeting cards of the garden, go hand in hand together.  But if you're just interested in just one or the other, then thats fine too!

Please contact me on charlotte_vallance@hotmail.com 

I'll happily answer any questions you may have.  And if you know the general size of illustration you would like, and maybe have an image of the garden (so I can see how much there is going on that I'll have to work with), I can give you a quote.

Thank you x

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home
4 x 6 canvas painting
Watercolour, acrylic and fine liner.

Canvas initially created as a 'New Home' present.  Can be personalised with address on the attached tag.