Repeat Patterns

Pattern design is something I have always been interested in, (I actually made repeat patterns for my final major project in my Art Foundation) and have been meaning to make more but never seem to find the time when concentrating on picture books.

Anyway, like everyone, I’ve had some time recently to reflect on what I want to do more of and making patterns was one of them. I have made a little tutorial on how to get started and although I did mess up a bit (which I will explain), it’s actually really simple!

First, I decided what I wanted to draw. I had picked these Forget Me Nots the day before and I love the colour and tiny delicacy of them, so decided to go with that.

First, draw out a square and fill it with your design but be careful to not touch the edges.

I then picked out some colours and mixed them until I was happy.

Next, paint your pattern. You could also just draw the lines here and then colour digitally.

Then measure exactly halfway and cut your image into quarters. This is obviously a lot easier when working digitally (and part of the issue I ran into later) so if you are more comfortable working digitally, do it!

I had to re-scan mine and cut it digitally as my first attempt didn’t quite repeat properly, but got there in the end.

Draw a larger square on another piece of paper. You then take each quarter and move it to the opposite diagonal of the larger square. (Bottom- left to top- right, top- left to bottom- right etc.) Then fill in the middle space with more pattern, still being careful not to touch any edges.

Then scan it all in, clean it up and you have you’re repeat tile!

The obvious problem I had here was that I was using a thick paper stock (Saunders Waterford smooth paper), which I love to paint on but then when scanning, my squares had very obvious outlines. If you were working just in pen or pencil on a thinner paper, this wouldn’t be such a problem. Anyway, I cleaned it up in photoshop and ended up with…

My repeat tile!

I then tested it to check that it repeated (which thankfully it did) and played around with colour.

And here it is repeated.

I hope that was helpful and inspired you to go out and make your own patterns!

Feel free to comment or message me with any questions you may have and I hope everyone is doing ok and staying safe.

Little paper-cut sets.

I'm not the best at keeping up with this blog, (in fact i had considered getting rid of it altogether as using Instagram is so much easier when posting work), but then I realised that I love looking at other artists blogs and really appreciate the effort that goes into it, (see Rebecca Green's My Blank Paper and Keri Smith for maximum effort and reading pleasure!) 

So I have decided to continue (however infrequently!) with sharing my work on this platform which is a little more laboured and hopefully more insightful!

This was some work I created after I had  a particularly bad case of writers/ illustrators block...

After a recent, really big commission, I had been experiencing a bit of a dry spell with the amount of work I was getting, (usually this is the time in which I try to work on my own personal picture book projects) but there's nothing like getting no work to make you feel like shit and not want to do any!

I am currently writing two new books, (with lot's of other story ideas buzzing around in my head) and basically was finding it impossible to get anywhere with any of it.

Then one morning I woke up excited with a completely new idea that I can honestly say, didn't seem to come from anywhere. I just woke up and it was in my head?! (This never happens, and the significance of this for me, was that it was almost my brain saying "Come on, do something!")

I decided to make little paper cut outs and build a small set. Also, at the time it was national bookshop week, so the project also suddenly had a theme.

The strangest thing was that before, I had felt unable to draw or create anything, everything looked terrible and I was completely uninspired but as soon as I set about sketching out the little bookshop and characters, I was strangely galvanised by the fact that they were going to end up '3D' and it seemed like the most exciting thing I had done in months.

I just love how a simple change in medium can re-ignite that creative spark and create excitement for working again, so if you're stuck, give yourself a break and then try something completely (or even just a little bit new), and see where it takes you!

I'm going to make lot's of these little sets when I have time and it's nice to know that they're there for when I'm having a creative lull.

Also see this particular post from Rebecca Green about her own struggle with creative 'burnout' and listen to Creative Pep Talk from Andy J Pizza, as it is a bloody great creative podcast.

Happy Friday everyone!

Les aventures d'un doudou a travers le monde.

Earlier in the year I had the pleasure of illustrating a wonderful book by Lenia Major, published by Albums Circonflexe, about a little bear called Caramel who, through getting lost a number of times, travels the world!

I really loved the story, especially because when I was young, I had lost my own childhood toy on an airplane and always hoped he had been found by someone who would look after him! I was also really excited to illustrate a picture book in another language.

I started with a rough sketch of Julie, Caramel's original owner, with her bear in tow.

Then, after all of my roughs were approved, started on the final paintings. I worked mostly by hand, cleaning things up and editing on photoshop afterwards.

Original painting of Caramel and Yumi in the Nagasaki gardens.

My studio wall a good way through the project...

More paintings on the wall..

And finally, a little peak inside the book!

You can order the book here 

Snip Snap Croc

Last year I worked on a picture book with Quarto Kids and it is finally out in the world! Already published, they wanted to re- release the title with new illustrations, so asked if I was available. It was a pretty short turn around but I really enjoyed working with the lovely text and drawing all the animal characters who live on the banks of the river Nile. Here are a few images from within the book!

Etsy and other things...

First things first... I have just re- stocked my Etsy, in time for Christmas with a few A3 Giclee prints, you can have a look here.

This month, I have been mainly writing and storyboarding some new ideas, which has been challenging and refreshing in equal measure!

I was also sent this little package from The National Trust, for whom I designed some Victorian servant characters for their Llanerchaeron servant's trail earlier this year. Really nice to see how they put the illustrations together to form this educational wheel.

And this is the poster that I designed for Bristol Old Vic for their Christmas production of 'Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain'! You can buy tickets here.

In other news, we rescued a Portugese pup who goes by the name of Marge, she likes to help me work...

National Trust

Some Victorian Servant characters I worked on a while ago for the National Trust. These are my favourites, the rest are up on my website!

Nature and Health

New piece I did for Nature and Health magazine for an article about gut health.

Samples

Currently working on a few projects that I can't yet show but here are a few samples I did for a potential young fiction series for Usbourne. Unfortunately the project didn't go ahead but I was happy with these little rabbits!

The Old Vic

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to be part of a lovely project for The Bristol Old Vic, designing the poster for their kid's Christmas production, 'Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain'.

I first sent a few different sketches of ideas I had...

and in the end, they settled on this one...

I then made a couple of changes that had been suggested, including making the text clearer, and coloured the final!

You can pre book your tickets here if you know any little ones that would enjoy a brilliant sea adventure!

New Things

Here are some new cards I have been working on for James Ellis. I often forget to post them here because I churn them out quite regularly. We are also working on a new range which should be finished in the late spring so watch this space!

Here are a couple in the flesh, or should I say in the glitter....

Also, at my last meeting with James Ellis I managed to take home these beautiful new cards from Ekaterina Trukhan, check out her work, it is really gorgeous.

The Greenbank

I have been busy for the past couple of weeks preparing for a little solo exhibition at The Greenbank in Bristol and am very nearly ready! Here are some progress pictures and sketches. The exhibition will be hung on the 1st February and stay up for the month, so if you live in Bristol, go check it out! They do pretty good pizzas too...

Safe Sex

Another illustration for Nature and Health magazine, this time for an article about safe sex and some progress shots taken from my Instagram.

Headway Exhibition

Here is the piece I created for the Headway exhibition in Bristol. With the sales of the work, the charity managed to raise over £5000 for the brain injury charity!

Magnus Book Launch

Only a few days to go before 'Magnus' is launched at the 'Playfull Toyshop' on Gloucester Rd, Bristol. The launch is on Saturday the 17th October, from 11 am until 4 pm and as well as signing books, I will be colouring in with any little (or big!) ones who would like to join in!

At Last...

After a long summer of all work and no play, I am finally going on holiday! Today has been a manic whirlwind of trying to get everything finished or up- to- date (and it's not over yet!) but just thought I would do a little post before I leave.

This morning I was cutting paper raindrops for my 'Magnus' book launch that will be happening in Bristol at the Playful bookshop on Gloucester Rd.

And these are some close ups of a piece I was working on yesterday for a charity exhibition for Headway which will be in October.

However, until then, I will be lying on a beach, looking at a computer as little as I possibly can!

Happiness

Another '21 ways' article for Nature and Health magazine, this time about finding happiness.

Crumbs magazine

Earlier this month I illustrated a map for the Devon Crumbs magazine, showing lot's of delicious places to eat in North Devon. I really enjoyed drawing all the little icons and it definitely made me want to take a trip down there and see for myself!

The Bristol Magazine

The Bristol Magazine have featured me over on their website, click here to have a look!

And a little picture of my new studio.

Breathe Easy

An illustration I did for another '21 ways' article for Nature and Health magazine, about how to breathe easier.

If you don't live in Australia (where the magazine is published) click here to read!

Thanks to Stephanie Blandin de Chalain (AD) always a pleasure to work with!

Happy Weekend!

It's the weekend, it's sunny and I am off to enjoy it!

Here is an image from a new book project that I'm working on. The story isn't quite finished but I'm slowly getting there...