A Little Update!

WOW, If you have read my previous post you will know I produced some more of my tote bags to sell at the new Folio shop. The shop has only been open for a short while but I have had an email saying they are selling fast and need to produce more. I really wasn't expecting such a positive response but I suppose with Christmas around the corner, they would make a lovely little present for someone.

So exciting! So hopefully tomorrow I will get some more done and dispatched out!

The Shop is open, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10-3.30pm so everyone go have a peek!

Talking About Surface Design @ East Riding College

Last month I took my portfolio and some sketchbooks into East Riding College to discuss Surface Design and life at CCAD. I do get nervous talking about my work, especially to a group of people I don't know but it was a great experience and has made me more confident.

I went into the college on three occasions, and showed my work to some textiles classes and a graphics class.

Whilst discussing surface design I talked about the course at CCAD, the trade shows I have been able to visit, competitions and also talked about the importance of copyright within producing designs. It was quite hard to explain the process of producing a design in repeat to people, who don't know how to do it but with practice it becomes clearer and easier to explain.

Everyone seemed engaged, it was great to share techniques and methods and also getting feedback on my work.

Guido Daniele- Fantastic Work!

The website www.lostateminor.com has introduced me to the work of Guido Daniele. I was so amazed by such detail in his work. Born in Italy, he graduated from the Brera School of Arts with a Major in Sculpting. Through the 70's and 80's he explored his love of painting in advertisements, tv commercials and programs.

During my Final Major Project of my degree I researched into the art of Trompe L'oeil. Guido Daniele uses the hands and body to as a blank canvas to create these beautiful detailed paintings. I love how the natural shadows of the hands/body add to create depth.

For more information about his work check out the links below :

http://www.guidodaniele.com

http://www.lostateminor.com/2009/04/01/guido-danieles-amazing-hand-painted-animals

Back to Drawing and I love it!

Found and empty sketchbook! Great place to start drawing again....

Really wanted to get back into drawing and designing and found a book on the wildlife of the Everglades. I love drawing natural forms and especially love drawing birds. I began by adding abit of dye to one of the pages and cracked on drawing.

I love my drawing of the stag, I thought it would take a while to get back into drawing but I'm very happy by this first sketch. I hope to apply some of my successful imagery to some more tote bag designs. I think this stag is very fitting with christmas just around the corner!

I'll keep you posted with how my drawings come along.

Folio- Cleveland College of Art and Designs New Shop....

And my cute Tote Bags...

Having got an email about the shop wanting items to sell, I thought I would get my inks and screens out and produce some more of my birdie tote bags. I have also included a new design with a larger bird on, available in metallic tones.

The shop is located at the Hartlepool campus. It will be open to the public, so it's worth going for a nosey to see everyones pretty things :) Opens 16th November!!!

For more information and to see more images of the beautiful things for sale please click on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.231015940296449.60228.115686861829358&type=1

Tigerprint Fun Pet Photography Competition.

Tigerprint are holding a pet photography competition so I thought I would enter this photo of Boo. It's really hard to get a picture of hamsters as they don't stay still and don't have many facial expressions. This is the best shot I could get of her standing still. Some of the other entries are good of peoples dogs and cats, they are very funny. You can see this picture of Boo and the other pets on the link below :)

http://tigerprint.typepad.com/photos/fun_pet_/boothehamster.html

Autumn Leaves Falling off the Trees.

Brrrrrrrr it's absolutely freezing outside! I do have to admit though- I love the frosty mornings they are refreshing when you have to walk to work. The nights are dark now at 5 in the afternoon so I've got my candles out to make things snug. However, I got used to it being dark early in Africa as they don't have the variation like we do in the summer, it's the same all year round.

At the moment we are doing up a house which hasn't been lived in properly for the past 10 years and managed to get one bedroom completed. The rooms style is monochrome, with a base wall in blackboard paint which is fun. I have injected colour with bright and bold accessories.