invaluable information

Image: Keri Smith

The great prophet, Keri Smith (my absolute idol) has published a lovely list on her blog called Secrets Shared to inspire aspiring illustrators.  And I think you should take a look.

# 14 Ignore cool. Successful people do not try to be hip, they just do work that excites them.

I am struggling to tear myself away from the radiator this evening after spending a lovely day, mostly outside, at the Bath Christmas Market.

the stars shine all day too

(Image pinched from this website)

Just to get across just how astonishing Rob Ryan's 'The Stars Shine All Day Too' exhibition was last week, I thought I'd sneak in this beautiful image.  The little gallery space on Dover Street in London's Piccadilly played host to several of Rob's large scale paper-cuts.  Each one contained a crazy amount of detail and an enchanting night-time wintery feel.  This one was by far my favourite (although I changed my mind several times before reaching this conclusion).


Thank goodness for the internet.  I spend so much of my time in galleries trying to commit every detail to memory for fear that I will forget something.

It looks like there are a couple of nice exhibits in Bristol next week, so I'll let you know how I get on with those!  If that wasn't already enough to entice me, I'm going to see a giant pin-hole camera in a tower!

it's a cold one.

I'm not sure why I haven't blogged this yet, but it seems appropriate today!  Brrr.

I'm excitedly making plans for what I'm hoping will be a white snowy birthday next week...but I'm anticipating a sludgy, blustery one.

I've been a major victim of procrastination today.  The dissertation draft is in!  Now I need to try and disengage my writing brain and get on with some well-deserved doodling!  A cup of tea might help me along, we shall see!

christmas on the cobbles

Bring along your shiny pennies and stock up on stocking fillers at the Frome Artisan Market!

There will be illustrative prints, gift wrap, cards and lot of other treats for sale in the fabulous Poot, which is chock full of beautiful dresses (including Orion London), vintage knits, shoes, accessories and waistcoats.  If that's not enough to entice you, the Catherine Hill Christmas lights will be brought to life at 5PM!  All proceeds from the Bath Spa Christmas Fayre will go towards financing our final year show, which we want to be a big hit.

a small comfort

I have had to remind myself of this constantly today.

What's more, there's rather a large type-free gap in my portfolio, so as well as trying to cheer up soggy pedestrians with my cheery window "ads", I've been delving into a little bit of hand drawn text.  What do you think?

I have also been excitedly penning vintage shoes in my sketchbook ready for our collaboration with Poot.  I don't know if it's the cold weather, or the emergence of Christmas lights, or the fact that the shop on the way into Bradford on Avon has been counting down to Christmas for well over a couple of months now, but all I want to draw is Christmassy things!  I will share them with you very soon.

But for now I am off to Bath for a Thai feast!

Note: I would like to take this opportunity to express my upmost affection to the kind of people who take time out of their day to offer Photoshop advice to frustrated souls like myself.  I no longer have ugly white lines around my images.  Thanks Yahoo.

winter beckons...

A glimpse of the Southbank from behind row after row of books.  I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact that there's no longer golden sunlight pouring through my films.  Luckily this one has aged yellow pages to warm it up.

I am madly excited about going back to London this week to see Rob Ryan's exhibition at the Air Gallery.  Have you been??  Is it wonderful?

Also, to put the word out, the illustrators among the Bath Spa graphics bunch will be selling lots of pretty Christmassy things at the lovely Poot in Frome on Sunday 5 December.  Do come along, there will be lots of other treats!

smile