nicole illustration

CLICzine

2012-02-12T18:46:00.001Z

CLICzine issue #5 is out and I did the cover for it! YAY!

And because CLICzine is a Welsh publication, you flip it over and it's in Welsh too!

♥

Anty

2012-02-06T18:36:00.000Z

Here's a little peek from fun a commission I'm working on :)

Also(!) the surprise I was talking about in previous posts is slowly coming together. Here is a preview:

http://morganarcadestudios.blogspot.com/

So here was a post of previews! I hope you are excited :)

♥

When girl scouts compete...

2012-02-01T04:26:00.000Z

How far will one girl go

to win the legendary

ULTIMATE COOKIE QUEEN BADGE!?

♥

Holga, baby

2012-01-16T21:51:00.000Z

I don't remember if I ever mentioned it, but I got a Holga 135 camera a while back.

Its chunky post-apocalyptic 80's retro-future aesthetic seemed to resonate with my soul and somehow this lovely piece of 80's tack captured my heart even more than the much more elegant, 60's chic Diana F+/Mini to which it is often compared. I have since become an advocate for Holga cameras.*

And here, a useful 'modification' I might add to my Holga later:

Paroneiria - Martin Hayes

*I also own a Holga Micro which takes the most charming (almost-)square photos.

So I took a whole load of photos with Miss Holga using some redscale film, but none of them turned out which was rather disappointing as it was a whole roll of goodness. However, since the roll was ruined and you lack the technology (at present) to delve into my memories (consensually only, of course!) and retrieve the missing moments, you will have to do the best you can with your imagination instead.
You may choose to imagine it like this for example to express the Holga's mastery of the art of the double exposure:

But with less creatures 'cause I don't think I took any snaps of owls or badgers or mythical beasts lately on account of I didn't see any of those things lately... or ever in my life (....YET!).

Some of my other photos turned out pretty well, though. And this roll has a whole field full of sheep and a duck in it! So yeah!

In the meantime, I am going to be snapping more pictures of the upcoming treat I mentioned in the last post and getting ready for the big reveal! I hope you are excited :)

♥

Happy Fwah-Fwah!

2012-01-06T15:00:00.000Z

Happy Last/Twelfth Day of Fwah-Fwah!

he is mixing up seasonal treats

"you may be wondering...why am I surrounded by chickens and bread... well the answer is simple.

it is now the year TWENTY DOZEN! Rejoice! And we all know that eggs, which come from chickens - chicken BUTTS to be precise! - and bread are the international symbols for 'DOZEN'. "

"so as I sit amongst the chickens leaning their ways... (donning my brand new chicken suit I made especially for the occasion...) I try to think of ways to celebrate this magical year of such excitement and mystery!

others may consider this the year of the dragon or the year of the end/apocalypse/whatever. But not me! To me, it is the year of the CHICKEN! (not rooster. they just make noise, not eggs.)

symbol of the year of the dozen"

This was all inspired by my friend D'André! I wonder if she knows...

* * *

And, since I spent Christmas on my own in a foreign country this year, I had my Christmas dinner on New Year's Eve with Dan instead...and it was awesome!

chicken (because the turkey was sold out lol), stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes roasted in goose fat, broccoli and coliflower, and a lovely Hungarian wine.
so good.

Plus I have a treat to reveal to you all in a few days. I'm really excited about it!

♥

Pouffy Pleaty Project

2011-11-16T02:22:00.001Z

I just finished making this bag today!

I used Lisa Lam's For Pleats Sake pattern for the most part, but obviously liberties were taken (particularly in the straps department...). I kind of wish I could keep it - my first bag of its kind. Alas, it is not for me.

It was challenging in parts, but overall, super fun! I think I enjoy a good sewing challenge anyhow. And it feels so good when it all comes together.

It took me three go's to get the pearl prong snap done without a set of snap pliers. (Instead I used a thread spool and a hammer! haha!) Well worth the trouble, I think!

♥

strongman contemplates what he means

2011-11-14T19:06:00.001Z

I always find it weird when there's loads to do, but also very little to do all at the same time.

I just hope for great things to come from such anxious uncertainties.

♥

waiting is the worst

2011-11-10T04:46:00.000Z

I've been so preoccupied worrying about all sorts of things that all I've done recently have been frustration-filled scribbles. It's a weird kinda self-loathing-inducing catharsis. I don't try to figure it out.

And I need draw men more often...

♥

Drink Me!

2011-10-27T06:25:00.000+01:00

I just found out you can do this awesome thing with the pen tool in Photoshop!! I am gonna have so much fun. I think this is just the kind of pick-me-up I've been needing.

Hopefully future hiccups won't set me back too much and detract from this is a great discovery.

Above is the most recent edition of this image. It has gone through several different phases. Here are some of them:

I was trying to prepare this image for submission into the SOI's Illustrators 54 Annual, but the payment form isn't working for me! :( I'll have to work something out (the deadline is tomorrow)!

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SPACE..uh..thing

2011-10-26T01:59:00.000+01:00

I was just tryin' to save a thing and I ended up with this!

IMPROVISATION!

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PS: WHERE IS HER SPACE HELMET??!

Yo!

2011-10-23T00:18:00.000+01:00

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Ode Lor Ips

2011-10-17T22:39:00.000+01:00

I am feeling a lot of things right now.. Many of them in the anxiety/doubt sort of arena and the only cure is the one thing I feel I am ill-equipped for at the moment. Conundrum!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In justo neque, posuere vitae lobortis sit amet, dictum non elit... blah blah etcetera!

♥

Comfy Brown Sweater

2011-10-13T03:46:00.001+01:00

I like her clothes.

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Rain Creature

2011-10-09T03:46:00.002+01:00

maybe he died out with the dinosaurs

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Migration

2011-09-28T18:12:00.000+01:00

My first alma mater had a bookmark contest with the theme 'migration'. I was only able to do this at the last minute but, as simple as it is, I had fun with it.
It is an oddly relevant theme for me at this particular point in time.

edit: I got second place :)

♥

Pugs to Pluto

2011-09-17T23:51:00.000+01:00

Speaking of categorisation, does anyone else hate the word "artist" ?

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A New Illustration Industry

2011-09-11T19:32:00.000+01:00

Ben the Illustrator has this great idea for A New Illustration Industry. And he has a good plan to make it happen. Illustrators, do yourselves and your industry a favour.

(above work by Ben the Illustrator)

Just as a rule of thumb, people should not expect illustrators to work for free. Yes, there are certain circumstances where illustrators might work for free (unpaid internship/work experience, uni, charity work, work for friends) and it's one thing if they choose to (presumably, they're getting something out of that deal that they're pleased with - maybe it is 'exposure', maybe it's just kicks), but no one should ever expect illustrators to work for free.

Why? Because the arts are worth something. They have a value. And that value should be respected.

♥

Gonna need to see some...

2011-08-31T23:51:00.001+01:00

Cheese it!

I think I may do a project looking into my schizophrenic style. Definitely some strong influences there, but it just sorta does what it wants :/

Goodbye, August. I love you, best month everrr!

♥

Cycling Mini Backpack (with adjustable straps!)

2011-08-24T02:17:00.002+01:00

Hello. My name is Nicole and I looove sewing!

This was by far the most difficult and exciting sewing project I have ever taken on. (Actually I did make a romper just last month... but whatever! This was boss!)

drawstring front with magnetic snap closure

little front pocket

adjustable straps!!

I used the free downloadable pattern from u-handblog and made a few adjustments and reinterpretations, and voilà! Little backpack!
A few mistakes here and there, but not too shabby for a first try (at making any bags at all, much less a backpack)!

♥

First Little Birth

2011-08-23T01:12:00.000+01:00

Hope you all enjoyed the video last week! Now back to the project :)

♥

La Tristesse

2011-08-18T01:07:00.015+01:00

Starring Daniel Hamilton

Filmed, Directed and Edited by David 'Fitz' Adams

A word from the director:

The film was originally intended as a modern response (or as some people have argued a recoding) of the 1948 Vittorio De Sica directed film 'Ladri di biciclette', or as it is more commonly known among english speaking audiences 'The Bicycle Thief'.

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Pandore dans le Marécage

2011-08-15T08:21:00.000+01:00

elle parle aux fantômes.

parfois elle les mange

et parfois elles échappent...

♥

Ride Ride Ride

2011-08-14T09:50:00.008+01:00

I had about 3 bike lessons with Dan last September and now I've finally gotten around to having a few more! Here are some shots from my fifth lesson (yesterday).

And there's Dan bein' a pro on the grass or whatever...

I'm getting better and the prospect of being able to bike places safely (without crashing into anything be it moving or stationary) is certainly an exciting one!

♥

summer 2011 vacation sketchbook

2011-08-13T09:55:00.002+01:00

I'm working on a project.. I think. This is its beginning:

project: first

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Usk

2011-08-12T12:48:00.002+01:00

I am accompanying Dan on an adventure to the airfield in Usk today because he wants to try gliding!

♥

Family road trip around Europe (photos)

2011-08-08T16:11:00.000+01:00

VACATION PHOTOS

(I'll make this brief, but there were hundreds!)

We flew to Amsterdam then drove straight from there to Germany.

We stayed in a castle in Colmberg, Germany! (above)

The castle had been converted into a hotel. Inside was just as castle-y as outside(!), but with modern conveniences such as plumbing!

Drove through Liechtenstein (above)...

And through the Swiss Alps (above)...

And through Pisa (above)...

Went past Lake Como where we stay for a night then drove into our lovely villa in Vicchio (above)

I had a romp around Florence (above) on my own

Then we drove into Vienna (above and below) and checked out some museums

Then we drove into Hungary (below) where we spent the most of our time.

Hungarian National Art Gallery (above)

The Hungarian Parliament building (above)

RUSSIAN TANK! Google: Hortobágy

The view from Eger castle (above)

Heroes' Square (above)

And sunflowers taking over the Hungarian countryside.

Sorry for the long break, but this was such a brilliant vacation. I absolutely love travel.

Next post is either vacation sketchbook or robot photos from the museum in Vienna! haha

♥

European Road Trip

2011-07-22T08:02:00.000+01:00

Driving through Europe. Back in August! :)

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Goodbye University

2011-06-27T00:46:00.001+01:00

The show is over! And it was great success :)

Check out these reviews:
Illustrators Wales
Plastik Magazine
Ein Caerdydd (welsh)
There was a lot of twitter buzz too, but I don't have a twitter and, as a direct result, don't keep up with it very well.

Really pleased. Proud of everyone who worked so hard!

It's kind of surreal to think that's the end of uni ..for now anyway (I've been flirting with the idea of doing a master's in a few years...). I feel like I'm supposed to feel like something, but all I can think of is getting on with things and making sure I'm set for rent and food and such lol. It should be interesting being out of full time education for the first time in my life.. like a magic box of secrets!

♥

Cardiff Illustration Degree Show 2011

2011-06-14T01:43:00.001+01:00

official website

This Friday is going to be SPECTACULAR! So if you can, come!

RSVP on Facebook.

the above poster was illustrated by Daniel Hamilton

♥

Retro Sunday: 18

2011-06-12T19:54:00.000+01:00

swooooon !

a real shame :(

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Down to Business

2011-06-03T00:05:00.001+01:00

truth

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Retro Sunday: 17

2011-05-29T23:43:00.000+01:00

I was reading something the other day that talked about creativity being a muscle that needs to be exercised just like any other muscle which made me think about body-builders. What a strange hobby. Did you know that Sean Connery was a body builder before he was an actor? Apparently he placed 3rd (although this is disputed) in 1950 for the Mr Universe title.

Such a peculiar bunch! lol

♥

10 reasons not to go to the gym

2011-05-27T02:11:00.001+01:00

I really enjoyed doing this one! It's been a while since I've enjoyed doing anything this much.. And oddly enough, the most fun part was the editing bit where I got to put all the words on! haha

I was looking through some of my stuff today (just from the past two or three months actually) and I think I'm getting better at this. There was a lot of thinking and stress since the beginning of third year as I tried to sort out some illustration mysteries. And it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears (and conversations (sometimes heated debates) with Daniel Hamilton) to finally get myself out of the dark place of pessimism and coldness.. but it feels good to be able to see other things besides doom and gloom.

♥

Socialbot is Sociable

2011-05-25T10:06:00.002+01:00

He really knows how to break the ice.

I could probably learn a thing or two from socialbot.

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Wind vs Nuclear

2011-05-23T18:31:00.000+01:00

Still trying to figure out the secrets of illustration through editorial.

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RockManItOff

2011-05-19T16:19:00.000+01:00

rockin' classic

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Retro Sunday: 16

2011-05-15T05:05:00.002+01:00

This probably could have gone on forever.

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Giddy Giraffes and Rocket Pillows

2011-05-13T18:35:00.004+01:00

yummy comic brights!

Blogger had a hiccup and deleted everything from yesterday onwards so I don't remember what I said before, but enjoy!

♥

The Princess and the P--

2011-05-05T23:46:00.003+01:00

True story.

Don't judge me. I was very young at the time. Maybe this little misunderstanding was what led to my love of language and appreciation for puns...

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Lepidoptera!

2011-05-02T01:17:00.010+01:00

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Retro Sunday: 15

2011-05-01T05:05:00.034+01:00

Easter Break is drawing to a close, unfortunately. It was refreshing.

And soon, we shall be cast out on our own into the cut-throat world of real people no longer sheltered by our schools and homes and teachers and families..

We will learn to live; independently, happily and well.

♥

What is IT?

2011-04-30T03:26:00.003+01:00

I love TED Talks. I really do. I found this one the day before yesterday and it is now one of my favourites. It narrows down 'it' in all respects and I think it clearly explains some of the things that have been buzzing in my head for months now.

I hope you find it useful/interesting! :)

♥

Vacated

2011-04-19T19:29:00.001+01:00

plannin' treats

Someone sent me this link and now I'm in love with this band:

Oh, it's love. It's love.

♥

Retro Sunday: 14

2011-04-17T05:05:00.000+01:00

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People Make Rainbows

2011-03-27T00:52:00.000Z

HOLIDAY TIME (sort of)! The second term in my final year at uni is finally (already!??) over! It's just the Easter break now, though, so it's not over yet. This is just sort of a short breather (which I will continue to work through after my three days of break that I have assigned myself. woo! lol).
Lots of thinking and growing and cultivating has happened so far this year, but a lot more of all that would be most welcome... I've been trying to build up the ideas behind my work more and so far it just makes me feel like a dunce and/or get angry. So, for now, have this in place of 'real art'(...?)

♥

Pictoplasma Missing Link Project

2011-03-21T01:10:00.002Z

The other week I submitted something to Pictoplasma's Missing-Link Project! The thoughts behind this one was fairly simple:

My missing link is a rather benign character. He is not unlike anyone else, but he is rarely seen. He is alone. And he is mysterious. I believe that unseen beasts and forces are far more intriguing (and frightening) than ones that you see because the minute you see something you begin to analyse and plan how to escape from it or exploit it or befriend it or whatever. The more mystery there is to it, the less you can plan what to do next and it has the upper hand.

So here is the process and the result.

This was one of my first ideas, but it's far too descriptive with its obvious labels and such ((mildly) humorous though they may be..)

The idea behind this one was to follow him (via a speechless narrative) as he goes shoe-shopping. Eventually he finds a pair that fit, but they're not his colour/style. But I think this might have been too revealing too (you know that Forrest Gump quote "Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been."

So this ended up being the idea I went with.

This image follows my missing link, not necessarily through a day, but looking at aspects of his life like his recreational habits, what he eats, his relationships and his general lifestyle, to learn a little bit about him, but in a way that doesn’t give away too much. You barely see him, but you can still sympathise with his aloneness which is my focus: to emphasise his solitude. I didn’t want there to be any sense of what he feels about his situation, though. His world is colourful; there's not much not to like. He may or may not like living like a recluse, but we don’t get to know that. We just decide his feelings and react to our own decisions about his situation.

♥

Retro Sunday: 13

2011-03-20T05:05:00.015Z

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Welshness

2011-03-12T00:00:00.003Z

Two Welshie briefs!
The first was from the London Welsh Trust for their Mad March Challenge (Sialens Fawr Mawrth) membership campaign. So I had a go with my only goal to be to make it as uncheesy as possible.

I quite like it if I'm honest. Unfortunately they didn't choose my design. But I did get runner-up and will be included in their magazine, so that's pretty cool too I sppose.

The second brief was a poster design for the Welsh theatre company Theatr Iolo for the German play Visiting Katt and Fredda. They wanted a fairly simple design with a limited palette.

I totally forgot to write up a little 'sell-it' statement to go with it. It would have included something about "the orderly cups representing the two protagonists' lives before the third cup(visitor) comes and wrecks it up and makes their world complicated like so many tangled strands of hair dyed green with jealousy"... Or something to that effect. Must remember to include the rantings next time.

Now that I think about it, it looks a bit more like a book cover really... And I've seen some strong designs from friends so I'm not getting my hopes up about this one, but it's always good to enter and see what happens.

edit: Theatr Iolo submission was unsuccessful too unfortunately :(

♥

Retro Sunday: 12

2011-03-06T05:05:00.001Z

Annie Wu's recent blog post introduced me to the classically deadpan face of Buster Keaton. So naturally...

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Accessory Babies

2011-03-03T22:31:00.005Z

I wonder sometimes about the way some people view parenthood.

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Wacky Robot Rave

2011-03-01T22:22:00.000Z

I found this on the Drawn.ca blog.

T4 idents from double g studios on Vimeo.

I don't see how you could not love it really.

♥

Invisible Spiders

2011-02-26T22:43:00.003Z

Still practising with editorial illustration, here is a Little Miss Muffet-esque character completely unaware and unaffected by being surrounded by invisible spiders.

article by New Scientist

I like how I've seen a lot of people (mostly/only the American illustrators I follow) using different coloured outlines and gradients and such. It seems to make things fit together better or something when there isn't a heavy, imposing, 'final' black line separating things, so I tried that out.

I think the technical part of this experiment was fairly successful, but I'm less impressed with my actual editorial illustrating skills... I'll have to try harder with the next one.

♥

Robots and Spacefolk need cereal too

2011-02-21T13:00:00.001Z

A little while back I found Uppercase Magazine's cereal box design call for entries. With my intense love of cereal I felt obliged to give it a go, and I finally settled on two that I worked up, put in the template and submitted!

Here are some photos of the screen prints. A lot of things were going a little wrong that day so I think I've only got about five of the robot print now and maybe six or seven of the Blastos print...lol

4 colour print

5 colour print (which is the most complicated I've done so far)

The Blastos screen wasn't totally cleared when my design was put on it so it looks a little weathered in spots (though I can't honestly say I didn't find it a wee bit charming). Hopefully the Robot one has an appropriately Japanese-ish feel to it and the Spacey one has an appropriately American-ish feel to it.

♥

Retro Sunday: 11

2011-02-20T05:05:00.002Z

Less well choreographed than usual, but robots don't really care about how prettily things are arranged.

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Dawn of the Robots!

2011-02-16T17:50:00.001Z

We had a workshop with Bristol-based Norwegian freelance illustrator, Øivind Hovland*, yesterday after his Monday Muse talk the previous day and both the talk and the workshop were really interesting and helpful! The Muse was about his inspirations and how he goes about getting work, and the workshop was about targeted self-promotion (using screen printing! yay!). So, basically, there was a lot of goodness packed into those two days.
I really want to get into editorial illustration (perhaps this is hard to tell from the kinds of things I've been doing...I shall fix this!), so I decided to target a magazine (in this case Wired) and do a screen printed pretend cover illustration (or I guess without the "Wired" logo, it could be a spot illustration? maybe..).

Anyway, I now have 15 little prints of this fashionable "Wired" robot... If anyone wants one, let me know! lol

* Be sure to check out his work; it's so worth a look!

♥

squid v squid

2011-02-12T02:36:00.001Z

This is what I wasted my Friday evening doing.

I found the article on the New Scientist website. I'm hoping that the shame of posting this will make me do some work that isn't a(n 'un-skillfully' executed) chore.

♥

Crit Group Poster

2011-02-08T00:15:00.004Z

I screen printed a poster for the Crit Group that I and Helen host.

I need to take some good photos of all my screen prints one day because I am not doing them any justice this way :(

♥

Retro Sunday: 10

2011-02-06T05:02:00.005Z

I just watched Coco Before Chanel on Friday night. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel seemed like a bit of a badass.

And now I want to sew more.

Vintage Fashion Fair today times two! Hopefully I roll out of bed in time to get to one of them...

♥

THE MASSIVE FAVOUR!

2011-02-02T17:38:00.003Z

A day about LIFE AFTER GRADUATION!

(9th FEB)

6 speakers (illustrators/graphic designers/typographers/etc.) talk about freelancing, agencies, collaborations, surviving! FREE WINE AND CAKES and feel free to sell anything there.
EVERYONE INVITED!
So if you're interested (and in/around Cardiff lol) please come along. It'll be in the big lecture room (Room A103) of UWIC's Llandaff campus at 2.45pm!

*poster by Chloe

♥

Fruity Crunch-Yums!

2011-02-01T22:39:00.001Z

BONGJIIIIIIII!

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Blastos' milk-powered jetpack

2011-01-30T20:51:00.001Z

I'm considering doing more of these cereal boxes and packaging things just for fun. It's sort of relaxing to work on.

I think that in future I may just use MS Paint or an oekaki board (long overdue!) to do this sort of thing because Photoshop sort of fails a little with it...
Also I am going to try putting more (wonky) backgrounds into things...maybe.

♥

snake, rabbit redo and workspace

2011-01-28T17:48:00.001Z

Here is 'RABBIT' booklet's other half.

The words are the lyrics to Katy Carr's song Snake's Kiss. I also altered the Rabbit booklet a little bit and exchanged the words for Florence + The Machine's Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) lyrics. Both still need a lot of tweaking in order to work, though, and all the altering of things these days is making me feel a bit rubbish.

I have a new workspace now at one of our closer campuses (Howard Gardens)... But it has not increased my rate of productivity (actually I think it may be hindering it)... Also I need lessons in how to make workspaces pretty (and inspiring and cosy and encouraging and happy).

♥

Crunchers and Cartoon Queens

2011-01-25T10:00:00.010Z

Found something to occupy my mind for the next few days (maybe even a week!). Really just a bit of fun, but also works as part of my Real World module. Here are some of the sketches:

So now I'm prepping this for printing, but I may try messing about with it later to make it more entertaining in some way...

Also, I recently had a mess about with animating on Adobe Flash (first time ever) and it was SUPER fun! Unfortunately I cannot share the crap that I came up with because I can't figure out how to make it save as something more shareable than a ".fla"?? ...Any suggestions??

edit: figured out the Flash thing! yay!
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Dissertation: Exploring Dream-Narratives in Film

2011-01-24T12:00:00.026Z

This forty-nine page book represents all of my cognitive processes over the past few months (since about May 2010 to January 2011). I have realised that I wouldn't mind helping people proof-read their work for a little extra cash.

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Retro Sunday: 9

2011-01-23T05:05:00.012Z

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The Big Draw: Postcards from the Future

2011-01-21T18:50:00.000Z

Last year, on Saturday 9th October 2010*, I attended and volunteered to be an assistant creative coordinator for The Big Draw at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff. The theme was:

POSTCARDS FROM THE FUTUUUURE!

And it was really fun!

Shamefully, it was my first time ever going to Chapter, but you can bet it won't be my last. I've been dying to walk all the way over there just to sit about and have a cup of tea because I love the environment so much. I think it's so important to have centres like that where art can just live and thrive and spread and inspire. That's what art funding gets: phenomenal hubs for inspiration, networking and sharing creativity. Plus I met some pretty cool and helpful people while there. I even exchanged some cards and got some emails off people.

The actual event was an all-ages event and, while many parents brought their children to draw thinking it was primarily for the children, all the adults were encouraged to do some drawings too and eventually everyone was really getting into it! All the ideas and images that came from both the children and adults were quite funny and creative; some were brilliant. And we got loads of really good photos of just about everything.

I'd drawn a few postcards for the day myself and one little kid wanted to colour one of mine so badly that he just grabbed a crayon and dragged a heavy light blue line straight through it! At that point I remembered an interview I'd either read or watched about graffiti artists where one guy was saying that you learn to be less precious about your work and you just do it and move on rather than being too caught up in making the perfect piece (or doodle in this case...). It was even easier to feel like that when the whole event felt like a massive collaboration.

There's Louise sat happily on the floor

You could do a drawing on one end of the massive paper on the table or the wall of the floor, and when you came back to it, it was part of a scene or interacting with someone else's drawing or coloured in ways you'd never have thought to colour it. It felt like each drawing had so much life to it and whatever you drew was only yours in the moments that you were drawing it. When you took your pen away from the paper your drawing belonged to the whole collective. Under the main theme were areas to think about; just topics to spark your thoughts: transport, animals, clothes, school, disco, etc. (I drew a lot of astronaut cats. Don't ask me why.)

Dan (above) and I thought it would be really cool to do that on a much smaller scale so we may host a bit of a drawing jam with some friends. Have a main heading and some sub-themes to spark people's imaginations and just go at some big sheets of paper with Sharpies and crayons or maybe markers/felt-tip pens? I think crayons would be nice because of their rough, gaudy charm. They are terrible and lovely at the same time... (mostly terrible if you ask me). In this instance, I think they can find a place where they are finally adequately appropriate in the adult world. (Actually, maybe marker pens will be used instead...)

If you are in Cardiff and want to join us, give me a shout; I'll keep you posted. Or if you would like to do something similar, I'd love to hear from you! Let me know any ideas you have for yours and send photos or scans of the work that comes out of it :)

♥

*(I wrote this the day after, but we didn't have the pictures then so I haven't been able to post until now!)

RABBIT

2011-01-18T15:42:00.001Z

This is a project I'm working on for my Real World module. After getting my dissertation printed and sending it to be bound(!!), I printed off the file for this booklet. I just cut and folded it MOMENTS AGO!

♥

Les Reines Bleues 01

2011-01-16T19:02:00.003Z

Here we have the first page of a potential two and a half page comic to express an idea about sense and nonsense.

Not totally satisfied with the speech bubbles... but it was all rather fun to do. I have so many plans and I'm so very excited about just getting on with things. Tomorrow begins great things!

♥

She Said...

2011-01-10T13:32:00.002Z

How Did We Get Ourselves So Lost?

I think I'd like to do a screen print of the middle one.

(But then maybe I do too many messy/rough-coloured prints...)

♥

Retro Sunday: 8

2011-01-09T05:38:00.001Z

Today I will be leaving on a jet plane... to go to back to Cardiff.

♥

Doctor! Doctor!

2011-01-06T21:23:00.002Z

"Don't get your gross baby juices all over my new doctor coat."
"B-but I just saw you give that patient a lobotomy!"
"Hahahah! No, no, what you just saw was me putting a cabbage in that man's brain cavity."
"..."
"I am sorry; I cannot help you."

♥

World Book Day bid

2011-01-05T04:30:00.000Z

I was working on some illustrations for the 2010 World Book Day bid.

In four phrases, the story is about: a kid, cool shoes, lame shoes and a Celtic wish-granting statue nicknamed "The Sleeper".

I wasn't going to bother entering anymore because I didn't have enough ideas for it and I wasn't sure how to go about tackling the few other ideas I had in the same style that I'd done the above illustrations. But then I saw this guy's amazing blog and was inspired to work really loosely (which is what my stuff looks like before I tighten it up anyway!)! Then I came up with these:

Not sure if the top one is too messy or what, but I still like them both. I might slap a texture or something over the top of them and see how I feel later...

♥

A tower floating into dreams

2011-01-03T05:25:00.005Z

Putting together a simple diagram for my dissertation, but I may just scrap it altogether because I'm not so sure if it's doing its job like it should be...

Obviously I was not cut out for making diagrams (also I think the wording is confusing).
I'll fix it later.

♥
P.S. Look what it's doing to me! ;o;

turning me schitzo...

Retro Sunday: 7

2010-12-26T10:00:00.018Z

like a graceful dance...

♥

crimbo

2010-12-25T16:33:00.001Z

cheesy? yes! but I'm allowed a fat cheesy Christmas doodle today, surely.

Have a good one, folks!

♥

psst! hundredth post!

smudged

2010-12-21T15:00:00.007Z

♥

Hot Chip

2010-12-19T18:00:00.003Z

I'm going to practise with Photoshop more with some quick illustrations like these to get myself to stop mourning the loss of my beloved openCanvas4.03

I like Hot Chip.

♥

SEQUENCE Magazine

2010-12-16T15:55:00.006Z

Micky and Nikki of Nematode in Space glory have started a new comics magazine called SEQUENCE. And it looks rather promising.

image by *PowFlip

"SEQUENCE is an independent zine focused on informing, instructing, and connecting the comics community; no invitation necessary!
Do you wanna see your works in print? Have something you've been dying to share with a larger audience? A review? Preview of your latest comic? Oneshot? Helpful tutorial? Please CONTRIBUTE!
We're in desperate need of contributors, so fill out our CONTRIBUTE form or contact [~bunkun], ~Meeleena, or ~jknozmo with ideas, questions, opinions, whatev and we'll HOOK YOU UP."

lolage by ~jknozmo

And there are loads of ways to contribute; not just entering comics and articles!
You can also help kickstart SEQUENCE by helping fund the printing costs. Click here to see other ways to help with the production of SEQUENCE.

♥

The Wolfman...

2010-12-15T13:46:00.012Z

click to fullview and unscrunch the image!

♥

sticks and birds

2010-12-14T19:25:00.001Z

I've been wondering... if something is good, but personal, should you show/expose/post it? What if it isn't personal at all but it looks like it is? People always seem to want to make connections that sometimes aren't even there. I don't think work should suffer/be hidden for that kind of reason... but some things are not so simple.

The makings of a project maybe...

♥

Retro Sunday: 6

2010-12-12T12:30:00.017Z

♥

Floating Ideas

2010-12-11T03:13:00.003Z

While moaning about having nothing worth posting I had the thought "I usually enjoy seeing people's sketchbook pages. Why not post some more stuff from my sketchbooks?" So, for now, that is precisely what I'm going to do! :)

These are the ideas floating in my head at the moment, each described in one word.

♥

Retro Sunday: 5

2010-11-28T01:36:00.003Z

That was a nice break.

♥

Now back to work.

sketchbook sequential scribbles and stuff

2010-11-23T15:30:00.001Z

Hiya!

I've been focussing on dissertation work recently so, while the practical work hasn't stopped by any means, I've not been doing as much finished stuff. Not to mention I've been battling with some creative frustrations and people frustrations that seem to be keeping me from getting on with things...
A few wee (A6) sketchbook pages follow. Some things are plans for current pieces, others are just floating ideas...

and I've recently gotten back into posemaniacs.

♥

Retro Sunday: 4

2010-11-14T01:00:00.004Z

Sorry for the one week delay!

My mum has a classic Volkswagen Beetle. They are gorgeous cars...

♥

a sly peek at my mum's car:

it's the only photo I have of it sadly :(

Shadow Play Illustration Symposium

2010-11-09T20:31:00.002Z

Last week from Tuesday to Thursday was the Cardiff School of Art and Design Illustration Symposium: Shadow Play. Many of the papers were relevant to my dissertation and it was an enjoyable evening overall. I should have blogged about it beforehand, but I was so busy it totally slipped my mind.
I only managed to attend Wednesday afternoon's talks, but it was so worth it. I wish I'd been able to go to all the talks over the full three days and I hope to get the chance to go to more events like it.

You can find photos of the event at the Illustration Research blog.

Photos from the Big Draw with which I assisted, Postcards from the Future, to come soon!

♥

Retro Sunday: 3

2010-10-24T01:01:00.021+01:00

As I mentioned in like my first blog entry, I would love to try my hand at boxing. I can only hope that I have the physical prowess needed. I tend to be good with technique and positioning things, but I do lack strength... siiigh.

Anyway, this entry is unapologetically twice as long. Enjoy :)

♥

Why Don't You...

2010-10-21T18:30:00.001+01:00

This is the beginning of my new project (part of my FMP)! I won't go into too much detail about it all now (for the sake of brevity), but I'll post more about my FMP and the thinking that goes behind it as I go along.

I'm really excited about these!

The purple print works very well (much better in person) and feels a little more 'weighty' than the yellow print...

...but the yellow one is more ironically fitting.

If you're interested in the meaning behind this particular print, I suggest you look into the song "Start Wearing Purple" - Gogol Bordello.

Incidentally, does anyone know what the non-English part of that song is saying?? Is that Slovak? Ukranian?? Internet translators have been useless :/

♥

Griffins: 4-colour print

2010-10-20T19:45:00.001+01:00

And here we have the new set of Griffin prints. Four of them are 3-colour prints (as shown in the previous post), but the other six are, as initially intended, 4-colour prints (photos below)!

(forgive the dodgy photos as always...)

Get in contact if you want one. I think I'll scan one of the 3-colour prints in and add text to that for the crit group poster and put the rest up for sale.

And hopefully I'll have photos of the first prints for my FMP posted before the weekend!

♥

Mad Griffins

2010-10-15T19:49:00.004+01:00

So much has been going on this week! We got really busy with the two weeks worth of events for the Cardiff Design Festival. If you didn't get to go this time round, you should definitely try to make it for next year!
And despite all the hubbub, I finally got some screen prints done! WOO!

Unfortunately I only got three done due to limited time.. siiigh. But I'm going to get back in there to do a whole new batch of them next week! Here are a few close-ups (forgive the poor quality photos):

3-colour print

This print is my poster design proposal (sans text) for the uni crit group that Helen and I are continuing from last year's third years. But if anyone is interested in buying any prints of it, just let me know! :)

I'm also working on a print of an apparently confused purple man with an ace 'tache and an ushanka who is part of a new project for my FMP (final major project), and I am SO excited about it! I'll post more on that once a few of those prints are made, but here's a peek at something else from that project...

♥

Retro Sunday: 2

2010-10-10T10:01:00.001+01:00

On 9th September 2010, Dan taught me how to ride a bike! :)
(photos and/or doodles to come later..? maybe....)

click me!

Oh what I wouldn't give for a vintage Dutch style step-through ("ladies") bike...

♥

recession revisit

2010-10-02T03:00:00.006+01:00

I had posted one of the recession pieces on dA and got some really good feedback from another Nicole (Nicoles must just know 'DA BIZ'! 'cause she knows 'DA BIZ'.....and..um.. I know 'DA BIZ' too, right!??....totally rhetorical!). She helped me out with some ideas on how to make the text POP more and just be funkier overall! I really liked the mock up example she did of it, so I did this and I think it works too:

What do you think? Too dramatic? Surely it's an improvement over the last version..? :/
click here to see the original (and to read the rationale)

♥

By the way, a little reminder, some entries (like the previous Retro Sunday post) require you to click "Read more" at the bottom of the entry to see the rest of the post.

Retro Sunday: 1

2010-09-26T05:09:00.001+01:00

Sundays are so pleasantly laid back. I've just updated my CVs (general and art), floated around looking at new blogs and the like, and I've decided to add a feature to this blog that will (hopefully) make me post even more regularly. It's called...

I hope you enjoy this new segment.

♥