tsk tsk

Mother's Nest

A new limited edition print now available in the shop. I have printed it onto archival watercolour paper 185gsm.

pattern making mode

I've been walking on a different treadmill of late. I've had many things to think about and do. Project deadlines are looming, my trip needs to be organised, jobs for clients pushed along the pipeline, and Easter falls right in the middle of it all. We don't have any major plans this year. I say that like we do other years...but we don't. We'll stay here and just hang out. I've also been in pattern making mode again, thinking, creating, putting out ideas. Here are some I did tonight. I'm thinking when I come back to start selling some of my pattern designs as prints. Mmmmmm, just another idea floating in my head.

If anyone is living in Europe (near France) can you tell me if it going to warm up a little??? I've been rummaging around in the wardrobes pulling out my winter stock and giving it a good air. It is so hard to pack light when everything is thick and bulky!

love birds

for a non-blogging friend and her soon to be husband. I have just taken it to the framers and can't wait to see the results. I'm unable to make it to the wedding, and I'm sure she is too busy to even know I have a blog so I feel safe that I'm posting this. I have been caught out before however....there are many lurkers out there!!!

just sitting

Sometimes I draw and really wish I knew what to do with the final pieces.

Then sometimes I know what I want to do, but never really seem to get it all happening.

All the usual suspects like time, commitments etc get in the way.  Ideas and illustrations often get lost in my computer system, in the back of my head, within the piles of paper on my desk or in an archive within a post on my blog.

It is a process I am familiar with, yet one that I am never really happy about. I'm torn between the functional/practical side of graphics and the purely aesthetic side of art.

When I am like this, I often revisit old themes, hoping that new directions will emerge and my creative uncertainty will be satisfied.

Sneak Peak

I'll be updating my shop soon. I've had the entire day to myself, the first in weeks.  The day has been spent in my studio, spitting out ideas and organising future projects.  Here's a sneak peak.

swippity swap

i have been swapping with a few people of late and have still yet to complete one..OK, I mean start one.

So I will be posting about the gifts I am receiving and sending when I can. The first swap was with Melly and Rosie from Melly and Me. I should get my gift early next week, but they already have theirs.

Advent Day 7

noodle rides in the pool whilst listening to some Christmas music.

humbug

today I had my hair chopped off; scored a really great carpark before completing some more Christmas shopping; finished some work; spoke to some clients about scheduling in their work; reviewed my new website (still under construction) and amongst many other everyday issues ate a red and green humbug from the advent calendar for entree tonight! why not! here is some more art popping out of my head. I've decided to make postcards this year for my own Christmas cards and have been really inspired to work more with paper and ink...well this week anyway.

bubble bath and faires

So I missed yesterday's post. I didn't get the time, but I'm posting in the morning now and I know that somewhere in the world it is still the 4th. Yesterday, the advent pockets held a, green, glittery bubble bath star and today because I am in need of much rest and work catch up the kids will receive a note telling them they can watch a Christmas movie. i suspect that Miss M is coming down sick now too so a quiet day is in order.

Below I have some illustrations that I made for a competition. I didn't win, but was pleased that I forced my self to illustrate something for a commercial output, because I haven't done this in months. Christmas faires was the theme, just in case you were wondering. Here are Finn, Fritz, Freya and Frith.

chocolate coins can wait

True to my word, i'm posting everyday this month. Well it is only the 3rd day. Lets see how things go tomorrow. Today's advent offered a small chocolate coin. Miss M gobbled it down in an instant. Mr A's is still sitting on the bench. He woke with a fever and just couldn't even manage breakfast or lunch today.

In a nutshell, there is more sickness in the house, more visits to the doctor, more work that is piling on my desk, more ideas tapping in my head and more muscles aching in my body after I decided to start jogging with the babysitter. Here is some recent work going to Cherry Blossom, here in Brisbane. Yes, I have started selling locally. Something I wasn't going to pursue until next year when I had more time, but as it turned out, sometimes these things just happen when they are supposed to.

girls in art

A little while ago, I was mentioned on the Decor8 website (scroll down to about half way to see if you want to) and now thanks to Holly from Decor8, I'm in Domino mag. This month the slideshow is about femme fatales in artwork and my CarmenM print is apart of a selection of some really beautiful pieces. thanks Holly.