Recent work - Movember

I recently created a character for the creaturemag competition – Movember.

I really enjoyed this is it was a completely free brief. Lately I feel that my illustration work has been all about trying to tick boxes and pushing my style in many directions in the hope of securing an agent. Whilst doing this though, the ideas that have always made my work quirky and unique have got lost.

So with this in mind when creating this creature I decided to put no pressure on myself to achieve anything in particular. I also just went with my very first idea without pushing myself to keep trying different ideas and designs.

So that is how “Movius the Mayor of Movember” came about. The name of this piece was partly suggested by my fiancé Simon. The trumper birds (should have been trumpet birds but I left this funny spelling error in) are there to transport his fine moustache and also to announce his arrival. I had this idea in mind due to a previous illustration about a girl whose hair is so long that it must be flown along with her by a pet bird.

I just love how random this is. It’s by no means my most successful illustration but it was pure FUN! This is also the first full computer illustration I have drawn and the first computer shadow I have ever created so it was also a learning exercise.

I think this was a brilliant brief from creaturemag and I am really looking forward to seeing the work that others have created when the competition is judged. My only regret is that it occurred to me that it would have been nice to sell this character as a print and donate the proceeds to the Movember fund. There just wasn’t time though in the end. This is definitely worth considering for next year. I might contact creaturemag and see what they think.

I hope you enjoy the illo – let me know!

Loz x

Illustration Friday: Hibernate

Wow! I have to say I am really pleased with this. I've been suffering artist's block for a month or two and finally felt inspired by this ifri topic. I didn't feel under pressure to think out of the box for a change and just wanted to create something beautiful.

I have also been afraid of watercolour for years and have never really managed to use it properly. However a little video (link to follow) by the amazing childrens book illustrator Alicia Padron spurred me on.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Lauren

"Gesture"

An illustration for the Illustration Friday topic: gesture.

Illustration Friday: Stay

 My illustration for this week's Illustration Friday topic: "Stay".

Lovely Fabric Design and things to buy.

See my Envelop shop for fabric items you can buy!

I've always wanted to create fabric designs and now thanks to the internet, again I can. Envelop allows artists to upload their designs for use on articles they sell. When a customer orders the item they print it, make it and send it and then you get a share of the sale price. This is perfect for me as whilst I have time to design when I get in from work I'm a little too busy and tired to produce items and run a shop as well.

I really hope people like my designs and buy something. I'll be adding more colour-ways of this design shortly which will also be available to buy as cushions. Watch this space as over the next few weeks I'll be adding different designs to printed on table runners and cushions etc.

New year, more productive blogging!

Hello blog, you will not be my nemesis.

I had a lovely evening tonight with my SCBWI friends. Whilst we only have three regular members I'm really feeling a good vibe and tonight we gained focus, yes focus. I now have my goals set for our next meeting.

As for the blogging, I would like to share with you a book I am reading at the moment- "The Book of Lost Things" by John Connoly. This is actually probably the 5th/6th time I have read it and my god I can just lose myself in it. The story is full of alternative fairy tales and twists of fate. It's a cross-over teen fictiony thingy where all the most exciting tales live.

Please read this and I hope you enjoy it.

Goodnight :o)