Pretty as a Picture

February was a busy month given that I decided to re-introduce my favourite theme: portraiture. I always loved drawing, and portraiture always provided an additional challenge. I have only ever done a handful of colour portraits (mostly in oil), so I just stayed with monochrome on these 'practice' ones. I was happy with the outcome, and found that all the illustration work has definitely helped 'de-rust' my drawing skills. It must be six years since I did a portrait, and still find it very satisfying. The challenge always is not only to get a likeness, but to really bring the subject to 'life'. I've tried a few alternate views with my own kids - photographing them unknowingly, in an effort to get a more natural pose.


My Friday Group is going very well. We've mostly gone back to basics, and stuck to still-life, concentrating on composition, drawing skills using negative spacing, and  complimentary colour. I'm really enjoying it and it's amazing what you learn from their differing styles. It's also a time I get to set aside purely for art, and nothing else. Time is still a resource I don't have enough of!

A space of my own

Here we are almost two weeks into the New Year and already the projects are stock-piling! On a positive note, I have acquired a truly wonderful studio space. 'Claimed' may be a better term for the acquisition, as it was previously used as a dumping ground/storage space, but I staked my claim, and my fabulous husband made it happen over the Christmas holidays. It's bright and spacious and my first adult art class commences next friday. I have two willing guinea-pigs on which I get to try out my teaching skills...so we'll see how we fair. Classes aside, I have plenty of projects of my own that will ensure my studio gets well used, and my two girls have already staked their claim on a chair and easel each, so no doubt I'll have plenty of company!

'Marvellous Miro' Now Available!

The trailer for my second childrens picture-book.

Fall in love with Miro in this vibrantly illustrated, heart-warming tale. Get your hands on it NOW! Now available to purchase online Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Marvellous Miro

So I made my deadline. My second childrens picture-book is out of my hands, and in the publishing-process. We are awaiting the return of the proof before final sign-off. I thought I'd feel an enormous sense of relief as the completion of this one took such a determined effort in time-management! I actually feel very vulnerable. It's the same feeling you'd get after working for months on a body of work for an exhibition. You put everything you have into it, and are so self-absorbed for so long, that when it comes to opening night, and revealing it to the public, it feels like you've publicly exposed yourself!! (Not that I've ever done that so don't know first-hand, but you know what I mean!).

This book, 'Marvellous Miro' (title chosen by my kids) is a tale about a young frog called Miro who, born with only one leg has to over-come his disability to lead a normal froggy-life. He can't hop, so becomes a very adept swimmer, earning the respect of his peers. The tale is in rhyming prose, which helps little kids memorize the text that goes with the picture (I've noticed this with my own kids), assisting with word-recognition and early reading. But, aside from all that, first and foremost, this is a fun book with detailed, vibrant illustrations that will stimulate any childs imagination, whilst being both humorous and heart-warming. I'm hoping this book will appeal to all children from 0-6 and also early readers too.

So for those of you looking for something special for someone little in your life, I'll let you know as soon as 'Marvellous Miro' is available on-line.

Sneak Peek

With school underway, you'd think I'd have time on my hands once again, but I find I'm on a stop-watch. Between school drop-offs and trying to get a run in, I find I may have 45 minutes to an hour to spend on the final illustrations of my new book. After school collections and after-school activities, I may have an hour again, before preparations for dinner begin. The day is gone so incredibly quickly, and I feel frustratingly no closer to getting this book completed than I did at the start of the summer when I had no time to myself at all!
Still, I'm determined to get it done and have set myself an ambitious deadline: October. I may get a little stressed as we head towards the middle of September, but I figure if I keep plugging away during the sporadic breaks I get, I'll get it done (Well in time for Christmas I hope!).
I've given a few sneak previews of some of the illustrations of the new book which is about a frog called 'Miro'. There are 20 illustrations in total, so it has been pretty intense. Making sure each illustration offers something 'new' is a challenge when the subject matter is the same as the previous pages. Nature, however offers an endless and varied source of inspiration, so I enjoyed the conception stage of the drawings.
These illustrations are all done on watercolour paper. I start with an acrylic/watercolour background, working in depth with shadow and hi-lights, and finish the detailing with acquarelle pencils. The colours are bold and vibrant and I hope they will capture the attention and imagination of every child that reads it.

Let's frame it!

Keeping with the same theme of 'paper-craft', these are another gift idea of mine. The frames are light-weight MDF, and decorated in much the same way as the letters.

Handmade Cards for any Occasion!

Card-making has always been a hobby of mine since I was a child. My Mother always encouraged us to write thank-you letters or make our own cards as she believes they mean so much more than the bought variety. Hand made cards show you really care because of the time and thought spent on each and every one. I've tried to instill this in my own kids and we often have 'card-making' days when the Irish weather is at its worst! They really enjoy it and it's an amazingly creative way to eat-up the hours.