Floating Lemons

Pencil Drawing: Cicadas in Provençe

As I sit here writing this, all I can hear is the song of the cicadas just outside the window. A chorus really, that we hear all summer long here in Provençe, where the cicada (cigale in French) is a huge icon, almost a spokesinsect for the Provençal people.

Which is why I decided that it was time to draw some. Got my pencils out and started scribbling ... final results were more more graphic than realistic representations of the insects, but I didn't think they turned out too badly:

 

 

Drawn in pencil in a large moleskine journal. And here they are, scanned in, 'cut' out from their original background, and close-up:

 

 

Ended up quite liking them, so will take some time to figure out what to do with them next. Meanwhile, I wish you a lovely, musical day. Cheers.

 

Doodle Day: Quirky Flowers and Leaves

Just having some doodling fun with flowers and leaves ...

 

 

As usual, once I had scanned it in I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. So I played around a bit, digitally coloured everything in, and ended up with a few choices:

 

 

Sigh. I may use one of the above, all of the above, or none of the above! I may end up with something completely different, who knows. I think I prefer the top variation best, with the black outlining as it seems to pop out of the page, and I might just work with that for a start, and perhaps create some fun patterns with the florals and leaves ... doodling, by the way, is extremely therapeutic.

Wishing you a delightfully fun day! Cheers.

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings Typography Sketches

Trying to decide on which one to work on first for this holiday season:

 

 

Here they are, scanned in and close-up, flaws and all, as I haven't cleaned them up yet.

 

 

 

 

Any preference? If you saw any of these which would you pick for a card, if any? It's time to work on a new Christmas/holiday season design, so I shall have to pick one! Meanwhile, I'm exhausted, so I shall wish you a lovely day and dash off for a quick break. Cheers.

 

Global Talent Search: Baby Wild Animals Playground Journal

Phew. Well, I can finally tell you why I was painting baby wild animals in a playground. It was an assignment for Lilla Rogers' Global Talent Search - to design a journal cover with playground as a theme. Here's what I submitted:

 

 

And here's the back cover and spine too ...

 

 

And finally, here's a photo of the mockup I did of the journal:

 

 

Any thoughts? I'm not terribly comfortable with the composition and see a mountain of mistakes in the cover as a whole, but ... am wonderfully pleased at having created something that I would never have thought myself capable of before having taken Lilla Rogers' brilliant Make Art That Sells e-course.

 

There were probably hundreds of entrants for the Global Talent Search, and the other journals I've seen are absolutely gorgeous, so I'm not holding my breath over being picked for the next round - no matter what the result though, I feel a bit of a winner already as far as personal progress is concerned.

Have a fantastic day! Cheers.

 

Emma Bridgewater Summer Sale

Oh phew, it's time to take a bit of a break from art, and look around at what's going on in the world at the moment. Everyone out there is talking about 'the' baby boy so I shan't add to the dicussion except to say congratulations to the happy couple!

Instead, I'm sneaking in (and sharing) a bit of online shopping ... I've been a fan of the designs, and wonderful home and kitchen products, by Emma Bridgewater for ages now. There's a delightful simplicity and playfulness about them, and if I could I'd be buying up all her sets for my home ... and perhaps one day I'll be able to.

Meanwhile however, I've discovered that there's a summer sale, ending on Sunday 28th July, over at the Emma Bridgewater online store (UK), so I'm sharing in case any of you out there love her items as much as I do!

 

One of my favourites. The Seconds Polka Dot 1/2 Pint Mug is now on sale for just £5.

 

The popular Seconds Union jack 1/2 Pint Mug is also at just £5.

 

6 For 5 Seconds Black Toast Pasta Bowls

Emma Bridgewater's classic pattern Black Toast is now available in even more ways; pottery, textiles and tin. It's both smart and playful, and you can't say that about very much else in everyday life.

 

Here are a couple of the NEW products (I want them too) that are now available over at the store ...

 

 

Black Toast Hatch Steel Tray

Don't you think tea in bed scores very highly as one of the nicest, simplest treats for every day? You can fit plenty on to the new tin trays, to carry your tea and toast back to bed on a Sunday morning.

 

 

NEW! Andy Murray Mug :)

For you tennis enthusiasts, Emma Bridgewater are first out with the victorious Wimbledon mug. Buy it today and be first in the queue. Buy three and win the set.

 

And finally, but not least, some of the sets that are on sale:

 

Get 2 of the lovely Sale Tea Towels of any pattern and you'll only pay £8

 

 

Fun Melamine picnicware for the warm weather! 
  Sweet Dancing Mice parade around melamine bowls. Irresistible to little girls and very pretty for party tables, birthday picnics and presents.

 

There's still free UK P&P, and international delivery is just £10. Also be sure to watch out for their Royal Baby Mug which will be released very soon!

The sale ends this Sunday so pop over for a look as there's loads more that I haven't been able to fit in here. They're all such fun and wonderful products and I wouldn't be letting you know about it if I didn't absolutely love and want them all for myself. Have a great time! Cheers.