2013 // Dot-to-Dot Gallery

So it is a brand new year, and a new start... 2013 - I feel like I'm in a sci-fi film!

It has been a few months now since I returned from my 3 year traveling adventure, it's been much harder than I expected re-adjusting to the 'real world' but I'm gradually getting my head around it! I'm really enjoying the chance to focus on my art and start elaborating more on all the ideas and themes that have been developing over the last couple of years on the road.

In other news, I'm very excited to be the 'January Artist' at Dot-to-Dot Gallery in Letchworth, there's lots planned including an interactive live wall, or 'living evolving mural,' workshops for kids and adults and a chance to get my paints out in a wonderful studio space, have creative fun and drink yummy coffee!

It's also a really cool project, the gallery is being run as a fundraiser for Rhapsode, an organization that looks to create ways of connecting artists with the public through festivals, workshops, schools etc - making art more accessible to everyone and spreading and inspiring creativity. It's right up my street :)

The Owl Who Swallowed the Universe

Foxes in the Rain

Foxes in the Rain // New Print available on Etsy

Indian Elephant - Cox & Kings

Well after hours and hours and hours of drawing, my piece for the Cox & Kings "Inspiring India" Challenge is finally finished. I decided to use the silhouette of a very beautiful Indian animal; the Indian Elephant, and then I incorporated images into that of things that I saw and remember from my 6 months of traveling around India, from the top to the bottom and back around and around.. My hand and my trusty black pen are both happy to have a well-deserved rest!

I was so inspired by my time there, and have been traveling a lot since then so this has been the first time I've had the chance to really start making some artwork specifically drawn from my travels in India, it's been great! Plus I also got to look through all my two thousand or so photos that I took there :)

So the drawing will be on show TONIGHT at The Royal Geographical Society, as part of a special "India" themed evening hosted by Cox & Kings - a luxury travel company specializing in luxury holidays and escorted tours to amazing places like India! There's going to be a talk by Mark Tully and lots of things to see, so it should be a fun evening x

Rumpus

Some little birdies told me there's a really good party this Friday - see you there!

Onward Ho!

I'm working on a new website, sifting through mountains of stuff and dreaming of becoming a bicycle gypsy! Sadly my bike got stolen by some very clever people last friday so that's on hold for now, anyway here's a little peek of one of my new paintings :)

'I do' said the elephant to the kangaroo

These are some of the animals I drew for two dear friends wedding, they wanted a different animal for each table!

Rain

It's been a rainy week in Melbourne!

Imaginary Town

SUN-day

I am having a lovely chilled sunday in Melbourne, I've been here for a week now and just LOVE this city! So many amazing creative people, very relaxed, easy going and friendly, and so much cool stuff going on- I think I could stay forever!

Carnival!

We had a carnivalesque fancy-dress party a couple of weekends ago here. I was so amazed at the creativity and thought that everyone put into their costumes, and people really got into the idea of carnival as an escape from reality and a chance to express other facets of your personalities! it was good fun :)

Birds!

Patterns and birds, two of my favorite things to draw at the moment..

Easter Vibrations

Hey Folks, Happy Sunday and I hope you've been enjoying all the recent festivities and are having fun wherever you are..
I have managed to get completely stuck near a little town called Denmark in Western Australia, and at the moment I'm not sure if i'm going to make it anywhere else ever! I love it so much,. One of the highlights of our time here so far was the Easter weekend which included cupcakes, live music and a great little arts festival, good friends, great food, bbqs, beach time, toasty indoor fires at night, cosy time and unbelievable views of the clouds, stars and sea up at Bazza's hilltop hideaway as well as an easter egg, easter bunny and two chocolate wombats..! So all in all it was pretty good. These are a couple of easter doodles that i did during :)

Read more about Denmark arts stuff and all the cool stuff thats going on here if you fancy

Parts of Process

Hey, This is an illustration I did a few months ago- and I thought some of you might be interested to see a little bit of the process behind my work. I very rarely draw with a pencil first because I like the permanence and spontaneity of ink and the fact that 'mistakes' have to be accepted and incorporated into the drawing somehow. This also means that I'm never quite sure how a drawing will turn out until it's finished! I love the process of drawing, making marks on paper and just letting the image evolve until it feels like it's finished. Most of my work at the moment is inspired by nature, especially plants and animals, and I'm constantly amazed by all the patterns and beautiful intricate details that can be found everywhere around us..

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Maybe we will meet again in another life..

...when we are both cats!
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Cats with Beards

Here's a few sunday sketchbook doodles, EnjOy

Space Invaders

:-)

Twelve Birds