Category: Illustration

Once, Monday Happened.

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Last week on Monday it was Halloween (and yeah okay, it was a week ago, but I’ve been busy with BOOK SIGNINGS and things.) So when we got set our M(one)day project, I thought I’d enter into the spirit and encourage this special time of shameless commercialism, legal begging and overplanned and usually overated parties…with a bit of decapitation!

Our brief was simple: Draw around a part or parts of your body and use the inside to present your personality, however it was stressed that we shouldn’t over-think it. It was supposed to be a simple, spontaneous piece (I think) that was achievable within the time restraints of one day that shouldn’t be too bogged down with “being too clever” (for realz).

So there I am. A severed head full of lots of little bits of stuff that I like to spend my time obsessing over (with a decent emphasis on robotics). I thought about going down the route of conveying all aspects of myself and focusing on emotion and all that jazz but plain and simple “things I like” was way more fun to draw and to be honest, a damn sight more cheerful. And let’s face it, I’ve already cut my own head off, I don’t really want to drag things any further down depression alley.

Originally there was going to be some colour, but the whole time thing got in the way so it ended up in good old fashioned B and W.  Still, something to consider for later.

Not the deepest piece of work in the world, but still pretty fun and a welcome return to drawing little things you want to draw as opposed to photographing drains.

(Yuh.)

B

What’s this? You’ve actually DONE Something at University???

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Hands up if you want to see what I’ve been working on at Uni so far?

 Screen Printing Induction Tuesdays ended today with the completion of my first set of prints as a Bath Spa student.

They’re not the most complex or intricate works in the world, but I’ve been out of the game for a little while and they served pretty well as some basic experiments to get me back into the swing of things.

I decided not to mix my own ink in the end and instead made use of the left over pots people hadn’t finished in the print room. The choice of colour was an attempt to echo the yellows of Bath stone while suggesting the giant park and golf course I walk through on my daily route with green.

The prints are made up of 3-4 elements: Two hand rendered parts (the squirrel and text) and two photographs (the leaves taken in Royal Victoria Park and the Sion Hill sign at the top of the road).

I made a total of 12 prints, all a little bit different as I was playing with layout and inks as I went. They’re all hand printed onto Imagine Print paper at 28x28cm.

Not bad as testers, now let the real work commence.

B

x

Thanks Photocopier; Thotocopier

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If you’re cool, you’ll appreciate that photocopiers are the best.

Here are some reasons why.

See, see?! I took some boring ol’ uni work and I made it WIGGLY!

…

What’s that? You can do that kind of thing on photoshop?

In colour?

Well see, you’re kind of missing the point of these genius experiments here.

Yeah okay, there might well be modern ways to reproduce these effects without an enormous copying machine, but then how would I make the most of my £140 studio fee if not for the free black and white photocopier in my classroom?

Totally money well spent.

B

x

New Stuff and Splashy Things

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Having now officially started my degree at Bath Spa I can quite happily say I am loving life.

After the indescribable disappointment that was yesterdays one day project (in which I was caterpaulted against my will through the past few years of my art education, into the heart of GCSE) I returned today into the arms of my much missed and unceasingly rewarding secret lover; screen print.

Merely one morning in the print rooms spent priming my screen and I have already caught the art bug and get ready to descend on the world of BA hons, sketchbook in one hand and squeegie in the other. And I haven’t even put ink to page yet.

It’s been over a year since finishing my Foundation Diploma and the buzz of once more being issued a brief from someone who isn’t myself is beyond compare. The possibilities feel truly immeasureable and I’m looking forward to getting back on the project pony.

Needless to say, I’m in a pretty good mood and have chosen to celebrate by bringing you some ickle bits I’ve been doodling in recent days.

Bit o' reptile love never goes amiss.

Tortoise. Hare. Gouache. ‘Nuff said.

This one was the result of attempting work on my next graphic novel, in which the modern day is set against the 1800’s.

It’s a fun little idea I thought might be a nice doodle, finished off with a little watercolour.

Anyway, enough time wasted chatting to cyberspace, it’s off to the drawing board for this new project I should be doing!

😀

B x

Good News Everyone!

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Guess what?

Following the success of Tick‘s first book Signing event in Dorking and the subsequent sales, the very nice peoples of Waterstones have agreed to give me another in not one, but TWO more of their stores within the area! I am very pleased to announce that Tick will once more be sold with my nice, shiny signature in both the Guildford and Redhill branches before Christmas.

Although great, this is somewhat awkward as I have since moved to Bath and these places are now far away places and not really local at all. But hey, and event is an event!

 

If you fancy (and you know you do) making a trip to see me and nabbing a first edition copy for yourself, you can find me at:

Waterstones Guildford

(71-73 Highstreet)

Sunday 6th November

 

Or, if you fancy leaving the Christmas shopping a bit later:

 

Waterstones Redhill

(12-13 Belfry Centre)

Saturday 3rd December

So dig out your pennies and get your robot on, I expect to see you there!

B x

The Weather Outside is Weather.

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I noticed two things today. Firstly I haven’t posted anything in a few days and secondly it’s cold.

Yep, it feels like August only just finished and already it’s starting to get a bit nippy here in Surrey. So as homage to the Summertimes I’m gonna stick up a collection of summery paintings I did of British wildlife. Now off you go, finish up your strawberries and cream, fish out the gloves and enjoy the company of our four (and six) legged friends while we think about meadows and warm sun and stuff like that.

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Ah…

B x

A Doodle from my Noodle

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Here’s a quick sketch I did one night in a ball point pen. It’s based on the Norns of norse mythology (or similarly the moerae of Greek. I’m not really fussy!)

The 3 sisters who determine the fates of gods and men

I always enjoy a bit of a doodle in biro, mainly because I think throughout most of my school days the art department seemed insistant that you couldn’t draw in pens, IT MUST BE PENCIL.

Ha, let’s stick it to ’em in a ballpoint revolution!

Bx

Silly Stuff…

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Having just had my THIRD  phone interview with the (really very lovely) people at the Dorking Advertiser re the book signing last Saturday, I can safely say it’s becoming a mild annoyance having to answer the question “what was your inspiration for the story?” to people who haven’t read it. And that’s not to say that I think they SHOULD have had a read,  I respect that, as the journalists, they can asses how much or little they need to know before beginning an interview; it’s just that when I’m asked I have this horrible habbit of answering and that seems to confuse them a bit.

Like most of my work, Tick came from my  brain as a result of my surroundings at that time. So in all honesty the starting point for it was my position emotionally at time of writing/drawing. My menial job, working for a woman on the fast track for hell, had the power at times to quite literally break you and it was these down trodden days that sparked the initial plans for a robot with no purpose that grew into the short story.

Yeah, I suppose for a “kid’s book” it’s relatively heavy stuff, but then, I struggle defining Tick as easily as for little ones or big ones. The creation of it began purely as a cartharsis for me, and if other people find enjoyment in it (and if the success of the book signing was anything to go by, I think they do) then that is a massive massive bonus that brings me an unimaginable amount of joy.

Nevermind Dorking Ad, we got there in the end. I know it wasn’t the short and sweet “I like kids so I wrote them a story” that maybe you were hoping for, but I’m sure you’ll make it work.

Anyway, enough of Tick for now! There’s more work to be done. The next story is unterwegs (well…it exists in note, bullet point and scribble form only) and there’s commissions and summer projects to be done!

So naturally, I decided to spend a day drawing things that have nothing to do with anything and then fiddling with them for 10 minutes in photoshop.

I’ll  leave you to be the judge of if it was time well spent or not…

B x

Welcome to Cyberspace!

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Hello and welcome to my brand spankin’ new site. I’m Bex and this is me and my work in all our glory finally up and running on the magic of the interwebs.

For the purposes of introduction, I’m an illustrator and the aim of this explosion into cyperspace (and the 21st century…*ahem*) is to share with you lovely people the work I’ve been doing and will be doing as and when it pops into the chaotic emporium of junk that is my brain.

So, let’s recap where we are so far.

My time for the past few months has been tied up more or less with my most recent book, Tick. It’s a short story set in the kitchen of  a newly purchased 19th century townhouse where a mysterious steampunk robot is discovered. Although quite short, the story touches on ideas of purpose and self-worth as our little copper friend explores modern additions to the  kitchen top, becoming more and more aware of his redundancy in the modern world.

More importantly than that though, it’s about robots.

And because everybody loves robots, I recently brought the book to “the people” via the means of a book signing in Waterstones in Dorking (Surrey).

So as you can imagine, things have been pretty hectic getting posters and flyers made, printed and distributed in the surrounding areas.



They came out really nicely though thanks to the lovely Matthew Sugrim who had the task of advertising graphics thrown at him last minute!


The Book signing took place last Saturday (3rd Sep) and went brilliantly, selling 60 copies in just over 2 hours! I’m waiting on photos at the minute as to be honest I was so busy scribbling away I feel like I more or less missed the event!

Massive thanks goes out to everyone for their support, especially the kind souls at Waterstones who were not only friendly and inviting, but also kept me in good supply of tea.

The little graphic novel is still being sold in the Dorking Branch of Waterstones,and there are currently plans to extend further with more book signings and other fun stuff, so keep your eyes peeled and I’ll be keeping the world posted.

Peace

B x